SENATOR Erwin Tulfo, newly elected chairperson of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, expressed confidence on Wednesday that his panel would adopt a firm position against online gambling, as he prepares to convene a hearing to examine its growing social impact.
“I can convince them na our stand will be: no to online gambling. Kapag tinanong mo ako right now, I’d say total ban on online gaming is what our stand will be,” Tulfo said in a press briefing.
He said the committee would soon conduct a hearing and invite all relevant stakeholders, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), the Department of Finance, and other representatives of the executive branch, as well as youth, parents, school, and religious organizations.
“We want to listen. Let me hear you. Then from there we can talk,” he said.
Any discussion on regulation must be backed by stronger safeguards, he said, noting that current systems allow easy access to gambling, even for minors.
“Buksan ko ‘yung GCash ko, may sugal. Papaano eh tatanggapin ng anak ko ‘yung pera niya dun sa probinsya, tapos nakita niya ‘yung games, maglalaro siya. Saan ang control?” Tulfo said. (PNA)
