DILG says South Cotabato school shooter was exposed to the “deep dark web”

A deadly shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato is being linked, by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), to the shooter’s involvement with online content. The agency says the student behind the attack was active on the “deep dark web,” which officials describe as part of the factors surrounding the incident.

DILG Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is quoted across the reports as saying the Grade 9 student had heavy involvement with the deep dark web. One outlet also adds additional context, saying the shooter is suffering from depression. While the outlets differ slightly in phrasing—some describing “influenced” by the deep dark web and others stating the shooter was “into” or had “babad” (immersed) in it—each account attributes the claim to DILG.

The reports focus on DILG’s disclosure and do not provide further details on the specific content accessed. They also do not independently verify the extent of online influence beyond what DILG reported.