Philippines blocks gaming app after school shooting; suspect was avid user
Philippine authorities on Tuesday announced a temporary block on the online gaming app Gorebox, following a school shooting that left three students dead and 20 others wounded. The decision comes as police investigate whether the platform influenced one of the two suspects, both aged 14 and 15, who opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city on Monday.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre stated that the block will allow authorities to assess if the app played any role in the incident. Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said in a statement, 'We cannot ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident.' The duration of the block was not specified.
Gorebox, launched in 2023, is described as 'a physics-driven sandbox game where creativity meets unrestrained destruction.' The centre did not specify what further action might be taken if the app is found to promote violence.
Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the suspects told investigators they staged the attack to retaliate for being bullied at school. However, a thorough investigation ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will examine all possibilities, including the potential influence of online groups promoting rebellion and violent behaviour among youth.
One suspect obtained a 9 mm pistol from an aunt who is a police officer, now under investigation. The other used a .38 caliber revolver from an employee of a security agency. The weapons were brought onto campus due to inadequate security for the school's 1,600 students, police said.
In a video of the attack, students hiding under desks can be heard screaming and weeping as gunshots are heard. The dead and wounded were all students, police said, adding that at least 40 shell casings were recovered at the scene.
The suspects, due to their ages, will be turned over to government welfare officers after the investigation. The 14-year-old is exempt from criminal prosecution under a 2006 Philippine law that sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15, unless authorities determine the suspect was clearly aware of the crime and its repercussions.
School shootings are rare in the Philippines, though gun-related crimes are common due to the proliferation of unlicensed firearms. The incident has renewed focus on online safety for children and the impact of violent content in digital spaces.
