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CIBAC REP. BRO. EDDIE: TAXING ONLINE GAMBLING DOES NOT CANCEL DESTRUCTION OF LIVES, BAN IT NOW

CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva has renewed his call for a total and uncompromising ban on online gambling in the Philippines, amid mounting social harm and some proposals to just introduce additional tax  to the industry.

 

This renewed call follows the statement of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., who said he is considering a total ban on online gambling but open to proposals to impose additional taxes. 

 

“We thank the President for acknowledging the nationwide clamor. This is a defining moment to put people over profit. We reiterate our call for a total ban online gambling,” Villanueva said.

 

“Online gambling has become a silent epidemic in our nation. It’s no longer hidden in corners—it’s on our phones, public transport, and social media feeds. Every click is a potential ruin, especially for the poor and the youth,” Villanueva warned.

 

While PAGCOR reported that the online gambling sector contributed over ₱51.8 billion in revenues in the first quarter of 2025 alone, industry experts said that the industry is already heavily taxed.   

 

“Industry experts already said that online gambling is already heavily taxed—but taxation does not cancel out destruction,” Villanueva stressed. “Calls for better regulation or even higher taxes miss the point. The product itself is inherently harmful, and the social costs far outweigh the revenues it generates. Let us not forget what happened in POGOs, E-Sabong, and the missing sabungeros.”

 

The damage is well documented—addiction, broken families, job losses, bankrupt entrepreneurs, and mental health crises. CIBAC cited cases like that of a self-made millionaire whose downfall through online gambling rippled across his company, employees, and family.

 

“We cannot allow the State to justify its role as a beneficiary of human misery. That is blood money,” Villanueva declared. “No amount of revenue can justify the widespread damage being done to our society.”

 

CIBAC instead calls for a strengthened Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to boost tax collection from legitimate value-creating sectors. BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. estimates up to ₱500 billion in annual revenue could be recovered from proper enforcement and modernization—almost ten times what online gambling generates per quarter, and without moral compromise.

 

CIBAC continues to push for the passage of House Bill No. 637, which seeks to implement a total ban on online gambling, both domestic and offshore.

 

“The time for half-measures is over. We do not need blood money to fund our nation. We need a revenue strategy built on justice, productivity, and righteousness—not on addiction and ruin,” Villanueva concluded. #

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Ban Online Gambling in the Philippines — A Call to End Digital Exploitation

Position:

The Philippine Congress must enact a total ban on online gambling, both offshore and domestic, to prevent further social decay, protect vulnerable citizens, and restore public accountability in our digital economy.

Context and Justification:

Online gambling has transformed into a silent epidemic, no longer confined to shady corners or private dens, but aggressively marketed on public transport, social media, and even to our youth through smartphones. The result is a growing wave of addiction, broken families, bankrupt entrepreneurs, and false hope — all while a heavily taxed industry continues to claim legitimacy through supposed revenue gains.

While it’s true that the online gambling sector contributes around Php 51.8 billion in revenues in just the first quarter of 2025, and is taxed at 35% to 38% (Insider PH, 2025; Inquirer, 2025b), this economic justification collapses when weighed against its deep and destructive social cost. These billions are not free money. They are extracted from Filipinos’ desperation, dreams, and vulnerabilities — from tricycle drivers betting away their day’s income, to young people being hooked by flashy apps, to entrepreneurs and millionaires losing fortunes that could have built legitimate businesses and jobs.

A recent feature (Inquirer, 2025a) reveals how one successful businessman, a self-made millionaire, was undone by online gambling. The ripple effects extended beyond his personal ruin — they threatened the jobs of his employees, the financial stability of his family, and his entire enterprise.

Regulation is Not Enough:

Despite existing regulation and taxation, the damage persists — precisely because the product is inherently harmful. Regulation cannot change the fact that online gambling is designed to addict, available 24/7, and tailored to exploit the most vulnerable members of our society.

The State cannot continue justifying its role as a beneficiary of destruction, profiting from activities that ruin lives while claiming to fund social services.

There Is a Better Way: Empower the BIR, Not the Gambling Industry

If the goal is to fund social programs, online gambling is not our only path — and certainly not our best one. Instead of relying on this ethically compromised source of income, the government should strengthen the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and modernize its systems for tax collection.

Experts estimate that up to Php 500 billion in additional revenue could be raised annually through improved tax compliance, stricter enforcement, and digitalization (BusinessWorld, 2023). That is nearly ten times what online gambling provides in a quarter — and it would come from legitimate sources of productivity, not from exploiting human weakness.

