Vice Mayor Antonino Jumawid said Friday he strongly opposes online gambling, citing addiction risks and family disruption as paramount reasons.
Speaking in an interview with broadcast journalist Ardy Araneta-Batoy of DYTR, Jumawid called gambling a vice that becomes difficult to overcome once someone is addicted.
“It can cause various problems, including losing connections with family members,” he said.
“I know a lot of people who became addicted to gambling and their lives have been wrecked,” Jumawid said, adding that some gambling addicts have seen their lives “go haywire.”
The vice mayor’s comments come as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been weighing a total ban on online gambling platforms, though he has expressed concerns that such a ban could drive operations underground.
Several lawmakers have filed bills seeking to ban online gambling in the Philippines, and the central bank has ordered mobile wallets and payment apps to remove links to gambling platforms.
Jumawid said the national government has the power to ban online gambling, noting that other countries have prohibited such activities.
He said Filipinos could initiate legislation to ban online gambling but acknowledged that parental influence alone is insufficient protection.
“Parents have huge influence over children and should keep them away from online gambling,” he said.
“However, it’s not sufficient as parents cannot monitor their children all the time, and some parents may tolerate kids engaging in gambling.”
The vice mayor cited the importance of protecting young people from gambling activities.
Online gambling operations in the Philippines underwent major changes in January 2025 when offshore operations (POGO) were shut down, though domestic gambling quietly expanded.