CIBAC Party-List Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva welcomes the move of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to direct e-wallet providers to unlink access to online gambling platforms, underscoring the initiative as a critical step toward safeguarding public welfare.
In a Senate hearing on Thursday, the BSP under Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan’s directive, ordered digital wallets to remove gambling-related icons and links within 48 hours, with a strict deadline and potential contempt citation for non-compliance.
“This decisive action by the BSP sends a clear message: digital accessibility should not be a conduit for vice and exploitation,” said Villanueva. “Online gambling is no longer a mere vice; it’s a serious threat exploiting the poor, the youth and the vulnerable through their mobile devices.”
The CIBAC solon maintains that while such measure is very much welcome, it still falls short of addressing the problem.
“We welcome the BSP’s directive, but regulation is not enough. Online gambling must be banned in its entirety to truly halt its destructive impact on families and communities,” added Villanueva.
Echoing this stance, Villanueva calls for the passage of his House Bill No. 637, which seeks to implement a total ban on online gambling. He emphasizes that while the sector is heavily taxed and regulated, those efforts are insufficient when weighed against the social harm it inflicts.
“Online gambling is predatory—not just addictive, but destructive. Removing app icons is just a start. The only real solution is abolition,” he said.
CIBAC reaffirms its commitment to advancing legal measures that prioritize human dignity and social protection over quick revenues. “The State must not benefit from people’s ruin,” Villanueva concluded.