Online Gambling is Structurally Predatory:

  • Hyper-accessible through mobile phones and social media, especially among the youth and working class.
  • Targeting the Poor, who are lured by unrealistic dreams of instant wealth.
  • Addictive by Design, using psychological tricks to encourage compulsive behavior.
  • Socially Destructive, linked to debt, domestic violence, job loss, and mental health crises.

Conclusion:

We do not need blood money to fund our nation’s needs. The Philippines deserves a revenue strategy rooted in dignity, fairness, and justice — not in addiction and destruction.

Online gambling must be banned in full. The temporary economic benefit does not and will never justify the permanent social damage it causes. The real solution lies in empowering the BIR to collect rightful taxes from value-creating industries, rather than surrendering to the easy, corrosive profits of vice.

No more compromises. Ban online gambling now.

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CIBAC REP. BRO. EDDIE RENEWS CALLS TO PASS BILL BANNING ONLINE GAMBLING


As the opening of 20th Congress draws near, CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva renews call for the swift passage of House Bill No. 637, or the “Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025”, which seeks to ban online gambling in the country.

In light of recent issue surrounding the unresolved disappearances and deaths of online cockfighting (e-sabong) enthusiasts, the CIBAC solon said that passing the bill is now a “moral and social emergency in order to prevent the digital plague from consuming more lives.”

“Online gambling will continue to wreak havoc in our society by destroying lives, families, and futures, unless we stop it. The deaths and disappearances of the ‘sabungeros’ are only the tip of the iceberg and is doomed to be a recurring symptom of a deeper social ill caused by greed. We must put these to end once and for all,” said Rep. Villanueva.

Filed as one of CIBAC’s priority bills for 20th Congress, HB 637 bans the placing, receiving, or transmission of bets through the internet, and penalizes violators with imprisonment or hefty fines. Public officials found to be promoting or enabling online gambling will face maximum penalties and perpetual disqualification from public office.

“The disappearance of the sabungeros is a tragic manifestation of how online gambling has spiraled into lawlessness. E-sabong was just one form. What happens when other online gambling platforms follow the same path of violence and exploitation?” he added.

The bill aims to repeal all legal authorities that allow the operation of any form or degree of online gambling.

The CIBAC solon underscored the moral dimension of the bill, saying gambling is “inherently opposed to God’s will” as it is driven by the love of money and often leads to social decay. He emphasized that while earning a living is honorable, gambling promotes the pursuit of wealth at the cost of personal and communal ruin.

“Gambling is a direct violation of the 10th decree in God’s Ten Commandments which warns us from coveting other’s possessions. Gambling is simply succumbing to get rich quick formula which had led many to debt traps and poverty,” added Rep. Villanueva.

“Online gambling brings the casino into every Filipino home—it steals from wallets, poisons values, and shatters families. The government must act now to shut it down,” Rep. Villanueva warned.

CIBAC urges the the soon-to-be leadership of Congress to prioritize the bill’s deliberation and passage. It also calls on the executive branch to support the measure by taking a firm stance against all forms of online gambling.

“Let us be courageous in defending the soul of our nation. We must act now to protect lives over profits,” Rep. Villanueva concluded.

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CIBAC REP. BRO. EDDIE VILLANUEVA SEEKS ASSESSMENT OF ANTI-CORRUPTION MONTH LAW IMPLEMENTATION

December 12, 2024

CIBAC Party-List Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva has filed House Resolution 2114 which seeks an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the compliance of government agencies, GOCCs, LGUs, and private sector employers with Republic Act No. 10589, or the Anti-Corruption Month law.

The law, which was pushed by CIBAC Party-List in the 15th Congress, declares the month of December of every year as the country’s Anti-Corruption Month. It directs all heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) as well as local government units (LGUs) and employers in the private sector, to conduct activities designed to create awareness among the people on the adverse effects of corruption.

Rep. Villanueva underscored the crucial need to know whether government and private entities are complying with the law and whether the activities conducted effectively promote awareness against corruption at all levels of society.

The CIBAC solon stressed the importance of evaluating the extent and effectiveness of the implementation of these anti-corruption activities in order to identify gaps and further recommend measures to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption campaign.

“Mahigit isang dekada na po mula nang maisabatas ang Anti-Corruption Month, at nais nating alamin kung ito ba ay nasusunod at kung gaano kabisa ang mga isinasagawang aktibidad kontra katiwalian. Kailangang tiyakin na ang layunin ng batas ay natutupad upang maitaguyod ang katapatan at pananagutan sa ating lipunan,” said Rep. Villanueva.

