Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong. Photo from Adiong’s Facebook page.
MANILA, Philippines — If it were up to him, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said he would push for a total ban on all online gambling games, citing the social costs they bring, such as reinforcing addiction and contributing to mental health issues.
In an interview on Monday, Adiong was asked about proposals to either ban or restrict access to online gambling amid growing concerns that young people can easily participate by simply cashing in through e-wallet applications.
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According to Adiong, if the country was able to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), then online gambling should also be stopped.
“Many countries have already banned [online] gambling. In fact, we have banned Pogos here, and if we ban the Pogo in real and its physical form, why can’t we do that virtually? Because honestly, these gambling games destroy not only the mental health of individuals, but the moral fiber of society,” he said.
“The negative effects outweigh the benefits. For me, we have to ban this, if you ask me personally, because if you want to take down the evil tree, the bad tree, you don’t just trim the branches, you uproot it,” he added.
Adiong also said a stricter approach to online gambling may be necessary, as methods of cashing in and placing bets have become increasingly sophisticated.
“So I support whoever will push a complete ban on these gambling games. First of all, we now have a more sophisticated manner by which an individual can engage in gambling; we have cell phones now, and we cannot even regulate our youth, the children, who download these applications,” he explained.
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“So you not only reinforce the addiction of a person, their mental health problems regarding this vice. You’re also opening up the possibility of our youth becoming addicted to gambling. So you are destroying the society, you’re also pushing the next generation into disarray,” he added.
Several measures have been filed in the House of Representatives of the 20th Congress seeking to limit access to online gambling.
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In separate statements last Thursday, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon and Akbayan party-list Reps. Chel Diokno and Percival Cendaña urged the government to safeguard vulnerable sectors from the harms of gambling.
The lawmakers’ concerns followed a statement from Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David on June 30, in which he criticized the government for failing to protect Filipinos, particularly the youth, from becoming “gambling addicts.”
READ: CBCP call, proposed curbs put PH e-gambling under scrutiny
Last Tuesday, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also filed a bill seeking to impose stricter regulations on online gambling, including measures to reduce its accessibility.
Gatchalian called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and other government agencies to protect local internet users by stepping up operations against illegal gaming websites.
READ: Gatchalian pushes Pagcor to block illegal online gambling websites
While Adiong supports a total ban on online gambling, some lawmakers remain lukewarm to such proposals, as online gambling brings much-needed revenue to the government.
On Friday, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said his proposed Anti-Online Gambling Promotions in E-Wallets Act aims to limit the accessibility of online gambling by targeting top-ups made through e-wallet applications.
He explained that some applications allow cash-ins as low as P50, making online gambling easily accessible to most people.
However, when asked about Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano’s appeal for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ban all online games, Flores acknowledged the reality that such games generate income for the government.
READ: Solon says games bring revenues, but people’s access must be limited
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“I also recognize that it generates some form of revenue — a revenue that is badly needed by the government. That’s true, but at what expense? That’s it, you have to balance it out. So if it is so easy to play these online games, Filipinos are encouraged to participate in their gambling activities,” Flores said./mcm