Manila: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that it is investigating the recent school shooting in Tacloban as a potential case of extremism rather than a straightforward incident of bullying. DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez indicated during a press briefing that the department is exploring whether the incident aligns with patterns of nihilistic violent extremism (NVE).

According to Philippines News Agency, NVE is a form of terrorism characterized by extreme violence, lacking a coherent ideological framework. Martinez referenced school shootings in the United States, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, to illustrate how impressionable youth could be radicalized by online content. Speculation on social media noted that one of the Tacloban gunmen wore a T-shirt of the industrial band KMFDM, reminiscent of attire associated with the Columbine shooters.

In 2024, a song by KMFDM was used in a video prior to a shooting at Iowa's Perry High School by a 17-year-old, resulting in two fatalities. Similarly, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, involved in a school shooting in Madison, was identified wearing a KMFDM shirt. The shirt, available for around PHP350 online, has become a point of concern in these investigations.

Martinez also mentioned that authorities are working to confirm the ages of the Tacloban shooters, believed to be 14 and 15, using documentation such as birth certificates and dental records. Based on these findings, appropriate criminal charges will be considered. Additionally, the juveniles will be placed in an intensive program by the local government.

"This case will be treated with the same seriousness as all cases handled by the DOJ. We recognize the gravity, particularly with minors being involved," Martinez emphasized.

Source: National News Agency Nepal