Tech leaders and gig workers are calling for the resignation of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Renato Paraiso over the government’s brief blocking of Discord, which critics described as ‘indiscriminate’ and ‘poorly executed.’
The block, imposed after the deadly shooting at a school in Banga, South Cotabato, drew fire from the IT and freelance sectors, where virtual assistants, developers and gig workers rely on Discord for day-to-day work. Initial reports suggested the suspect had been groomed on the platform.
The government reversed the ban within hours, with CICC Director Aya Macalma admitting that authorities were unaware of the app’s broader professional uses.
Scam Watch Philippines Co-Founder Art Samaniego Jr. said the episode had damaged the standing of the agencies involved.
‘The most damaging consequence of the Discord block is the blow to the credibility of both the DICT and the CICC,’ Samaniego said. ‘The fatal flaw was underestimating the users.’
Former DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy is preparing to bring the issue to the Supreme Court, questioning the executive branch’s power to block digital platforms on its own.
Working with civil society and tech advocacy groups, including BetterGov.PH and Democracy.Net.PH, Dy said demand letters had been sent to the DICT, the CICC and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) seeking an end to arbitrary platform blocking.
‘This drama has to stop, especially when the economic and civil rights of people are being violated,’ he said. ‘This is no longer about Discord. This is already about our freedom on the internet, which, for some of us, brings food to the table.’
Aguda, in a video message, acknowledged the outcry but defended the government’s decision, saying access to Discord was restored only after the platform committed to concrete child-safety measures.
‘I saw the comments. I saw the memes. And I understand why people are asking: why restrict access to Discord only to restore it shortly after? To those who were inconvenienced, we hear you,’ Aguda said, speaking partly in Filipino.
‘These concrete commitments gave government the basis to restore access to Discord because the restriction itself was never the end goal. Accountability and cooperation were,’ he added.
Aguda said Discord and Reddit have committed to closer coordination with Philippine authorities and stronger safety measures for young Filipino users.
These include a dedicated ‘green lane’ that gives authorities a direct channel to flag serious threats and expedite the review of illegal and harmful content, ‘including grooming networks and activities that exploit or endanger children.’
He said government agencies had been pressing for stronger accountability, faster coordination and clearer mechanisms against online threats to minors even before the restriction was imposed.
‘Responsible governance means knowing when government must act and knowing when access should be restored once the concerns that prompted that action are being addressed,’ Aguda said.
The DICT chief said the government’s focus now shifts to implementation, and that it will closely watch whether the platforms’ pledges lead to faster action and real protection for children.
‘Your access matters, and we recognize the disruption this caused,’ he said. ‘We have restored access, but accountability does not end there. Our children deserve to enjoy everything technology makes possible with the protection they need and deserve.’
The CICC, an attached agency of the DICT, earlier gave Discord and Reddit 24 hours to establish a Philippine presence following the shooting at Banga National High School. The agency cited a Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) group allegedly recruiting and grooming teenagers on the platforms, which is suspected to have links to the September 18 shooting that killed three students.
The CICC extended the deadline only for Reddit, leading to the Discord ban, which took effect Wednesday evening and was lifted the following day after Discord representatives met online with CICC and DICT officials.