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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villanueva bats for stronger BSP oversight on lending apps tied to online gambling

Villanueva bats for stronger BSP oversight on lending apps tied to online gambling

Published Aug 2, 2025 01:34 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva is batting for stronger regulatory action from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and other agencies against online lending apps linked to online gambling, which he says are driving cybercrimes and exploiting Filipinos, especially overseas workers.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to intensify its regulatory efforts against online lending applications, which have been linked to the growing incidence of cybercrimes and the rise of online gambling in the country.
Senator Joel Villanueva (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Joel Villanueva (Senate PRIB photo)
In a recent statement, Villanueva underscored the urgent need for the BSP to bolster its oversight over digital financial platforms such as online lending apps, electronic wallets, and digital banks. He said these regulatory actions should go hand-in-hand with law enforcement efforts to address the negative social and economic impact of online gambling, which he seeks to outlaw.
“Kapag pinagsama po ang iligal na online gambling at ang mapagsamantalang pautang ng mga online lending apps, siguradong malulugmok sa kumunoy ang ating mga kababayan. Mismong ang Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) ang nakakita ng koneksyon sa pagtaas ng mga cybercrimes at paglaganap ng online gambling at online lending,” Villanueva warned.
(When illegal online gambling is combined with the exploitative loans from online lending apps, our fellow citizens are sure to sink deeper into misery. Even the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has identified a connection between the rise in cybercrimes and the spread of online gambling and online lending).
He stressed that regulatory agencies must play a proactive role in helping curb the widespread use of online gambling platforms.
“Regulatory agencies must exercise their oversight to support our law enforcement bodies, and do their fair share in slowing down the rampant use of online gambling platforms (Regulatory agencies must fulfill their oversight responsibilities to support our law enforcement agencies and contribute to curbing the widespread use of online gambling platforms),” he said.
Villanueva also raised concerns over reports that several former workers and operators of the now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have shifted to online gambling operations. He noted that some of them have allegedly sought electronic gaming licenses from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), the agency in charge of gambling regulation.
“How does Pagcor actually screen and monitor its licensees to ensure that these same individuals are not resurfacing under a different name or company? What concrete actions does Pagcor take when irregularities are discovered?” Villanueva asked.
He also criticized Pagcor’s position on “responsible gambling", arguing that such a stance is insufficient in addressing gambling addiction.
“Ang adiksyon po ay sakit (Addiction is an illness). Pagcor cannot just say ‘responsible gambling’ and hope that gambling addiction would magically go away,” he said.
Earlier this week, PAOCC Executive Director Gilberto Cruz confirmed that their agency had observed a link between the use of online lending apps and online gambling. Cruz shared that some victims, including overseas Filipino workers, turned to online loans after exhausting their savings through gambling.
In line with his stance, Villanueva earlier filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 47, which seeks to revoke “all general and special laws, decrees, executive orders, [and] rules and regulations” pertaining to online gambling.
If passed, the measure would impose penalties of up to six months imprisonment or a fine of P500,000 for individuals caught engaging in online gambling. Corporate officers involved could face up to five years in prison and the same monetary penalty.

Related Tags

online gambling Joel Villanueva Pagcor Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas e-wallet online lending apps
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