The Philippines’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a prohibition on online gambling for its officials and employees, signaling a broader shift toward shared responsibility in addressing problem gambling within government ranks, according to gaming law expert Tonet Quiogue.Â
Effective August 11th, the memorandum circular, signed by DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, bans all personnel under the department, its attached agencies, and local government units (LGUs) from engaging in any form of online betting, with violators facing criminal and administrative sanctions.
Citing the 1987 Constitution, Remulla stressed that public servants must remain accountable to the people, as gambling poses a threat to the integrity of public service. The directive covers the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, National Youth Commission, Philippine Commission on Women, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Philippine Public Safety College, and National Police Commission. This wide scope underscores the urgency of maintaining ethical standards across key government institutions.
Quiogue, CEO and founder of Arden Consult, argues that tackling problem gambling among public officials requires a coordinated approach beyond the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). ‘While the PAGCOR serves as the country’s gambling regulator, it cannot and should not be the sole agency tasked with addressing the issue,’ Quiogue wrote in Arden Consult’s most recent analysis. ‘Combating problem gambling, particularly among public officials and employees, requires a coordinated effort across multiple government bodies, each with its own mandate to safeguard integrity, accountability, and public trust.’
The directive also highlights the unfair blame placed on PAGCOR and licensed operators for public officials’ misconduct on gambling sites. ‘It is also unfair — as reflected in various news reports — that the licensed gaming industry, and by extension PAGCOR itself, is being blamed for the misconduct of government officers and policemen who spend their time on online gambling sites,’ Quiogue noted. Licensed operators, bound by strict compliance standards, use Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols to flag and prevent government officials from betting. In contrast, illegal platforms operate without such controls, enabling anonymous gambling that can lead to fraud and corruption.
‘Importantly, these restrictions should apply to all online betting platforms — including, and most especially, illegal online gambling sites,’ Quiogue emphasized. ‘Illegal operators, on the other hand, operate with no such controls, allowing anyone — including public servants — to gamble freely and anonymously.’ PAGCOR’s mandate focuses on regulating licensed operators, not policing individual public servants, leaving an enforcement gap that illegal sites exploit. ‘PAGCOR’s focus is on ensuring operators comply with licensing and operational standards, not on investigating or disciplining individual civil servants,’ Quiogue added.
The DILG memo calls for agencies to implement internal compliance rules and robust monitoring to address this gap. This aligns with Section 4(c) of the Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees, which states: ‘Public officials and employees shall remain true to the people at all times. They must act with justness and sincerity and shall not discriminate against anyone, especially the poor and the underprivileged. They shall at all times respect the rights of others, and shall refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public safety, and public interest.’
CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva commended the directive, stating, “It sends a strong message that public servants must uphold the highest standards of integrity and moral responsibility.” Advocating for stricter measures, he added, “What is needed is a total ban on online gambling, not mere regulation or heavy taxation. The social cost of gambling addiction far outweighs whatever revenue it generates for the state.” Villanueva’s House Bill 637 seeks to prohibit online gambling nationwide.
Enforcement remains critical, with the memo urging agencies to crack down on illegal sites and institutionalize compliance practices. Quiogue stressed that ‘enforcing gambling restrictions is therefore both an ethical imperative and a governance necessity. It is not merely about regulating gaming; it is about safeguarding the integrity of public institutions.’ As agencies adapt, the focus will be on leveraging technology for detection and imposing penalties to maintain public trust.
