GoreBox Blocked Following Deadly School Shooting
The Philippine government has temporarily blocked access to the video game GoreBox after investigators found that one of the teenage suspects in a deadly school shooting had been playing the game.
The shooting took place on Monday at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, southeast of Manila. Authorities say two students, aged 15 and 14, allegedly opened fire inside a classroom, killing three classmates and injuring 20 others.
Police said the 14-year-old suspect regularly played GoreBox, a first-person shooter game known for its graphic violence and unrestricted combat. The game, developed by German studio F2Games, carries an R18 age rating from the International Age Rating Coalition due to its extreme violent content.
Officials stressed that the temporary ban is a precautionary measure while investigators examine whether the game or other online content influenced the suspects’ actions. Aboy Paraiso, an undersecretary at the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre, said authorities “cannot ignore possible online influences” and want to conduct a thorough assessment before reaching any conclusions.
Despite the investigation, scientific research has generally found no direct causal link between playing violent video games and committing violent acts. BBC News has contacted F2Games for comment.
Investigation Continues
Police have filed murder charges against the 15-year-old suspect. Under Philippine law, the 14-year-old cannot be criminally charged because of his age.
Authorities said the younger suspect had allegedly posted violent material online and appeared to have been heavily influenced by online content. Investigators also discovered that the handgun he allegedly used belonged to his aunt, a police officer who has since been suspended. The older suspect’s firearm was reportedly registered to his grandfather’s security agency.
According to the preliminary investigation, both teenagers claimed they had experienced bullying at school. Police believe the attack was planned, noting that the suspects had reportedly hidden in a school restroom before carrying out the shooting.
Calls for Stronger Safeguards
The incident has renewed debate over youth violence, online content, and firearm access in the Philippines. Lawmakers are pushing for stricter penalties against adults who allow minors access to guns and are continuing an inquiry into the impact of violent online platforms on children.
Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that some online spaces can expose young people to harmful content and called for stronger protections before similar tragedies occur. Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte urged schools to improve emergency preparedness through regular drills and security reviews.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the government is taking the incident seriously and aims to prevent future copycat attacks, emphasizing the importance of keeping schools safe.
Mass school shootings remain rare in the Philippines, making the Tacloban attack one of the country’s most shocking recent acts of school violence. The investigation into the motives behind the attack, including the possible influence of online content, remains ongoing
