Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not mention the issue of online gambling in his recent fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), causing strong dissatisfaction among several senators. Facing this highly controversial social issue, the president's "silence" was criticized as "avoiding reality" and "missing an opportunity to rectify the situation."
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva directly stated: "The president did not express any stance on online gambling, nor did he propose any solutions, which is regrettable." He emphasized that online gambling contributes nothing positive to the country and called for its complete prohibition.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who has long advocated for the regulation of gambling, also sharply criticized this as a "national missed opportunity." She revealed that she has proposed a bill containing 12 measures against online gambling, which includes: prohibiting gambling platforms from accessing e-wallets like Gcash and Maya; banning individuals under 21 from participating in online gambling; and completely prohibiting online gambling advertisements on television, social media, and traditional media. She warned: "Online gambling is luring young people into addiction, and the government's continued silence implies consent to the worsening of the problem."
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also expressed disappointment, saying he had hoped the president would at least clarify his stance on online gambling during the SONA, similar to his previous statements on combating POGO. He and his sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, have recently proposed the "2025 Anti-Online Gambling Advertising Act" and the "Comprehensive Prohibition of Online Gambling Act," respectively, aiming to legislatively sever the connection between gambling platforms and the Filipino people.
