Philippines Blocks Gorebox After 3 Students Die in School Shooting
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 23
Philippines Blocks Gorebox After 3 Students Die in School Shooting
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 23
Summary
Philippine authorities began temporarily blocking Gorebox on Tuesday after police found one of the two teenage suspects in Monday’s school shooting was an avid user of the app.
Three students were killed and 20 wounded at San Jose National High School in Tacloban when the 14- and 15-year-old suspects opened fire with a 9 mm pistol and a .38 revolver.
Cybercrime officials said the ban is meant to assess whether the game—launched in 2023 and marketed around “unrestrained destruction”—helped foster violent behavior, while investigators also examine possible online groups.
Police said the attack was retaliation for bullying, but also cited weak campus security at the 1,600-student school and traced the guns to an aunt who is a police officer and a security agency employee.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation; the suspects will be turned over to welfare officers, and the 14-year-old is exempt from prosecution under Philippine law.
Following the school shooting, will the Philippines lower the age of criminal responsibility for children?
With guns supplied by adults, is banning a video game a distraction from the real security failures?
Tragedy in Tacloban: The June 22, 2026 San Jose National High School Shooting, Bullying, and the Role of Online Games
Overview
On June 22, 2026, a tragic school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City left a 15-year-old student dead and others wounded. Police quickly began investigating, focusing on claims that bullying may have motivated the attack. The Department of Education responded by declaring a high alert and urging stronger anti-bullying measures. Authorities also took immediate action against violent online content, temporarily banning the game 'GoreBox' and increasing surveillance of youth online activities. This incident exposed serious gaps in school safety, gun control, and digital oversight, prompting urgent calls for comprehensive reforms to protect students.