NBI Director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday urged parents, schools and other stakeholders to closely monitor children’s online activities amid recent school attacks including the latest shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
Matibag made the appeal during a press conference as the NBI investigates alleged online “groomers” who target minors.
He said the alleged groomers appear to target minors of different backgrounds with ages ranging from 12 to 19.
“Ang common, they are minors eh. Age ranging from 12 to 19. So babae, lalaki, meron sila,” Matibag said.
He appealed to parents and families to pay closer attention to their children’s activities particularly their use of social media and other online platforms.
“I’m appealing to every parent, to every family, na bantayan natin ang mga anak natin, especially the ages of 12 to 19,” he said.
Matibag also urged parents to check the contents of their children’s gadgets and, when possible, limit their access and use.
“Bantayan natin ang mga anak natin, tingnan natin kung ano nakalagay sa mga gadgets nila. As much as possible, if we can limit their use of gadgets,” he said.
He said cyberspace could serve as a “training ground” for alleged groomers to establish contact with minors.
“Doon po kasi nagiging training ground eh, diyan pumapasok ang groomers eh. That’s the only way that they can communicate to our children,” Matibag said.
Matibag stressed that the minors allegedly targeted by groomers come from different backgrounds.
“Meron, this one is an honor student. The one in Tacloban, hindi naman siya honor student,” he said referring to the Ateneo de Zamboanga and Tacloban shooting incidents.
He said preventing similar incidents would require the participation of the entire community.
“I think it’s the whole community approach, lahat tayo dapat, government, family, then the school, the church, everyone. Let’s help each other bago pa ito lumala ng todo,” Matibag said.#