The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to submit a list of its personnel to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) as part of its directive prohibiting all DILG employees and local government (LGU) officials from engaging in any form of online gambling.
In an exclusive interview with DZRH's Dos Por Dos, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said PAGCOR will forward the list to licensed gaming operators to ensure that no government employees covered by the directive can circumvent the ban.
“Magsasubmit po kami sa PAGCOR ng mga listahan ng lahat ng kawani ng local government para pwede nilang i-submit sa lahat ng mga operators. Ang mga operators po kasi mayroon silang know your customer dapat alam po nila. ‘Yung KYC na iyon kailangan gumawa sila ng sarili nilang programa na ma-identify nila according to the names that we given them,” Remulla said.
“Kausap ko po ang Gcash na ibibigay din namin ang pangalan [ng DILG personnel at LGU officials] na ipagbabawal namin ang transaction within Gcash and Paymaya, and the gambling website. Hindi po sila pwedeng gumamit ng payment portal na gamit ang popular na sites natin katulad ng Gcash at Paymaya,” he emphasized.
The order applies not only to DILG’s central and regional offices but also to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Remulla stressed that he views online gambling in the same light as physical casino gaming and that both should be off-limits to government workers to maintain integrity and focus in public service.
"Sa aking pananaw ang physical gaming at online gaming pareho lang iyan," he noted.
"Dapat bawal silang [DILG personnel, LGU official] magsugal kasi it betrays public trust. Unang itatanong ng mga tao diyan saan kumukuha ng pera magsugal 'yan, kung bawal ang physical dapat bawal talaga ang online at dapat ehemplo ang elected officials at lahat ng kawani ng DILG," Remulla reiterated.
Meanwhile, according to the report by RH Kyle Bullas, the League of Cities of the Philippines expressed full support for the DILG directive.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, who serves as the League’s national president, said gambling—whether online or physical—can be a serious distraction from delivering effective public service.
He assured that the League will not tolerate any local official or government employee found violating the ban.
On Tuesday, August 13, DILG has issued a memorandum prohibiting its personnel, employees of attached agencies, and all elected and appointed local government officials from accessing and engaging in online gambling.
