Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for stronger laws to stop the surge of illegal online gambling, warning that unlicensed betting sites continue to lure millions of Filipinos into addiction.
“Parang kabute ang mga ito – kahit ma-block ngayon, bukas andyan na naman. It’s never ending. Dapat putulin na ang ugat,” Gatchalian told the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) during a Senate hearing.
The CICC said it blocks about 50,000 online gambling sites on average, with 95–97% operating overseas.
Authorities admitted they can only block access within Philippine jurisdiction, making full takedown difficult due to cross-border operations.
CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso proposed appointing cyber diplomats to strengthen international cooperation, noting the Philippines has yet to designate one. He also suggested expanding mutual legal assistance treaties to cover cybercrimes, not just traditional offenses.
Last year, Gatchalian filed the Online Gambling Regulatory Act to impose strict regulations on online gambling instead of a total ban that could drive operations underground.
