One of the shooters in the Tacloban City school gun attack is an avid player of popular gaming application Gorebox, an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said, citing result of the initial investigation.

And police investigators are now establishing a possible link between the 14-year old shooter’s alleged addiction to the game to the gun attack at the San Jose National High School that left three people dead and 20 others injured.

Gorebox is a popular online game but Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, director of the Police Regional Office 8, said the game is violent and exposes players to the use of firearms and other deadly weapons.

And following that revelation, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it will temporarily ban the gaming application.

CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso echoed the description of Capoy on Gorebox, saying it is known for its graphic depictions of violence.

First launched in 2023, GoreBox advertises itself as “a physics-driven sandbox game where creativity meets unrestrained destruction.”

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

“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 added.

Paraiso, however, said that the agency’s response was not limited to temporarily blocking the application, acknowledging that the deadly attack highlighted 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,” said Paraiso.

Paraiso said they are also stepping up surveillance of online activities, including those involving GoreBox and similar platforms.

Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) urged parents and guardians to be active in monitoring the social media and gadget use of their children.

Police investigators noted that one of the suspects had allegedly posted gun-related and violent videos online prior to the attack, including footage of himself firing a firearm. Authorities said these posts are now being examined as possible warning indicators that were not acted upon early.

“Parents and guardians serve as the first line of defense. They must be present and vigilant in their children's digital lives, treating their online activity with the same level of concern as their physical whereabouts,” said Nartatez.

“We are also calling on our teachers and school administrators to act as our partners in this 'digital watch,' identifying early behavioral shifts or concerning interests in students so we can intervene long before any harm is done,” he added.