25/06/2026 21:07 - Internacionales
The Philippine government ordered a temporary blockade of the video game GoreBox on June 24, 2026, as a preventive measure following a school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban that resulted in the deaths of three students and left 20 injured.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) of the Philippines issued the temporary suspension as a precautionary measure while the case is being investigated. Authorities indicated that one of the two teenagers accused of the attack was a regular player of GoreBox.
GoreBox is a video game released in 2023 by F2 Games that allows players to "engage in brutal combat with an extensive arsenal of weapons and explosives, and witness the crude effects of realistic rag-doll physics and an intense gore system that brings dismemberment to life," according to its Google Play description.
The game carries an R18+ rating from the International Age Rating Coalition due to its depictions of extreme violence.
Felix Filip, founder of F2 Games and developer of GoreBox, told The Guardian that he is "devastated by what happened in Tacloban" and his thoughts are with the entire community.
Filip emphasized that "GoreBox is made for an adult audience" and that the game includes recurring reminders that it does not promote real-world violence, adding that anyone struggling with violent thoughts should seek help.
Despite the measure taken by the Philippines, scientific studies have repeatedly demonstrated that no credible link exists between video games and real-life violence.
A 2020 meta-analysis examining multiple studies concluded that the long-term impacts of violent games on youth aggression were "near zero".
CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso stated: "We cannot ignore the possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident." However, the decision to block the game was made as a precautionary measure while the investigation continues.
Firearm-related crimes are prevalent in the Philippines, partly due to the proliferation of unlicensed weapons. However, school shootings are relatively rare in the country.
The Philippine Commission on Human Rights expressed alarm over other recent reports of school violence, including two separate stabbing incidents at Cavite National High School and Bethel Academy in General Trias, Cavite during the same week.
The Department of Justice is investigating the possibility that the shooting may be part of a trend of nihilistic violent extremism, characterized by the perpetration of extreme violence without a coherent, traditional ideological framework.
The two suspects, currently under police custody, may have been victims of bullying according to initial interviews with Philippine police.
"Beyond this temporary block, we are strengthening our monitoring efforts to identify online spaces that may pose risks to young users," Paraiso declared. "Our priority is the safety and well-being of Filipino children exposed to the internet."
Source: The Guardian
Alfredo S. Quiroga
