There are indications that the suspects in the deadly gun attack at a school in Tacloban City were "heavily influenced" by online content, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

In a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, June 23, PNP spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co said that authorities are currently looking into "other groups or communities" online that may have "encouraged or influenced" alias Nash to commit the gun attack.

"We can only say na doon po sa initial investigation natin, lalo na po itong si CICL alias Nash ay heavily influenced po ng online content (based on our initial investigation, the CICL known as alias Nash appears to have been heavily influenced by online content)," Co said.

"Mayroon po kaming nakita na ano niya, aside from his own posts na mga violent videos, mayroon pa pong tinitingnan tayo na iba pa pong grupo or mga kinakasalihan niya kung saan puwedeng nag-udyok sa kaniya para gawin po ito (Aside from his own posts containing violent videos, we are also looking into other groups or communities he may have been involved with that could have encouraged or influenced him to carry out this act)," Co added.

The PNP spokesperson said that while investigators are analyzing whether there is a link between the suspects and a larger group, citing the logo on one of the suspects' shirts, there are indeed indications that one of them joined an online community.

But he clarified that this information also remains under verification.

"Nakita rin po natin iyan, kasama po ito sa ina-analyze ng ating mga imbestigador. At kagaya nga po nang sinabi ko kanina, we saw some indications na mayroon pong ibang grupo na puwedeng nag-udyok o nagtulak na kinakasalihan niya para po gawin niya itong bagay na ito (We have also seen that, and it is part of what our investigators are analyzing. As I mentioned earlier, we saw some indications that another group may have encouraged or influenced him, and that he may have been associated with that group, which could have led him to commit this act)," Co said.

Co also said that the authenticity of the screenshot of alleged conversations between the two suspects being circulated online remains under verification.

While the PNP has established that the shooting incident has been planned since May and that an online community could be linked into them, they are not discounting the suspects' claims of bullying.

"They could have been bullied, and then it further strengthened iyong influence po ng online content sa kanila (the influence of online content on them)," Co said.

He also said that the attack was "not a heat of the moment," stressing that two suspects "polished" their plan while at their school's comfort room before committing the shooting rampage.

Citing the link between one of the suspects' violent behavior to online games, Malacañang said President Marcos is open to proposals to ban violent online games.

"Actually, napag-usapan po 'yan. Nai-report nga po na itong mga batang ito ay gumon sa paglalaro ng online gaming na marahas (that has already been discussed. It was reported that these children had become addicted to playing violent online games)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

"So napag-usapan po na yung mga ganoong klaseng app ay dapat na ma-ban sa Pilipinas. So maganda pong mungkahi iyan at sana makagawa agad ng batas at open ang Pangulo sa ganyang mga panukala (Because of this, there have been discussions about whether such apps should be banned in the Philippines. That is a good proposal, and we hope legislation can be enacted soon. The President is also open to proposals of that nature)," Castro added.

Malacañang said that if there is a need to increase further increase the budget allocated to schools to ensure well-trained security guards, it would be considered.

"Iyan po ay naitanong din po natin at kung kinakailangan po talaga ay kailangan pong magdagdag ng budget, kapag ito po ang pinag-uusapan natin para po sa seguridad ng ating mga kabataan at mga mag-aaral (We have also raised that question, and if it is truly necessary, then additional funding should be provided, especially when we are talking about the safety and security of our youth and students)," Castro said.

In a bid to prevent a repeat of the situation in any school around the country, the PNP is planning to conduct simulation exercises for active shooting situations.

Co said it is part of the intensified coordination mechanism among law enforcement, barangays, and schools.

"[W]e are planning to conduct simulation exercises kagaya po ng earthquake drills natin na kung saan ay matuturuan po ang ating mga estudyante at ating mga guro at lahat po kung paano po mag-react, kung ano po ang gagawin (like earthquake drills to teach the students and teachers how to react and what to do) in crisis situation to include active shooter situation," Co said.

The PNP spokesperson has reiterated that the PNP supports lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old, citing data which show that the number of Children in Conflict with the Law has been increasing.

Castro also said that the President is open to proposals to lower the age of criminal liability.

"Wala pa pong napag-uusapan tungkol sa edad pero ang sabi nga natin kung anuman ang maibibigay na version ng Kongreso at titingnan po iyan ng Pangulo (There have been no discussions yet regarding a specific age. As we have said, whatever version Congress may come up with will be reviewed by the President)," Castro said.

"Pero sa ating pagkakaalam, yes, open ang Pangulo kung mabababa man ang edad po (But based on our understanding, yes, the President is open to lowering the age if such a proposal is put forward)," Castro added.