PNP, CHR urge public to protect student victims by not sharing attack clips
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police and the Commission on Human Rights have appealed to the public to stop sharing videos of the recent school shooting in Tacloban and stabbing incidents in other parts of the country, saying the footage forces the wounded and the victims' families to relive the attacks.
Both appeals — issued yesterday and today by the PNP and CHR — asked that the public refrain from circulating material identifying the children involved.
The police singled out content creators and urged them to take down the videos.
"We urge the public, especially content creators and social media users, to stop the cycle of trauma by deleting and refusing to share these videos, as your desire for online engagement should never come at the cost of human dignity or the sanctity of an ongoing police investigation," PNP Chief Police Gen. Jose Melenci Nartatez Jr. said.
He called the spread of the clips "a profound act of cruelty that re-victimizes survivors and forces grieving families to relive their worst nightmares repeatedly."
The CHR made a similar appeal in a statement yesterday: "We appeal to the media and the public to refrain from sharing photographs or information that may identify the children involved, whether victims or CICL, in accordance with child protection and privacy standards."
These come after three separate attacks at schools within a week.
A shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22 killed three students and wounded 20 others, with two minors aged 14 and 15 accused of carrying it out.
Days earlier, two stabbing incidents were reported in Cavite National High School and Bethel Academy of General Trias in Cavite.
Nartatez said he has directed the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and other units to track the spread of the graphic content and coordinate with social media platforms on possible removal or restriction.
He also ordered local police to sit down with school officials, parents and student leaders on campus safety and responsible use of social media.
"Children caught in these incidents, especially the victims, deserve protection and support," he said. "They should not be subjected to public judgment, online harassment, or unnecessary exposure at a time when they and their families are already dealing with trauma."
"We ask the public and the media to refrain from sharing identifying photos or personal details of the children involved," he added.
In relation to the Tacloban shooting, the CHR has also pressed for a separate inquiry into where the firearms used in the shooting came from and how the suspects got hold of them.
The body also urged the Department of Education, the police and local governments to tighten school safety without turning campuses into militarized spaces, and to audit how well child protection laws — including Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act and Republic Act 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 — are being enforced.
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