KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. has urged parents to closely monitor their children’s activities, particularly their use of mobile phones and social media, following a series of online threats that have caused alarm and prompted the suspension of classes in parts of the province.
Tamayo said authorities are pursuing cases against individuals allegedly responsible for spreading threats and other alarming content online following the recent shooting at Banga National High School.
The governor disclosed that authorities have already apprehended two 16-year-olds in Barangay Lamian, Surallah, in connection with alleged threats. The two are reportedly undergoing the necessary clearance and intervention process with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Another individual was apprehended in the municipality of Tupi after allegedly threatening people while carrying a firearm, according to Tamayo.
“Meron na tayong nahuling mga kabataan at tinitiyak natin na ma-file ang kaso. Ito ay dapat mabigyan ng leksyon,” he stressed.
The governor appealed to parents to closely monitor their children’s activities, particularly their use of mobile phones and social media platforms.
Tamayo said authorities had discovered conversations allegedly related to the school shooting, which he described as deeply alarming.
He urged parents to confiscate or restrict their children’s access to mobile phones when necessary and to closely monitor their online activities.
“Ito ay babala sa lahat ng magulang at mag-aaral, huwag na huwag ninyong gagawin ito dahil hahabulin talaga namin kayo. Kaya, mga magulang, gabayan ninyo ang inyong mga anak,” he said.
The governor also urged parents to consider uninstalling the Roblox application from their children’s devices, claiming that some content or challenges on the platform may expose young users to violent or disturbing material. Such claims, however, should be independently verified and should not be taken as evidence that the platform itself is responsible for the incident.
Tamayo also said the provincial government is coordinating with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to trace individuals allegedly responsible for making and spreading threatening Facebook posts.
The governor earlier sought the assistance of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group to investigate online communities reportedly connected to the minor involved in the Banga school shooting.
He condemned the circulation of threats and other unverified posts that could cause panic and unnecessarily disrupt classes. He also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information while authorities continue their investigation.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has likewise appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information concerning the incident.
“I will do everything I can, but I cannot do this alone. We need the cooperation of all parents. It’s everybody’s concern,” Tamayo said.
The governor’s statements came following the shooting incident at Banga National High School on September 18, 2026, which resulted in the deaths of three students, including the suspected gunman, and injuries to six others.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the suspect’s online activities and how a minor was able to gain access to a firearm.
