SENATOR Risa Hontiveros said the livestreaming of a school shooting points to a deeper problem that must be addressed, particularly when violence is not only committed but also displayed, imitated, and broadcast online.

Hontiveros made the statement following the shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, which was reportedly livestreamed by the shooter.

The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality said authorities have yet to determine whether the incident was connected to Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) or other online communities that emerged as areas of concern following the Tacloban shooting.

Hontiveros said the Senate will continue examining threats involving NVE, online grooming for serious violent activities, and other dangers affecting students.

She said these issues will be tackled in a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

According to Hontiveros, the hearings aim to identify necessary changes in schools and online environments where young people interact to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

She stressed the need to understand not only the act of violence itself but also the online influences and environments that may contribute to its spread, imitation, or glorification.