‘Gorebox’ developer snubs Senate probe

Senator Risa Hontiveros is turning to diplomatic channels after the developer of the controversial online game GoreBox declined to participate in an upcoming Senate inquiry tied to the Tacloban school shooting.

Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, confirmed that Germany-based developer Felix Filip informed the panel that he would not attend the July 1 hearing, whether physically or through virtual means.

“Nakakadismaya na pinili ni Mr. Filip na huwag dumalo sa darating na hearing namin lalo na’t marami sana akong gustong malaman mula sa kanya mismo (It is disappointing that Mr. Filip chose not to attend our upcoming hearing, especially because there are many things I wanted to ask him directly),” she said.

Despite the developer’s refusal, the senator emphasized that the committee remains open to his participation. “My committee remains open to facilitate his attendance and participation in our investigation in case he changes his mind. Hindi dito nagtatapos ang aming pagnanais na marinig siya,” she added.

Filip, who identified himself as an independent game developer based in Germany, had been invited to shed light on the game’s features and safeguards.

Lawmakers are particularly interested in GoreBox’s age restrictions, content moderation policies, and whether the platform may expose young users to harmful or violent online environments.

The inquiry comes in the wake of the June 22 Tacloban school shooting, where one of the suspects was reportedly an avid player of the game. Following the incident, authorities moved to temporarily ban GoreBox as part of precautionary measures.

Hontiveros clarified that the Senate investigation is not intended to place sole blame on a single game but to examine the broader digital ecosystem influencing youth behavior.

“Hindi natin sinasabing isang laro lang ang dahilan ng trahedyang ito. Pero kung may online environment na maaaring naging bahagi ng pagkakalantad ng mga bata sa karahasan, tungkulin nating siyasatin iyon,” she explained.

The July 1 hearing is expected to explore deeper concerns surrounding online safety, including possible grooming, radicalization, and the normalization of violence in digital spaces.

By seeking the assistance of the German Embassy, Hontiveros hopes to encourage cooperation from the developer and ensure that critical questions surrounding the platform are addressed.