Employees of local government units (LGUs) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are prohibited from any form of online gambling.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said anyone caught gambling online will face criminal and administrative penalties. He said casinos and online gambling are a threat to the integrity of public service.
Remulla cited the 1987 Constitution, which states that public servants must be accountable to the public. The policy covers agencies such as the Bureau of Jail Management, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other local government units.
CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva praised the DILG's move, saying it demonstrates high standards of integrity and morality for public servants. According to him, a total ban on online gambling is needed because the harms of addiction outweigh the profits.
Villanueva filed House Bill 637 which seeks to ban online gambling nationwide.