Tacloban shooting: CICC imposes ban on game app GoreBox

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Tuesday imposed a temporary ban on the gaming application GoreBox, which was linked to a recent school shooting in Tacloban City.

Initial police investigations showed that one of the two minors involved in the deadly shooting had been playing the “violent” game prior to the incident.

“We are blocking Gorebox temporarily as a precautionary measure pending the investigation. Within the day, expect the app to be blocked,” CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said.

READ: Tacloban school shooting was planned weeks before — police

GoreBox is an online game that allows players to experiment with various weapons and is known for its graphic depictions of violence, the CICC said in an advisory that was posted on its social media page on Tuesday.

“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,” Paraiso added.

READ: Security audit of all Cebu City schools ordered after Tacloban shooting

Surveillance

The CICC’s Threat Monitoring Center, in close coordination with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), has intensified its monitoring of online activities, including GoreBox and similar platforms.

According to the CICC, GoreBox, which was launched in 2023, describes itself as “a physics-driven sandbox game where creativity meets unrestrained destruction.”

READ: Tacloban shooting: Cebu City police ready to help track down gun owner

“Among other applications, we will be conducting strict monitoring to gain greater visibility into online activities involving GoreBox,” said Paraiso.

Paraiso said that aside from imposing a temporary ban on GoreBox, the “deadly attack” a the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City also highlights the growing need for vigilance in the digital space.

“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,” Paraiso said.

Rapid Incident Response

Following the Tacloban shooting tragedy, CICC has reiterated its commitment to providing rapid incident response. At the same time, they also urged the public to immediately report cases of cyberbullying and other online threats through Hotline 1326 or [email protected].

The agency also said it would continue to work with relevant government agencies and stakeholders as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the Tacloban school shooting incident.

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