Arabic version: الفلبين تحظر مؤقتًا لعبة GoreBox بعد حادث إطلاق نار في المدرسة

Philippine authorities have temporarily blocked the online gaming app GoreBox days after a rare school shooting in the south-east Asian country killed three students and injured 20 others. The country’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) announced the ban as a precautionary measure while investigations are ongoing. According to The Guardian, one of the two teenagers accused in the shooting was a regular player of the game.

GoreBox, which allows players to engage in graphic combat scenarios, has been downloaded over 10 million times on Google Play and is rated R18+ due to its extreme violence. The game features realistic depictions of combat and dismemberment, raising concerns about its influence on young players. The CICC stated that the temporary ban will enable authorities to determine whether the game had any impact on the suspects’ actions.

CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso emphasized the need to assess potential online influences that could have contributed to the shooting. He noted that the safety and well-being of Filipino children exposed to the internet is a top priority. In addition to the ban, the CICC plans to enhance its monitoring efforts to identify and address online risks for young users.

While gun-related crimes are common in the Philippines, school shootings are relatively rare. Initial reports suggest that the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, may have been bullied, leading to the violent attack as an act of retribution. The suspects are currently in police custody, and the justice department is exploring whether the incident is part of a broader trend of nihilistic violence.

The country’s human rights commission has expressed alarm over recent violent incidents in schools, including two stabbings at local institutions. They have called for urgent measures to prevent violence and protect students in educational environments.