Senate Considers Resolution to Ban Online Gambling
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is exploring a resolution urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to impose a ban on online gambling, following his move last year to prohibit Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). This initiative seeks to address the growing concerns surrounding online gambling’s social impact and criminal associations.
During his July 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos announced the ban on all Pogos, blaming them for the surge in criminal activities. He later cemented this through Executive Order 74, effectively shutting down the industry.
Debate on the Ban’s Legal Pathway
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan questioned whether the ban on online gambling could follow the same executive route without passing legislation. His inquiry came after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri delivered a privilege speech urging immediate Senate action on bills that either regulate or ban online gambling.
Zubiri advocates for a total ban, as outlined in the bill he introduced at the start of the 20th Congress. “I appeal to you, I beg you—let us act now. Let us set the policy right while we still can,” Zubiri urged his colleagues.
Presidential Authority and PAGCOR’s Role
During interpellation, Pangilinan asked if a complete ban could be enforced through a simple directive from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), following a presidential order. “It will just be an instruction from the President and then the action of Pagcor to ban it, to revoke the license?” he questioned.
Zubiri agreed, recalling how the President acted decisively with Pogos despite existing legislation that legalized and taxed them. “Because he did it with Pogos,” Zubiri said. “But even with that bill which sort of legitimized Pogos, the President, in his power, ordered Pagcor at that time last Sona to ban it completely and Pagcor followed immediately.”
Next Steps: Senate Resolution in the Works
Pangilinan then asked if Zubiri would support a Senate resolution urging the President and PAGCOR to ban online gambling, to which Zubiri responded affirmatively and expressed appreciation for the proposal.
“We’re discussing this with Sen. (Loren) Legarda, and we’ve asked our legislative and legal staff to prepare the sense of the Senate resolution,” Pangilinan shared. Both Zubiri and Legarda belong to the new minority bloc led by Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Pangilinan echoed Zubiri’s sense of urgency, emphasizing the severe social costs inflicted on Filipinos addicted to online gambling. “I share Zubiri’s sense of urgency to ban online gambling because of its horrible social costs to our people,” Pangilinan noted.
For more news and updates on online gambling, visit Filipinokami.com.
