NBI arrests alleged groomer, person linked to South Cotabato shooting

National

NEW arrests are adding to the investigation into last week’s deadly school shooting in South Cotabato, with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also moving against an alleged online groomer in Cebu.

The NBI arrested a person allegedly linked to the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Thursday, Sept. 24, during a Senate hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Justice, of which the bureau is an attached agency.

“Incidentally, I just want to report that yesterday we were able to get one of the individuals who is somehow related to what happened in South Cotabato,” Matibag said in an Inquirer article.

Matibag did not identify the person arrested or provide details about the individual’s alleged role in the shooting. Authorities said a 16-year-old student armed with a Glock 9mm pistol shot two students dead and wounded at least six others before killing himself.

The NBI chief said the arrest resulted from the bureau’s coordination with the school.

In Cebu, the NBI also arrested an alleged online groomer based on a search warrant issued by a local court, Matibag said. He added that authorities may rescue 10 individuals allegedly belonging to the suspect’s group in the coming days.

In a media interview after the hearing, Matibag explained that the NBI uses “rescue,” rather than arrest, when minors are involved in such operations.

He said the alleged groomer, whom he described as 16 years old, had been communicating with someone at another school in South Cotabato and encouraging the person to copy what happened in Banga.

Matibag said the NBI identified a direct connection to the South Cotabato incident after examining the platforms used by those involved and reviewing their communications.

The bureau did not provide further details about the alleged communications or the identities of those involved.(MyTVCebu)