Solon sa DICT: Ipasara ang illegal online gaming sites ngayong 2023          

NI NOEL ABUEL

Umaasa si Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte na tutuparin ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ang pangako nitong ipatitigil na ang operasyon ng illegal gambling sites ngayong taon.

Ayon sa kongresista, pinanghahawakan nito ang pahayag ni DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy sa tulong ng gaming regulators at law enforcers na lulusawin ng mga ito ang mga illegal gambling websites.

Inalala ni Villafuerte ang pangako ni Uy noong sumailalim ito sa  Commission on Appointments (CA) makikipagtulungan ito sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at sa Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) na hanapin at ipasara ang mga illegal online gaming sites at pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa mga operators, betting agents at bettors.

Gayundin sa Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at Philippine National Police (PNP), at mga local government units (LGUs).

 “We look forward at the onset of 2023 to the DICT working together with PAGCOR and NBI on finally  putting out of business all  illegal gaming websites and then prosecuting their errant operators and betting agents along with the bettors,” sabi ni Villafuerte, na CA majority leader.

“It’s not enough to just close down these illegal online gaming sites because their operators will most likely open new sites within five minutes of their shutdown. Criminal cases must be filed immediately against these illicit operators to cripple their lucrative operations. The betting agents and bettors must be prosecuted, too,” dagdag nito.

Sa CA panel hearing noong Disyembre, nangako si Uy kay Villafuerte na agad na makikipagtulungan ang opisina nito sa NBI at PAGCOR para hagilapin at hanapin ang mga  illegal online gaming operators.

“We will immediately set up a unit in order to address this in coordination with the other agencies like PAGCOR po,” sabi pa ni Uy.

 “First of all, it’s incumbent upon not only PAGCOR but DICT and NBI as well to form a team to crack down on these illicit sites because marami pong … if it’s unregulated, unlicensed it’s prone to fraud. You know you can put in money and you want to play but it’s fraudulent they can just shut down the websites. Secondly, billions of pesos are being lost because of these illegal sites,” tugon naman ni Villafuerte.