Marcos open to curbs on violent online games after Tacloban shooting
Written by: Darryl John Esguerra
Publication: Philippine News Agency
Date published: June 23, 2026, at 5:00PM (PHT)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is open to proposals restricting or banning violent online games amid concerns over their possible influence on minors, Malacañang said Tuesday following the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the issue was discussed after reports emerged that one of the minors involved in Monday's shooting at San Jose National High School was an avid player of a violent online game.
“Napag-usapan po na ‘yung mga ganoong klaseng app ay dapat na ma-ban sa Pilipinas. So maganda pong mungkahi iyan at sana makagawa agad ng batas at open ang Pangulo sa ganyang mga panukala (It has been discussed that those kinds of apps should be banned in the Philippines. So that is a good suggestion, and I hope a measure can be crafted immediately and the President is open to such proposals),” Castro said.
She said the administration is open to legislative measures that would regulate access to violent online content, particularly among minors.
Castro added that lawmakers may move quickly to study possible restrictions in light of the incident.
The remarks came after the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) ordered the temporary blocking of the online game GoreBox pending an investigation.
According to the CICC, the precautionary measure was prompted by initial police findings that one of the students involved in the attack regularly played the game.
Authorities, however, emphasized that investigators have not established a direct link between the game and the shooting, and that the inquiry remains ongoing. (PNA)
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the issue was discussed after reports emerged that one of the minors involved in Monday's shooting at San Jose National High School was an avid player of a violent online game.
“Napag-usapan po na ‘yung mga ganoong klaseng app ay dapat na ma-ban sa Pilipinas. So maganda pong mungkahi iyan at sana makagawa agad ng batas at open ang Pangulo sa ganyang mga panukala (It has been discussed that those kinds of apps should be banned in the Philippines. So that is a good suggestion, and I hope a measure can be crafted immediately and the President is open to such proposals),” Castro said.
She said the administration is open to legislative measures that would regulate access to violent online content, particularly among minors.
Castro added that lawmakers may move quickly to study possible restrictions in light of the incident.
The remarks came after the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) ordered the temporary blocking of the online game GoreBox pending an investigation.
According to the CICC, the precautionary measure was prompted by initial police findings that one of the students involved in the attack regularly played the game.
Authorities, however, emphasized that investigators have not established a direct link between the game and the shooting, and that the inquiry remains ongoing. (PNA)