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 \u201cAnti-Online Gambling Act of 2025\u201d, which seeks to ban online gambling in the country.<\/span><\/p>

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 \u201cmoral and social emergency in order to prevent the digital plague from consuming more lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOnline 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 \u2018sabungeros\u2019 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,\u201d said Rep. Villanueva.<\/span><\/p>

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.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe 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?\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>

The bill aims to repeal all legal authorities that allow the operation of any form or degree of online gambling.<\/span><\/p>

The CIBAC solon underscored the moral dimension of the bill, saying gambling is \u201cinherently opposed to God\u2019s will\u201d 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.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cGambling is a direct violation of the 10th decree in God\u2019s Ten Commandments which warns us from coveting other\u2019s possessions. Gambling is simply succumbing to get rich quick formula which had led many to debt traps and poverty,\u201d added Rep. Villanueva.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOnline gambling brings the casino into every Filipino home\u2014it steals from wallets, poisons values, and shatters families. The government must act now to shut it down,\u201d Rep. Villanueva warned.<\/span><\/p>

CIBAC urges the the soon-to-be leadership of Congress to prioritize the bill\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cLet us be courageous in defending the soul of our nation. We must act now to protect lives over profits,\u201d Rep. Villanueva concluded.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 \u201cAnti-Online Gambling Act of 2025\u201d, which seeks to ban online gambling in the country. In light of recent issue surrounding the unresolved disappearances and deaths of online cockfighting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/template-full-width.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\n