Key facts
- Philippine authorities have temporarily blocked the online gaming app GoreBox.
- The block is a precautionary measure pending an investigation into the app's potential role in a school shooting.
- Three students were killed and 20 others injured in the shooting at San Jose National High School.
- One of the two teenage suspects, aged 14 and 15, was a regular player of GoreBox.
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Philippine authorities have temporarily blocked the online gaming app GoreBox, which was reportedly used by one of the two teenagers accused in a school shooting that killed three students and injured 20. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) issued the ban as a precautionary measure while authorities investigate whether the game's violent content contributed to the incident.
Undersecretary Renato Paraiso of the CICC stated that the block is necessary to assess possible online influences on the tragic event. GoreBox, launched in 2023, is described as a game featuring "brutal combat" and extreme violence, with over 10 million downloads on Google Play and an R18+ rating.
Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy indicated that the suspects, aged 14 and 15, may have been motivated by bullying. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a comprehensive investigation into all potential factors, including online influences promoting violent extremism. The investigation will also examine school security, as the suspects obtained firearms from individuals connected to law enforcement and a security agency.
Investigators recovered at least 40 shell casings at the scene. The suspects are currently in police custody and will be turned over to government welfare officers due to their age. Under Philippine law, the 14-year-old suspect may be exempt from criminal prosecution if deemed unaware of the crime's repercussions.