The Philippines has temporarily blocked the gaming app Gorebox after an initial investigation found that a teenage suspect in a rare high‑school shooting had been playing the game.
On Monday, gunfire erupted inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban, killing three students and wounding 20 others. The suspects were aged 15 and 14 and allegedly fired handguns at classmates.
Police said the 14‑year‑old was a player of Gorebox, a game that allows players to “obliterate anything” and use an extensive arsenal of weapons, according to its Google Play listing. The game’s Extreme Violence rating (R18) issued by the International Age Rating Coalition highlights its graphic content.
The Cyber‑crime Investigation and Coordinating Centre’s under‑secretary Aboy Paraiso stated a temporary block would allow authorities to assess whether the platform played any role in the suspects’ actions. He added that “we cannot ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident.”
BBC News reached out to Germany’s F2Games, the makers of Gorebox, for comment. Existing research has not established a direct link between video games and violent behaviour.
The shooting is unusual in the Philippines, a country where mass shootings are rare but gun‑related crimes are common. Even the country’s most violent shooting – a 2009 incident in Maguindanao – involved a political figure and resulted in 58 fatalities.
Senators are continuing investigations into online violence’s effect on children, with Senator Risa Hontiveros describing platforms as “nests for brainwashing and radicalising our youth.” Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City called for security protocol reviews, while Education Minister Sonny Angara warned against copy‑cat incidents seen in the U.S.
The case underscores the challenges of ensuring safety in schools, regulating youth access to firearms, and addressing potential digital influences that could contribute to violent actions among teenagers. The ongoing inquiry reflects the Philippines’ heightened sensitivity to the intersection of technology and public safety.
