{"id":777030266,"date":"2025-08-13T08:29:44","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T11:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/?p=777030266"},"modified":"2026-04-21T20:09:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T23:09:46","slug":"the-philippines-bans-online-gambling-for-government-officials-and-dilg-personnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/the-philippines-bans-online-gambling-for-government-officials-and-dilg-personnel","title":{"rendered":"The Philippines bans online gambling for government officials and DILG personnel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Violators may face criminal and administrative penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The Philippines.- The Department of the Interior and Local Government<\/strong> (DILG) has banned online gambling for its personnel<\/strong> and other government officials and employees, citing concerns over integrity and public trust<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under Memorandum Circular No. 2025-082<\/strong>, which took immediate effect, the prohibition covers all DILG offices and attached agencies<\/strong>, including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, and several commissions such as the National Youth Commission and the Philippine Commission on Women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interior secretary Jonvic Remulla<\/strong> warned that employees caught engaging in online gambling could face both criminal and administrative charges. He said online gambling undermined the ethical standards expected of public officials and conflicted with their duty to remain accountable to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Existing rules already banned officials from entering land-based casinos, but the DILG said cases of government employees using online gambling \u201cadversely affected the integrity and credibility of government service.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawmakers and civic groups welcomed the move. Representative Eddie Villanueva<\/strong> described it as a strong message that public servants must uphold moral responsibility and reiterated his call for a nationwide ban on online gambling through House Bill 637. The Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference of the Philippines also urged the government to declare all forms of online gambling illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has plans to meet<\/a> with religious leaders, educators, parents, law enforcement, and addiction experts to discuss policy on online gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n