In brief
Police discovered that a teenage suspect in a deadly school shooting in Tacloban had been playing the first‑person shooter game Gorebox. In response, the country’s cyber‑security agency temporarily blocked the app to investigate its possible influence. While the shooting—three dead and twenty wounded—has sparked debate over youth access to firearms, experts say no direct link exists between video games and violence. The incident also prompted senators and local officials to call for stricter gun‑control measures and reviews of online platform safety for children.
Police found that the 14‑year‑old suspect from the Tacloban high‑school mass shooting had been playing the first‑person shooter game Gorebox, a title rated R18 for extreme violence and graphic content.
On Monday, two teenage suspects—aged 15 and 14—allegedly fired handguns inside a classroom at San Jose National High School, killing three students and injuring 20 others.
The country’s cyber‑security agency said it could not ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to the tragedy and temporarily blocked the game to conduct a thorough assessment. A spokesperson, Aboy Paraiso, undersecretary at the Cybercrime Investigation and Co‑ordinating Centre, explained that the block would allow authorities to examine whether the platform played any role in the suspects’ actions.
Gorebox lets players “obliviate anything they desire” and “engage in brutal combat with an extensive arsenal of weapons and explosives,” according to its Google Play listing. Scientific studies have yet to find a direct link between violent video games and real‑world aggression.
The shooting, far from being a common occurrence in the Philippines, has highlighted concerns over gun access and the impact of online content on young people. Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that digital platforms have become “nests for brain‑washing and radicalisation” of children, urging swift action to protect children from violent content.
In the aftermath, local officials like Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City called for a review of security protocols, while Education Minister Sonny Angara stressed the need to prevent copy‑cat incidents similar to those seen in other countries.
