Malacañang announced that President Marcos has extended more than P1 million in financial assistance to the families of students killed and injured in the deadly shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City, saying the tragedy had left the President "heartbroken."

In a press briefing on Wednesday, July 1, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos was deeply affected by the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School, where students were killed while trying to save their classmates.

"Nakakadurog-puso, iyan ang naramdaman ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pangyayari sa Tacloban kung saan may mga kabataan na nagbuwis ng buhay para masagip ang ibang kamag-aral (President Marcos Jr. was heartbroken by what happened in Tacloban, where young people gave their lives to save their fellow students)," she said.

"Mga kabataan ang nabibiktima at mga kabataan din ang nambibiktima (The victims were young people, and the perpetrators were also young people)," she added.

The Palace said the families of the three students who died in the attack would receive P150,000 each, while the 18 injured students would receive P50,000 each, totaling P1.35 million.

Castro said the assistance was on top of aid already extended by various government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

The June 22 shooting shocked the country after two students, aged 14 and 15, allegedly opened fire inside San Jose National High School, leaving three students dead and at least 18 others injured. Initial police findings pointed to bullying as a possible motive, although investigations remain ongoing.

Castro said the Palace had heard the appeal of the victims' families that the minor suspects should not simply remain under the care of the DSWD.

She clarified, however, that existing laws require minors in conflict with the law to undergo intervention, rehabilitation, and reformation in DSWD facilities instead of regular detention centers for adults.

"Nais natin ipaliwanag na ang pagdadala sa pangangalaga ng DSWD ng mga menor de edad na nakagawa ng krimen ay sa DSWD facilities dadalhin para sa kanilang reformation at rehabilitation at hindi sa regular na kulungan para sa mga adult (We want to explain that minors who committed crimes are brought to DSWD facilities for reformation and rehabilitation, and not to regular prisons for adults)," she said.

"Pero sisiguruhin ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na makakamit ninyo ang hustisya (But the administration of President Marcos Jr. will ensure that you will obtain justice)," Castro added.

The Palace official also said DepEd had already strengthened safety measures in schools following the incident.

These include the installation of metal detectors and closed-circuit television cameras, as well as closer coordination with parents and barangay officials.

Earlier, President Marcos ordered education, law enforcement, health, and local government agencies to strengthen measures aimed at protecting students from violence, negligence, and other threats inside schools and during school-related activities.

Meanwhile, Castro announced that the controversial online game GoreBox had been removed from the Google Play Store and Steam in the Philippines following coordination between the government and platform operators.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) confirmed that Filipino users could no longer download the game and that even users who had previously installed it were no longer able to access it.

The Palace had earlier expressed concern over violent online games following reports that one of the Tacloban shooting suspects was an avid player of GoreBox, a sandbox game known for graphic depictions of violence, firearms, and dismemberment. Authorities are investigating whether the game or online communities linked to it may have influenced the suspect's behavior.

"Una nang nagsabi ang Pangulo na tutol siya sa mga marahas na gaming apps lalo na sa murang edad ng mga kabataan (The President had earlier said that he opposes violent gaming apps, especially given the young age of many users)," Castro said.

The CICC earlier said the restriction would remain in place while authorities continue assessing possible risks posed by violent online content to minors and while discussions with the game's developer continue regarding additional safeguards.