Philippines: DILG bans officials and employees from online gambling
Policy covers multiple agencies under the department’s supervision.
Key points:
– Local government officials and DILG personnel prohibited from engaging in online gambling
– Violators face both criminal and administrative sanctions
– Policy extends to several commissions and agencies under the DILG umbrella
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has introduced a department-wide ban on online gambling, prohibiting all local government officials and employees from engaging in any form of such activity.
Indeed, the Philippine Star has reported that he directive, issued by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, warns those caught gambling online will be subject to criminal and administrative penalties.
He stressed that both casinos and online gambling undermine the integrity of public service, and reiterated that public servants must remain accountable to the people, in line with the 1987 Constitution.
The ban applies not only to the DILG and local government units but also to the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, National Youth Commission, Philippine Commission on Women, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Philippine Public Safety College and the National Police Commission.
CIBAC party-list Representative Eddie Villanueva commended the move, stating it reinforced the need for public servants to uphold high standards of integrity and moral responsibility. He also renewed his call for a complete prohibition on online gambling nationwide, arguing that the social harm caused by addiction outweighs any fiscal benefits to the state.
Good to know: Villanueva has filed House Bill 637, which seeks to outlaw online gambling entirely rather than regulate or tax it heavily
He emphasised that such a measure would better protect citizens from the risks and social consequences associated with gambling addiction.
The DILG’s order marks a significant tightening of internal conduct rules for public officials, with the intention of reinforcing public trust and ensuring the ethical use of both personal and official time.
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