The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has implemented a temporary block on the online game GoreBox as investigators look into its potential link to a deadly school shooting in Tacloban City. The violent incident at San Jose National High School claimed the lives of three students and left 20 others injured.
The directive follows preliminary police reports revealing that one of the two suspects behind the gun attack frequently played the sandbox game, which is known for its highly graphic violence and weapon customization elements.
Law enforcement officials from the Police Regional Office 8 had earlier confirmed the suspect’s regular engagement with the platform.
CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander Ramos Paraiso emphasized that the move is an immediate safety step.
“We are blocking GoreBox temporarily as a precautionary measure pending the investigation. Within the day, expect the app to be blocked,” CICC executive director Undersecretary Alexander Ramos Paraiso said in a statement.
“We cannot ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident. Temporarily blocking the game will allow authorities to conduct a thorough assessment and whether the platform played any role in the actions of the suspects,” he added.
The CICC also announced that its Threat Monitoring Center has joined forces with the Council for the Welfare of Children to widen their scrutiny of GoreBox and other similar digital platforms.
“Beyond this temporary ban, we are reinforcing our monitoring efforts to identify online spaces that may pose risks to young users and to ensure that appropriate interventions are made immediately,” Paraiso said.