The Philippines’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a stringent new directive that imposes a department-wide ban on online gambling for all local government officials and employees.
The order, issued by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, serves as a clear warning that any personnel caught engaging in online gambling activities will face both criminal and administrative penalties. This move marks a significant tightening of internal conduct rules for public servants across the country.
In his directive, Secretary Remulla stressed that both land-based casinos and online gambling platforms have the potential to undermine the integrity of public service.
He reiterated the constitutional principle that public servants must remain accountable to the people at all times. The ban is comprehensive in its scope, applying not only to the DILG and all local government units but also to a wide range of associated national agencies.
These include the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the National Youth Commission, and the National Police Commission, among others.
The decisive action by the Philippines’ DILG has drawn praise from government reform advocates. CIBAC party-list Representative Eddie
Villanueva commended the move, stating that it reinforces the high standards of integrity and moral responsibility expected of public officials. He also used the opportunity to renew his long-standing call for a complete nationwide prohibition on all forms of online gambling.
Villanueva, who has filed House Bill 637 to outlaw the industry rather than regulate it, argued that the social harm caused by gambling addiction far outweighs any potential fiscal benefits the state might receive.
The DILG’s order aims to reinforce public trust by ensuring that government officials and employees use their time and resources ethically and do not engage in activities that could compromise their positions.
