CICC suspends mobile game GoreBox after Tacloban school shooting
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center has imposed a temporary ban on the mobile game GoreBox in the wake of the Tacloban school shooting that killed three students and injured 20 others.
CICC Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said the temporary ban was imposed after initial police findings showed that one of the Grade 9 students involved in the San Jose National High School shooting was a regular player of the online game.
“We are blocking Gorebox temporarily as a precautionary measure pending the investigation. Within the day, expect the app to be blocked,” Paraiso said in a statement on June 23.
“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 determine whether the platform played any role in the actions of the suspects,” he continued
He added that the CICC’s Threat Monitoring Center, in coordination with the Council for the Welfare of Children, has intensified its monitoring of online activities involving GoreBox and similar platforms.
“Among other applications, we will be conducting strict monitoring to gain greater visibility into online activities involving GoreBox,” said Paraiso.
Paraiso added that the is taking additional measures beyond the temporary ban in response to the shooting.
“Our priority is the safety and well-being of Filipino children exposed to the internet. 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,” he said.
He added that the agency would continue coordinating with relevant government agencies and stakeholders as authorities look into the circumstances surrounding the school shooting.
He also urged the public to report cyberbullying and other online threats through Hotline 1326 or via email at report@cicc.gov.ph.
First made available in 2023, GoreBox promotes itself as “a physics-driven sandbox game where creativity meets unrestrained destruction.”
The two minor suspects, alias Nash, 14, and alias Rod, 15, remain in police custody and are undergoing investigation with their parents present before being endorsed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for further processing.