After a school shooting incident, the game 'Gorebox' is banned in the Philippines

The Philippine government has temporarily banned the mobile gaming app 'Gorebox' after it was revealed that a minor suspect involved in a school shooting incident in the Philippines was engaged in the game. This brutal shooting, which occurred in a classroom at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, southeast of Manila, resulted in the deaths of three students and injuries to twenty others.

Two students, aged 14 and 15, have been accused of carrying out this attack.

According to police investigations, the 14-year-old suspect was heavily addicted to this video game, which features extremely violent and destructive activities. The 'Gorebox' game, described on Google Play as a game of "creativity and unlimited destruction," has been classified by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) as suitable only for adults (R18) due to its extreme violence. Aboy Paraiso, Deputy Secretary of the Philippine Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, stated that the influence of the internet on this tragedy cannot be ignored, and that the game platform was temporarily blocked to conduct a comprehensive investigation into whether it contributed in any way to the attack. However, scientific studies have not yet confirmed a direct link between video games and violent behavior, and the game was produced by 'F2Games' in Germany.

The Philippine National Police, investigating the incident, stated that the firearms used in the shooting were obtained by the minor suspects from their close relatives. Accordingly, the 9mm pistol used by the 14-year-old student belonged to his aunt, a police officer, whose services have been temporarily suspended following the incident. The .38 caliber firearm found with the other 15-year-old student was registered to his grandfather's security agency. Police have filed murder charges against the 15-year-old suspect, but police spokesperson Allan Rae Co stated that the 14-year-old student is too young to face criminal charges under Philippine law. Preliminary investigations also revealed that this 14-year-old child was heavily influenced by violent content posted online and planned this attack due to being subjected to various forms of bullying at school, hiding in the school restroom.

Although firearm-related crimes are commonly reported in the Philippines, mass school shootings involving minors are very unusual. A friend of the 15-year-old suspect stated that he dressed and styled his hair like a military member, was disciplined by his grandfather, had a good knowledge of firearms, and had a strong personality, unwilling to tolerate insults from anyone. The deadliest mass shooting previously recorded in Philippine history occurred in November 2009 in Maguindanao province, where a local mayor targeted a political rival's group, shooting and killing 58 people, including journalists.

In light of this situation, the Philippine Senate has decided to continue a special investigation into the influence of the internet in leading children to violence, with Senator Risa Hontiveros pointing out that internet platforms have become breeding grounds for misleading and radicalizing youth. Congressman Chel Diokno called for severe penalties for individuals who enable minors to obtain firearms, while Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte stated that school safety protocols should be reviewed and children should be given drills on how to act in emergencies. The country's Education Minister Sonny Angara declared that the government will not allow a wave of crimes mimicking school shootings, as seen in the United States, to emerge in their country, and that the government is closely monitoring the situation.