An online nihilistic violent extremist group “764” may have influenced one of the suspects in the Tacloban City school shooting, Senator Risa Hontiveros said during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, July 1.

The Senate resumed its investigation into the role of online gaming platforms and digital communities in exposing minors to violent content and harmful online networks following the deadly school shooting incident in Tacloban City.

Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, said there are indications that the group may have played a role in the case involving minors linked to the shooting incident in Tacloban City.

During the hearing, Hontiveros identified an alleged adult “groomer” connected to one of the suspects, saying the individual is linked to “764 Network,” which she described as a violent online extremist group designated in the United States as a global child exploitation enterprise.

“May mga indikasyon po na ang naganap na pamamaril sa Tacloban ay may impluwensya na tinatawag na 764,” Hontiveros said, noting that investigators are still validating the leads.

She said the group allegedly originated in Texas, United States, reportedly started by a teenager, and has since expanded into an online network that targets vulnerable minors.

According to Hontiveros, the group’s alleged modus operandi involves contacting vulnerable youths online—often through gaming and social platforms—and gradually encouraging them to engage in increasingly harmful and violent behavior.

She said these platforms reportedly include games such as Roblox, Minecraft, and GoreBox, where users are allegedly groomed through online interaction and peer influence.

“Ang modus ng grupo na ito ay maghanap ng vulnerable minors online at hikayatin na gumawa ng kahindik-hindik na bagay,” she said.

According to Hontiveros, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) itself said that “the leaders of the group are pushing victims to create graphic pornography, harm family pets, cut themselves with sharp objects, and even commit suicide.”

She added that the tactic involves befriending victims, giving them a sense of belonging, and gradually escalating demands for harmful acts.

She also cited international alerts, saying the group has been flagged by foreign authorities as a "serious threat."

According to her, Canadian authorities have designated it as a "terrorist group," while U.S. agencies including the FBI and Department of Justice have described it as a "national security threat."

She also referenced FBI advisories warning parents, guardians, and educators about the group’s online recruitment tactics.

Hontiveros said the alleged grooming process is designed to exploit emotional vulnerability, particularly among minors who feel isolated in real-life environments.

“Kung hindi nararamdaman ng bata sa totoong buhay ang respeto at pagtanggap, napupuno ito ng masasamang online community na may mabigat na kapalit,” she said.

The senator also clarified that she is not calling for a blanket ban on online games, stressing that the issue requires a broader examination of online safety rather than outright prohibition of platforms.

“I am not calling for total ban of online games. Wala akong sinasabi na ang naglalaro ng games ay gagawa ng karahasan in real life. Fake news po iyon," she said.

"Maraming kabataan ang naglalaro para magpahinga, makipagkaibigan, matuto at maglibang, Malinaw po sa akin o gaming community ang kalaban. Tungkol ito sa mga panganib na pwedeng kaharapin ng mga mga bata habang naglalaro at nakikipag-usap online," the senator added.

In the same hearing, she said the alleged Facebook account of one of the suspects, identified only by the alias “Nash,” showed interactions with individuals believed to be linked to the 764 network. These leads have been submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for verification.

The NBI confirmed it is currently validating possible connections between the suspects and online extremist or grooming networks as part of its ongoing probe.

Hontiveros also addressed earlier online claims linking certain clothing items, including shirts associated with the band KMFDM, to violent incidents, clarifying that such associations should be carefully assessed and not automatically treated as evidence of motive.

She emphasized that all angles of the Tacloban shooting must be thoroughly examined, including the role of online communities, gaming environments, and possible exploitation of minors.

The Senate inquiry is expected to continue as lawmakers seek to determine how minors may be exposed to harmful online networks and what safeguards can be strengthened across digital platforms.