CICC seeks talks with Gorebox developer amid Tacloban school shooting probe

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it has reached out to the developers of a violent online game that might have a possible connection with the deadly shooting incident at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

Speaking on Unang Balita on Wednesday, CICC Executive Director and Undersecretary Alexander “Aboy” Paraiso said the agency is reviewing the safety features and content of Gorebox, a gaming app developed by F2 Games following reports that one of the students involved in the shooting allegedly played the game extensively.

(Bilang isa sa mga naging hakbang namin matapos ang pansamantalang pagbabawal sa laro, nakipag-ugnayan kami sa mga developer at may-ari ng Gorebox upang ipaliwanag kung anu-anong safety features ang mayroon ang laro, Paraiso said.

(One of the interventions we undertook after we temporarily banned the game, we reached out to the developers and owners of Gorebox to explain the game’s safety features.)

Paraiso said authorities are looking into reports that one of the minors involved in the Tacloban shooting may have used the game not only for recreation but also as a form of “training.”

“Kasi nakikita natin based on the reports, isa sa mga kabataan, dito hindi lang nag-roaming but dito nag-training,” he said.

(Based on what we saw in the reports, one of the children not only roamed but also trained [in the game].)

The CICC chief maintained the agency is not targeting online games in general, noting that many games promote creativity and provide positive learning experiences.

“Marami ring magagandang naidudulot ang mga larong ’yan. It promotes creativity and it teaches our children a lot of good things,” Paraiso said.

(Online games also have many positive effects.)

However, he said games containing extremely violent or mature content should have stricter safeguards and age restrictions.

He said when it comes to extremely violent and mature content, there has to be some sort of age restriction.

Paraiso said the developers have yet to respond to the agency’s request for a dialogue.

“Wala pa. Hindi pa natin nakakausap. And until they reach out to us and until they communicate, we have not been lifting this plan,” he said.

(Not yet. We have not talked to them.)

According to Paraiso, the CICC wants to understand the safeguards currently in place and discuss possible improvements if the developers wish to continue operating in the Philippine market.

The agency is coordinating with law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, as authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the Tacloban school shooting.

The police has yet to release the results of its investigation into the motive behind the incident that led to the deaths of three students and wounded 20 more. —RF, GMA News