Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva praised the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday for its decision to prohibit personnel and local government officials from engaging in online gambling, calling it a significant step in the right direction.
Villanueva expressed gratitude to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla for promptly addressing his call for a clear and explicit prohibition, stating that the directive addresses a long-standing gap in regulating the conduct of public officials.
The memorandum applies to all elected and appointed officials at the barangay, municipal, city, and provincial levels, and extends to the DILG’s attached agencies, including the Philippine National Police. “This is a step in the right direction as it provides concrete guidelines for all levels of local government,” Villanueva remarked. “By taking a firm stand against online gambling, the DILG is protecting the integrity of public service and setting a strong example for other agencies to follow.”
He emphasized that public officials must uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior, noting that online gambling poses risks of addiction, financial distress, and compromised decision-making—issues that could directly impact governance and the responsible management of public resources.
Villanueva urged the Civil Service Commission to adopt a similar policy that would encompass all civil servants nationwide, expressing confidence that such a move would strengthen efforts to shield government personnel from the temptations of gambling.
“We trust that the commission would respond favorably to our call to prevent this menace of online gambling from harming our people, especially all officials and workers in government,” he added.