“Kung nais nating gawing kultura ang integridad at accountability, dapat nating tiyakin na ang bawat aktibidad tuwing Anti-Corruption Month ay hindi lamang palamuti kundi tunay na nakakaapekto sa pananaw at ugali ng ating mga kababayan,” added the CIBAC solon

“As public servants, we must lead by example and ensure that the fight against corruption remains at the forefront of our governance. This inquiry will help us identify what more needs to be done to uphold transparency and accountability,” ended Rep. Villanueva.”

Rep. Villanueva noted that the country’s scores in various anti-corruption studies and surveys like the annual Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International remain dismal, stagnant, and disappointing.

The CIBAC solon urges his colleagues to immediately launch the inquiry, especially in the aftermath of the celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day last December 9, 2024.

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CIBAC REP. BRO. EDDIE VILLANUEVA CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BILLIONS WASTED IN DOH MEDICAL SUPPLIES

December 11, 2024

CIBAC Party-List Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva filed House Resolution 2127 directing the appropriate House committee to investigate, in aid of legislation, the Commission on Audit’s (COA) reports flagging the Department of Health (DOH) for billions of pesos worth of expired, nearly expired, damaged, overstocked, excessive, slow-moving, and undistributed drugs, medicines, and medical supplies from 2021 to 2023.

“Lubos na nakakabahala ang ulat na ito. Bilyun-bilyong pondo ang nasasayang dahil sa kakulangan sa maayos na sistema at pamamahala. Sa lagay natin na kulang ang pondo para lubusang tustusan ang basic public healthcare, ang ganitong uri ng pag-aaksaya ay hindi katanggap-tanggap – it’s a moral failure,” said Villanueva.

The COA reports reveal that billions worth of medical supplies were found wasted or mismanaged: P85M for 2021, P7.4B in 2022 and P11.18B in 2023. According to the audit reports, the DOH has repeatedly failed to address systemic issues in procurement, inventory, and distribution.

“Gusto natin alamin bakit ganun karaming gamot ang naa-aksaya o natutulog sa mga DOH warehouses, lalo na’t may mas malaking badyet sa pagbili ng gamot ang ilalaan sa taong 2025. Dapat natin itong busisiin,” the CIBAC solon said.

Villanueva noted that despite these troubling findings, the proposed 2025 budget for the Purchase of Drugs, Medicines and Medical Supplies is increased significantly to ₱44.5 billion.

“We cannot simply allocate more funds without ensuring that these will be fully and meaningfully utilized. This investigation is crucial to safeguard public funds and ensure that Filipinos are really benefitting from the medicines the government are procuring,” Villanueva emphasized.

The CIBAC solon urges his colleagues to immediately launch the probe in order to uncover any systemic gaps and lapses that have led to these recurring issues and to recommend legislative measures that will avert further misuse of public funds.

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CIBAC REP. BRO EDDIE VILLANUEVA AWARDED AS “OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT” BY PAO

October 21, 2024

CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva was awarded “Outstanding Public Servant” by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) during its Oath-Taking and Orientation Ceremony on October 21, 2024 at Bayview Park Hotel, Pasay City.

The event was led by PAO Chief Atty. Persida Acosta and attended by around 330 newly hired, promoted and for-change-of-status PAO employees.

Rep. Bro. Eddie was selected by the PAO Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Committee in recognition of the solon’s excellence in public service and in appreciation of all the support he has shown to advance PAO’s mission of promoting social justice and rendering free legal assistance in the country.

“Isang malaking karangalan po na kilalanin ng magigiting na public lawyers ang ating adbokasiya laban sa korapsyon at pakikipaglaban para sa katarungan, lalo na para sa mga mahihirap. Mas lalo po nating sisikaping maging mas malawig ang free legal assistance sa mas maraming Pilipino. Maraming salamat sa Public Attorney’s Office o PAO para sa karangalang ito. Special na pasasalamat at pagbati sa chief attorney of the nation, Atty. Persida Acosta. Sa Diyos po ang lahat ng papuri!,” says CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie in a video message.

The CIBAC solon authored RA 11476 or the GMRC law which aimed to reducing moral corruption in the country. Further, Rep. Bro. Eddie files House Bill 10869 or the Abogado Para sa Bayan bill that seeks the establishment of a legal scholarship and return service program. CIBAC also provides free legal assistance and advice to its indigent constituents to help them in their legal needs.

Mr. Dexter Nival, Political Affairs Officer of the Office of Rep. Villanueva, received the award on behalf of the CIBAC solon.

