The Philippines has temporarily banned the video game Gorebox after an initial investigation linked it to a teenage suspect in a rare school shooting. The incident, which occurred in Tacloban on Monday, resulted in the deaths of three students and injured 20 others. Authorities are probing whether online influences may have contributed to the tragic event.
The country's cyber-security agency stated that the temporary block would allow for a thorough assessment of the platform's potential role. The 14-year-old suspect was reportedly a player of Gorebox, a game described as allowing players to "obliterate anything [they] desire" and "engage in brutal combat with an extensive arsenal of weapons and explosives," according to its Google Play listing. The International Age Rating Coalition has given Gorebox an R18 rating due to its violent content.
Mass shootings are infrequent in the Philippines, though gun-related crimes are not uncommon. The involvement of minors as suspects in such a violent incident is considered unusual. Following the shooting, Akbayan party-list congressman Chel Diokno called for stricter penalties for individuals who permit minors to access firearms.
While scientific studies have not established a direct link between video games and violent behavior, the Philippines government is taking steps to investigate potential connections in this specific case. The maker of Gorebox, Germany's F2Games, has been contacted for comment. The most severe mass shooting in recent Philippine history occurred in November 2009 in Maguindanao, where 58 people were killed.