Senator Raffy Tulfo is taking a serious stance on urging celebrities and influencers to reconsider or withdraw their endorsements of online gambling. This initiative comes in response to the increasing number of people engaging in online gambling in the Philippines.
In a press conference held on July 15, Tulfo expressed his concerns regarding the rising problem of online gambling in the country. He called on celebrities and influencers to think carefully about the implications of their endorsements before entering into such agreements.
“Hindi ko sila pwedeng diktahan, ang masasabi ko lamang siguro mag-isip sila kung ano ba yung effect ng kanilang endorsement doon sa mga nakararaming taong nalululong sa sugal dahil naniniwala sa kanila.” Tulfo said in the presscon.
He then also reminded that this might cause several consequences not just with the person’s mental health, but also with their image online.
“Just imagine, sila dapat isipin nila kung ano ang epekto non sa mga followers, baka bandang huli yung mga followers nila imbis na matuwa ay umalis na sa kanila at hindi magpa-follow” he added.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has already issued a warning to influencers against endorsing unlicensed online gambling platforms. The CICC noted that around 80 percent of leading content creators have removed their gambling-related posts, while the remaining 20 percent have yet to comply.
Additionally, the cybercrime division of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is investigating 13 prominent influencers who together have an audience exceeding 46 million followers.
Meanwhile, Tulfo is expected to file a bill proposing a complete ban on online gambling in the Philippines as a solution to this growing addiction problem, despite the likelihood that influential individuals backing the industry may attempt to obstruct the bill's passage.
