David: Addiction in all forms slavery in disguise
THE head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has rejected justifications for legalizing online gambling in the country, insisting that addiction in all its forms is “slavery in disguise.”
At the 11th Philippine Conference on New Evangelization in Manila, CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David refuted the argument of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) that legal online gambling sites allow for better regu-lation and enable the government to generate revenues.
“The sum total of their reasoning: if we don’t legalize it, it stays illegal — and we lose a lot of money. We could use the money and generate revenues for the government,” David said.
“So I said, why don’t you just legalize shabu as well? Because it’s illegal — so let’s earn from it? That’s the same logic,” he add-ed.
The CBCP head also warned of the broader threat posed by various forms of addiction, including gambling and even social me-dia.
“How many families have been destroyed by gambling debts? How many young people spend hours scrawling, seeking validation in likes and shares, los-ing the capacity to be present, and losing even their social skills to build natural friendships,” he said.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa earlier expressed support for either a total ban or strict regulation of online gambling, citing its link to mental health problems.
“Many families have become or are addicted to gambling because it’s very accessible. Gambling is habit-forming and behavior-al. Either ban or regulation is fine with me,” Teodoro said.
Last week, Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco said stricter regulation is what is needed, noting that problems arise from illegal online gambling sites and not the ones licensed by the government.
“There are so many illegal sites that continue to operate. The proliferation of illegal online operators is our main problem, and unfortunately these are based in other countries and their target customers are Filipinos,” Tengco said.
“Regulation is the key and the answer, not a total ban,” he added.
PAGCOR has teamed up with the Ad Standards Council to regulate and pre-screen all gambling advertisements across all media platforms.
Under the agreement, all branded or corporate gambling advertisements including television, radio, online, and outdoor adver-tising, must be reviewed and approved by ASC prior to public release to curb misleading content and protect vulnerable groups from potential harm.
For his part, Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez said an outright ban will affect over 40,000 Filipino workers depend-ent on regulated online gaming sites.
“Banning online gambling won’t make it disappear…it just sends it underground. Right now, over 40,000 Filipino workers de-pend directly on regulated online gambling platforms. These are real people with real families, relying on these jobs for food, education, healthcare, and a better life,” Benitez said.
Benitez said regulated online gambling generates more than P200 billion every year.
“That money doesn’t vanish – it goes directly into hospitals, schools, infrastructure projects, community programs, and social services that improve our daily lives,” he said.
“Legal, regulated platforms keep gambling transparent and accountable. They verify ages to protect minors, ensure games are fair, prevent exploitation, and help spot and support people struggling with gambling addic-tion early, something impossible with underground operators,” Benitez added.
