The Philippine government has taken decisive action to block the gaming app Gorebox following a horrific school shooting in Tacloban that resulted in the deaths of three students and left 20 others wounded.
Authorities identified that one of the two suspects, a 14-year-old, was a regular player of the game, which is marketed for its ability to allow players to engage in brutal combat with an extensive arsenal of weapons.
Officials from the Cybercrime Investigation and Co-ordinating Centre stated that they cannot ignore the potential for online content to radicalize youth, prompting a temporary ban to assess the platform's role in the tragedy.
The suspects, aged 14 and 15, allegedly carried out a premeditated attack using firearms sourced from family members—a 9mm pistol belonging to a suspended policewoman and a .38 caliber handgun registered to a security agency.
While the 15-year-old now faces murder charges, the younger suspect remains shielded from prosecution due to his age, despite police reports indicating he was heavily influenced by violent online content.
As the nation grapples with this rare and shocking act of violence, lawmakers are calling for a broader investigation into how online platforms are being used to brainwash children. Education officials have expressed deep concern, emphasizing that the country must prevent the kind of copycat violence that has plagued other nations.
Tags
