Philippines Bans Video Game After School Shooting Tragedy

The nation’s cyber‑crime bureau has temporarily blocked the download of the violent first‑person shooter Gorebox after preliminary investigations linked a 14‑year‑old suspect in a Tacloban high‑school shooting to the game.

Three students died and twenty were injured when two teenagers fired handguns inside a classroom on Monday. The younger of the shooters allegedly used Gorebox, which promotes unrestrained destruction and an extensive arsenal of weapons.

“The game cannot be ignored as a possible aggravating factor,” said Aboy Paraiso, an undersecretary at the Cybercrime Investigation and Co‑ordinating Centre.

Gorebox, developed by Germany’s F2Games, carries an R18 rating from the International Age Rating Coalition for its extreme violence. No direct link has been proven between video‑game exposure and violent acts, according to scientific studies.

Mass shootings remain rare in the Philippines, but gun‑related crime is common. This incident was unusual because both perpetrators were minors.

Sitting in a school bathroom before opening fire, the boys were reported to have been bullied at school, according to police spokesperson Allan Rae Co.

Members of the Philippine Senate are now reviewing the impact of violent online content on children, with Senator Risa Hontiveros calling platforms a “nest for brainwashing.”

Education minister Sonny Angara warned against a “copy‑cat” scenario, urging schools to prepare drills and crisis simulations.

The ban on Gorebox is temporary and intended to allow a full assessment of the game’s potential influence on the teenage shooters.