Philippines blocks Gorebox game after deadly high‑school shooting

A shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, Leyte province, left three students dead and about 20 wounded when two teenage suspects, aged 14 and 15, opened fire inside a classroom. Police identified that the 14‑year‑old suspect regularly played the first‑person shooter app Gorebox, which features explicit violence and an R18 rating.

The Philippine Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre temporarily blocked the Gorebox app as a precaution while it assesses any possible influence of the game on the attackers. Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said online influences cannot be ignored and the ban will allow authorities to determine whether the platform played a role. Senators have called for a broader inquiry into the impact of violent online content on youth, and lawmakers are urging tougher penalties for minors accessing firearms.

Mass shootings are rare in the Philippines, making the incident and the subsequent government response a notable development in the country's ongoing debate over gun control and digital media regulation.