Philippines Blocks Gaming App After Teen Shooter’s Reported Use

Thu Jun 25 2026 08:11:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Philippines temporarily bans the game Gore box amid investigations linking it to a mass school shooting involving two teenage suspects.

After a 14‑year‑old teen who fired guns in a Tacloban high‑school was found to be a regular player of the violent game Gore box, the Philippine cyber‑security agency announced a temporary block on the app. The move follows an investigation that suggests online gaming may have influenced the boys’ actions. While scientific studies have yet to confirm a link between video games and violence, authorities want to assess whether the platform contributed to the tragedy. The incident sparked calls from lawmakers to tighten weapons access for minors and to scrutinise online content’s impact on Filipino youth.

Philippines Blocks Gaming App After Teen Shooter’s Reported Use

The Philippines on Monday temporarily blocked the mobile game Gore box, after police linked the 14‑year‑old suspect in a high‑school shooting to the app.

Three students were killed and 20 others wounded when the 15‑ and 14‑year‑old boys fired handguns inside a classroom in Tacloban, a city southeast of Manila. Police said the younger suspect was a frequent player of a violent first‑person shooter that lets users “obliterate anything they desire.”

Children playing computer games at an internet cafe in the Philippines

The country's Cyber‑Security Agency said it could not ignore the possible online influence that may have contributed to the tragic incident. Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso explained that the temporary block would allow authorities to conduct a full assessment of whether the game played any role in the suspects’ actions.

While scientific studies have not found a direct link between video games and violent behaviour, the game’s rating and content have been a point of contention. The International Age Rating Coalition gave Gore box an R18 rating, citing extremely violent, explicit, and unrestrained gameplay.

The shooting, the worst mass‑shooting incident to date in the Philippines, underscored how gun‑related crimes remain a serious issue. Laws permitting minors access to firearms have been debated, with some lawmakers calling for harsher penalties. Senator Chel Diokno urged stricter penalties for anyone who allows firearms to minors.

All indications point to the fact that it was planned,

Police said the two boys were bullied at school and had holed themselves up in the bathroom before opening fire. The 14‑year‑old’s pistol was allegedly borrowed from his aunt, a policewoman who was suspended after the shooting. The 15‑year‑old’s handgun belonged to his grandfather’s security agency.

Former classmates describe the older boy as uptight and dismissive of insults, and claim he had “knowed everything” about guns.

Following the incident, senators are set to investigate how online platforms may be radicalising Filipino children. Senator Risa Hontiveros criticised social media as a nesting ground for “brainwashing and radicalising our youth.” Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized the need for reviewing security protocols and running drills to prepare children for future emergencies. Education Minister Sonny Angara warned of potential copy‑cat incidents and expressed concern over the influence of violent online content on youth.