A police investigator stands next to a pool of blood after a shooting incident at a classroom entrance in a high school in Banga town, South Cotabato, in southern island of Mindanao on September 18, 2026. AFP
MANILA — Authorities are closing in on the alleged online "groomer" believed to have influenced the student involved in the deadly school shooting in Banga, South Cotabato, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday.
Remulla said the alleged groomer remains at large but authorities are continuing to track the individual.
"Hinahanap pa rin siya. Ayun ang order of battle sa akin ng ating Pangulo tungkol dito sa nangyayari sa ating mga kabataan dahil nagbago na 'yung mundo dahil may internet na may ganyan na eh, 'yung nangyayari diyan sa mga websites na 'yan," Remulla said.
READ: NBI arrests suspects linked to South Cotabato shooting, Cebu online grooming
The DILG chief said the government is also looking into other groups that allegedly recruit and groom minors into criminal activities.
One of these is the group known as True Brown Style, or TBS, which Remulla said is now being monitored for its alleged efforts to organize within communities in the Philippines.
According to Remulla, members in their late teens and early 20s allegedly groom children as young as 14 or 15 to commit crimes, including stealing from convenience stores.
"Ang initiation nila ay nagnanakaw sila ng mga convenience stores so sila ang next order of attention namin na bubuwagin namin ang community-based syndicate," he said.
"Mga 18, 20 years old ginu-groom 'yung mga bata na 14, 15 na maging criminal kaya hindi ako makaalis muna dahil it's very, very alarming ang ginagawa nila," he added.
Remulla said authorities are studying the group's command structure and will take steps to prevent it from expanding.
"TBS is an old organization. It's 35 years old galing pa sa Amerika 'yan pero dumating na ngayon dito sa Pilipinas. Now, they are organizing in communities so pinag-aaralan namin ang command structure nila and we will be making the necessary steps para hindi na nila lumaganap yung TBS na 'yan," he aaid.
He stressed, however, that the TBS group is separate from the online group being investigated in connection with the Banga school shooting.
READ: Marcos vows to make schools 'more secure' after shooting incidents
Remulla described the latter as having an influence centered on Satanism, Nazism and nihilism, allegedly encouraging young people to view life as meaningless.
He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a nationwide communications program to help parents understand how to talk to their children about these emerging threats.
The government is preparing materials to guide parents on how to approach their children and discuss what they encounter online, Remulla said.
"Everybody is at a loss sa nangyayari diyan and the President has directed us to communicate kung paano dapat kausapin ang mga bata, kung paanong approach ang dapat sa mga bata and you will get these materials very soon," Remulla said.
RELATED VIDEO: