The Philippine National Police (PNP) has expressed support for a government-led review of violent video games, citing concerns that prolonged exposure to such content may influence vulnerable minors and contribute to copycat behavior.
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the agency supports an evidence-based assessment of the potential impact of violent digital content on children and adolescents, particularly in light of recent incidents of youth violence that have raised public concern.
The position aligns with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., coursed through Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, to strengthen child protection measures, improve digital safety, and prevent the involvement of minors in violent acts.
“The Philippine National Police supports a thorough and evidence-based study of the possible effects of violent video games on children and adolescents,” Nartatez said.
He added that any policy proposal, including restrictions or a possible ban, should undergo congressional review and be grounded in research and child welfare considerations.
Remulla earlier urged Congress and relevant agencies to examine potential regulatory measures on violent video games, including titles such as Gorebox, following concerns that repeated exposure to violent content may desensitize young users.
The call for review comes after a recent school shooting incident in Tacloban City involving minors, which renewed public debate on factors that may contribute to youth involvement in violent behavior.
Nartatez said the PNP is cautious about attributing violence to a single cause but acknowledged that media content may be one of several influencing factors.
“While violent behavior is often driven by multiple factors, we cannot ignore the possibility that certain forms of content may contribute to the normalization of violence and increase the risk of imitation or copycat behavior,” he said.
As part of its response, the PNP has directed all regional and local units to coordinate closely with schools and local governments on safety monitoring and threat assessment measures.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group has also been instructed to monitor online spaces where violent incidents or extremist content may be circulated or glorified.
Authorities emphasized that preventing youth violence requires cooperation across families, schools, communities, and government institutions, with a focus on both offline safety and responsible digital engagement.