Wow, now the whole Philippines is in on the hype.

Yesterday there was news: a significant precedent, Barangays can legally operate bingo without reporting to PAGCOR, is it true?

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The news said that the Supreme Court has ruled that Barangays (village units) in the Philippines can now organize Bingo fundraisers without applying for PAGCOR permission, as long as it is for "legal purposes + public welfare", and just needs the approval of their own council.

Honestly, this seems to be loosening restrictions for the community on the surface, but it's actually quite easy for the gray market to use it as a shield. Think about it, underground gambling rings are most afraid of law enforcement, but now, just by using the "fundraising" guise and greasing the local Barangay circle, gambling openly is no longer a dream. And if you report it, no one really handles it, because PAGCOR has been sidelined by the court.

With this blanket policy, it might lead to widespread issues across the country, making it hard to distinguish between genuine road fundraising and the start of a "pig butchering scam".

If it's really for public welfare, it should be more transparent: display the accounts, cap the amounts, and require real-name registration for participants. Otherwise, it's bound to go sour eventually.