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CIBAC PARTY-LIST GETS 93 AS BALLOT NUMBER FOR NEXT YEAR’S POLLS

October 18, 2024

The Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-List, led by Congressman Bro. Eddie Villanueva, will have number 93 as its official ballot number for the May 2025 National and Local Elections.

On Friday, October 18, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) conducted an electronic raffle of party-lists eligible to run for next year’s polls to determine the order of their listing in the official ballot.

CIBAC vows to continue to push for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, death penalty for P100M plunder bill, anti-online gambling bill and other anti-corruption legislations aimed at freeing the government coffers from the bondage of graft and corruption.

CIBAC is the country’s longest serving party-list, undefeated since 2001. It has pushed for more than 280 laws including landmark ones such the Anti-Red Tape Act, Ease of Doing Business, strengthened Money Laundering Law, strengthened Office of Ombudsman law, the Anti-Corruption Month law, Government Procurement Act, GMRC law, Doktor Para sa Bayan law and Trabaho para sa Bayan law, among others.

For 2025 election, CIBAC will be again led by Congressman Bro. Eddie Villanueva as it lead nominee, with former CIBAC Representative Domeng Rivera and Atty. Cathy Valencia as the 2nd and 3rd nominees, respectively.

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CONGRESSMAN BRO. EDDIE VILLANUEVA LEADS CIBAC FILING OF CANDIDACY FOR 2025 ELECTION

October 8, 2024

Congressman Bro. Eddie Villanueva led the filing of candidacy of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-List for the May 2025 elections.

Together with select CIBAC leaders from NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and international chapters, Congressman Bro. Eddie marched into the Tent City, Manila Hotel where the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is receiving Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance for party-list elections.

Congressman Bro. Eddie will be CIBAC’s lead nominee, with former CIBAC Representative Domeng Rivera and Atty. Cathy Valencia as the 2nd and 3rd nominees, respectively.

“Kasama ang mga Pilipinong nagmamahal sa Diyos at Bayan, papangunahan po natin ang krusadang labanan ang korapsyon na syang ugat ng matinding kahirapan ng sambayanang Pilipino,” said Congressman Bro. Eddie before the media.

The CIBAC solon said that he will push for death penalty for government officials who will be convicted of corrupting 100 million pesos and above worth of public funds. He said ‘when millions of pesos go to corruption, millions of poor Filipinos are deprived of basic government services that are rightfully theirs.’

“Muli rin nating isusulong ang Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, anti-online gambling bill, at mga panukalang batas na magbibigay armas sa publiko upang bantayan ang kaban ng bayan. Pag-iibayuhin natin ang pagbabantay sa mga budget tulad ng flood control program at confidential funds,” added Villanueva.

CIBAC Party-List has championed more than 280 laws since it joined the party-list race in 2001. Among these are the Anti-Money Laundering Law, GMRC Law, Ease of Doing Business Law, Government Procurement Act, Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, and the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act.

“Sa tulong ng Diyos at sambayanang Pilipino, maaari pong malutas ang problemang ito ng korapsyon,” ended Congressman Bro. Eddie.

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Statement of CIBAC Party-List Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva on PAHAYAG September 2024 Survey Showing Corruption Overtakes Inflation as Top Concern of Filipinos

October 1, 2024

The survey result is an alarming reminder that corruption is the real enemy obstructing the nation’s genuine progress. It is so rampant and pervasive that its ill-effects are felt in Filipinos’ daily lives. This is an urgent call for the government to work double-time to sack corrupt officials, jail them, and obliterate opportunities for corruption. Unless we face squarely the sickening state of corruption in the country, the gains that we are all aspiring or working for will be in vain, leaving our country in a vicious, perpetual cycle of poverty and hardship.

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STATEMENT OF CIBAC REP. BRO. EDDIE VILLANUEVA ON THE TRANSFER OF ALICE GUO CASE FROM TARLAC RTC TO VALENZUELA RTC

September 13, 2024

We laud the transfer of the case of Alice Guo for violation of provisions of Republic Act 3019 or the the Ant-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act from Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC) to Valenzuela RTC. We thank the Ombudsman and Capas, Tarlac RTC for seriously considering this matter and not letting any technicality foil the wheel of justice for the Filipino people.

As we have said before, we can now eliminate the possibility of the case being dismissed because of jurisdiction issue based on the provision of Republic Act 10660 and Supreme Court jurisprudence particularly the case on Non vs. Ombudsman. In the said case, the High Court dismissed a case filed against erring pubic officials because it was filed not outside the judicial region of where the offense was committed – contrary to the provision of RA 10660.