Camille Naredo

People stand next to the entrance gate of San Jose National High School after a shooting incident in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. Noel Sianosa, AFP

People stand next to the entrance gate of San Jose National High School after a shooting incident in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. At least three teenaged students were killed and five others wounded on June 22, in a rare school shooting in the central Philippines, police said. (Photo by Noel  Sianosa / AFP)

Article (news)

Tacloban

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178289975076720260622-tacloban-school-shooting-sjns-AFP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="People stand next to the entrance gate of San Jose National High School after a shooting incident in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. Noel Sianosa, AFP"/>People stand next to the entrance gate of San Jose National High School after a shooting incident in Tacloban City, Leyte province on June 22, 2026. Noel Sianosa, AFP</div>MANILA (UPDATED) -- Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Undersecretary Renato &quot;Aboy&quot; Paraiso confirmed many incidents of school violence, particularly shootings, are connected to nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) groups.According to the <a href="https://www.unomaha.edu/ncite/news/2025/08/nve-landing-page.php#tactics">US National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center</a>, nihilistic violent extremists are &quot;individuals who engage in criminal conduct... in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction, and social instability.”Paraiso made the statement at the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality hearing on Wednesday, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros. &quot;Usec, matanong din lang po kung maco-confirm ninyo, Attorney Paraiso na ito ngang mga incidents of school violence dito sa ating bansa ay related nga sa NVE or even in terms of incidents in the Philippines in general na a number of them may be related particularly to the 764 group?&quot; Hontiveros asked.&quot;Yes, we can confirm that marami ho dito sa nangyayari sa &#x27;ting mga school shootings, as mentioned by various resource persons, na connected ho dito sa NVEs, groups na &#x27;to,&quot; Paraiso replied.Paraiso confirmed 764’s involvement in the lives of the minors to ABS-CBN News in a message.Prior to this, Hontiveros said there is an indication that the shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City was influenced by the &quot;764&quot; group. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/cop-who-owns-gun-used-in-tacloban-school-shooting-faces-senate-probe-1221">READ: Cop says Tacloban school shooter ‘unlawfully’ entered her house, ‘forcibly damaged’ locker to get gun</a></div><div> </div><div>ARSON, SELF-HARM IN FOUR-STEP INITIATION RITES</div>But based on a conversation with a member of 764, Deep Web Konek Public Relations Division Head Luis Talatala said it takes a great deal of violence and crime to enter the group. Talatala bared the four-step initiation rites for members of 764, which starts with breaking and entering, as well as theft.&quot;The first step po na kailangan pong gawin is to target a suburban residential house at night, break at least two windows, and attempt entry. So they are instructed to steal electronics, cash, or personal items. And the initiate must spray paint 764 or an Atomwaffen symbol inside the premises,&quot; Talatala told lawmakers.This process even involves arson, Talatala said.&quot;The second objective or the second step is the initiate must target a secondary separated residence. So the objective requires window destruction coupled with minor arson. For example, a trash fire inside the property. So the initiate must steal the victim&#x27;s mail or identification cards to generate doxxing leverage. Meaning the information of that person will be exposed for the network,&quot; Talatala said. As the group now has evidence of aspiring members committing illegal acts, the latter are blackmailed into doing more violent acts.&quot;And the third objective is to– actually, dito na po nangyayari &#x27;yung blackmailing since mayroon na pong na-submit sa first and second objective. So dito na po nangyayari tinatawag nating kompromat or compromising material. So based po doon sa video na sinubmit ng first and second objective, ginagamit po &#x27;yun to force the victims na gumawa po ng additional violence. For example, self-harm or violence against their pets and animals,&quot; Talatala said.&quot;Kung hindi po nila gagawin &#x27;yun, thine-threaten po &#x27;yung mga victims na ire-report sa law enforcement &#x27;yung videos na &#x27;yun or ikakalat po sa mga kaibigan nila. And the final objective is to conduct or to execute an act of past violence against a community. So kung kanina, isa o dalawang household lang tina-target, dito po ay multiple households,&quot; Talatala added.This is meant to be done under a 72-hour completion window, according to Talatala.Like Paraiso, Talala said he believes the reported incidents of school violence are related to NVE, due to similarities seen in symbols used.&quot;Isa po sa mga red flag na makikita po natin based din po sa mga dummy accounts nung mga involved po doon sa Tacloban shooting and sa ibang mga places po sa bansa, so mostly po na palatandaan po natin is &#x27;yung pagsusuot po nila ng mga tactical outfits or attire po and &#x27;yung mga symbols po na kadalasang ginagamit sa NVE katulad po ng mga skull mask. Mayroon rin pong mga symbol ng neo-Nazi and other similar symbols na related po dito sa 764,&quot; Talatala said.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/hontiveros-identifies-alleged-adult-groomer-of-tacloban-school-shooters-1042">READ: Hontiveros identifies alleged &#x27;adult groomer&#x27; of Tacloban school shooters</a></div><div> </div><div>LEGAL FRAMEWORK NOT TAILORED TO ADDRESS ISSUE</div>The Department of Justice (DOJ) also admitted the country&#x27;s legal framework falls short in terms of being able to respond to online recruitment of the youth for violent extremist purposes.&quot;The Department of Justice posits that the Philippines&#x27; current legal framework falls short or is not yet tailored to address online recruitment of children for violent extremist purposes,&quot; DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said during the hearing. Ty added that there is an alleged gap in existing laws on the conduct of grooming, recruiting, and coercing minors into violent acts on online channels. The mother of one of those who died, Jennelyn Badoria, said she wants the parents to answer for what happened after acknowledging that the suspects in the shooting incident, known to be minors, are also victims in the situation.&quot;&#x27;Yung bata ay isa ring biktima. So sino &#x27;yung mananagot? &#x27;Yung parents niya, &#x27;yung may-ari ng baril… Anong point kung bakit siya nagkaganyan? So &#x27;yung proper guidance nga,&quot; Badoria said.The parents could be held liable for neglect, according to the DOJ.&quot;&#x27;Yung parents po ng CICL, puwede po silang liable for neglect. At puwede rin po silang liable under the firearms law for permitting the transfer of the firearm,&quot; DOJ Undersecretary for the National Prosecution Office Atty. Ian Dato said.UP Philippine General Hospital - Child Protection Unit (PGH CPU) Head Dr. Bernadette Madrid stressed that the issue does not lie in the minimum age of criminal responsibility. Madrid added that the minors found guilty should be penalized, but they are still victims.&quot;I think everyone has realized that the problem here is not about the minimum age of criminal responsibility. I think everyone has been waiting and waiting to say that– that the minimum age of criminal responsibility– we all fully endorse that it remains at 15 and not be reduced further. The shooters here, yes, they should be &#x27;punished,&#x27; but they&#x27;re also victims,&quot; Madrid said.Hontiveros confirmed another hearing will be held to obtain more information on what she called a &quot;new and horrifying phenomenon.&quot;

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso confirmed many incidents of school violence, particularly shootings, are connected to nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) groups.

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso confirmed many incidents of school violence, particularly shootings, are connected to nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) groups.

CICC: Many school shootings connected to nihilistic violent extremist groups

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CICC: Many school shootings connected to nihilistic violent extremist groups

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 01, 2026 05:11 PM PHT

|

Updated July 01, 2026 07:55 PM PHT

Read More:

CICC

school shooting

Senate

NVE

gun violence

Tacloban shooting

nihilistic violent extremist groups

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