Telecommunications

GoreBox ban, school shooting probe dominate day's news

The day's coverage centered on the government's blocking of the violent game GoreBox and the conclusion of the Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting investigation, alongside the Mynt IPO timetable shift and other developments.

By the MMI Telecommunications Desk

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) blocked the violent sandbox game GoreBox in the Philippines on August 26, after its German developer agreed to the restriction following government discussions. The move came amid an ongoing national debate over whether violent games influenced a teenage school shooter in Tacloban, and as authorities concluded their investigation into a separate school shooting at [Ateneo de Zamboanga University](https://media-meter.com/report-library/school-shooting-vp-trial-digital-payments-lead-aug-18-news "School shooting vp trial digital payments lead aug 18 news"), filing criminal charges against the suspect's father and a school security officer. These two threads — the regulation of violent online content and the aftermath of school shootings — dominated the day's news, drawing heavy coverage across online outlets and blogs, with the GoreBox ban alone generating an estimated ₱273,672 in advertising-equivalent value across the captured items. Meanwhile, in the business sector, GCash parent Mynt adjusted its initial public offering (IPO) timetable by one day, a minor shift that analysts said would not affect investor sentiment. The day also saw a mix of human-interest stories, such as a senior citizen clearing Manila's clogged drainage canals by hand, and lighter entertainment news, reflecting a broad spectrum of public interest.

The GoreBox ban was not a unilateral government action but a mutually agreed block, according to DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, who said the developer, F2Games, was given an opportunity to respond but eventually agreed to the restriction. The game, which allows players to spawn weapons and destroy blocky humanoid figures in a physics sandbox, had been temporarily blocked earlier, and the ban now appears likely to become permanent. The decision follows a Senate hearing invitation that the developer declined, and comes as the Psychological Association of the Philippines has weighed in on school violence, emphasizing that prevention is a shared responsibility across families, schools, and communities. The PNP's investigation into the Ateneo shooting found no evidence of conspiracy, but noted the suspect had exposure to violent online material and that there were lapses in gun security and school safety. These findings have fueled calls for stricter gun laws, with [President Marcos](https://media-meter.com/report-library/system-loss-debate-energy-deals-and-political-drama-dominate "System loss debate energy deals and political drama dominate") open to stiffer penalties for illegal possession of loose firearms.

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