Philippines blocks GoreBox gaming app after school shooting kills three, injures 20

The Philippines' Office of the President ordered a temporary block of the online gaming app GoreBox on June 24, 2026, following a school shooting that resulted in three student fatalities and twenty injuries. Investigators identified that one of the two teenagers accused in the attack at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City had frequently played GoreBox, a game characterized by its depiction of graphic violence and the use of various weapons. This incident marks a rare occurrence of school violence in the Southeast Asian nation. The ban aims to prevent further incidents and address concerns surrounding violent content in video games accessible to minors. The decision was made by the Presidential Communications Office, which cited the need to protect students and maintain public safety. The blocked app is available on multiple platforms, and the government is working with internet service providers to enforce the restriction.