GoreBox developer declines invite to probe into Tacloban shooting

MANILA, Philippines — The Germany-based developer of the video game GoreBox has declined to attend the Senate inquiry into the fatal Tacloban City school shooting, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Friday.

According to Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, GoreBox developer Felix Filip informed the committee secretariat through email that he would not attend the panel’s July 1 hearing, either in person or via Zoom.

“After careful consideration, I must respectfully decline the invitation to appear at the hearing on 1 July 2026, whether in person or via Zoom,” Filip wrote.

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In the same email, Filip expressed his condolences for the family of the victims of the shooting.

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He noted, however, that “for the committee’s record, GoreBox is classified 18+ and is not intended for, or directed at, minors.”

This comes a day after the developer told the Inquirer via email that the Philippine government has his “full cooperation.”

He also said he would not speculate on the causes of the shooting while the investigation was ongoing and would “continue to cooperate with any legitimate request from the Philippine authorities.”

“It is disappointing that Mr. Filip chose not to attend our upcoming hearing, especially since I wanted to hear directly from him on many important matters,” Hontiveros said in a statement in Filipino.

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Hontiveros said she would seek the assistance of the German Embassy in the Philippines to facilitate Filip’s participation should he reconsider.

“My committee remains open to facilitate his attendance and participation in our investigation in case he changes his mind. Hindi dito nagtatapos ang aming pagnanais na marinig siya (Our desire to hear from him does not end here),” she said.

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Hontiveros said the committee wanted to ask Filip about GoreBox’s safeguards, including its age restrictions, content moderation, and the possible exposure of young users to harmful online communities or behavior.

The July 1 hearing that will be chaired by Hontiveros will examine the events that may have contributed to the June 22 shooting, including possible grooming, radicalization, and the normalization of violence on online platforms.

The fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22 left three students dead and at least 20 others wounded.

Authorities are investigating whether the two minor suspects were influenced by GoreBox and other online content.

GoreBox remains blocked after authorities on Tuesday imposed a temporary ban on the gaming app.

The Inquirer sought comment from Filip about his reason for declining to attend the probe but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. /gsg

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