The anti-gambling advocacy group in the Philippines recently called on local governments to take more firm and sustained actions to comprehensively combat the increasingly rampant illegal gambling activities. The organization pointed out that despite a series of arrests by the police recently, the effectiveness of law enforcement is still limited without strong support from local governments, and illegal gambling continues to erode the moral foundation of communities. In plain terms, relying solely on the police is far from enough; local governments must join the effort together.
27 people were arrested in one week, enforcement cannot rely on just a "burst of action"
The head of the advocacy organization emphasized that illegal gambling continues unabated, and its scope is gradually expanding within the province. According to police statistics, from March 16 to 22, a total of 7 crackdown operations were carried out, capturing 27 individuals related to illegal gambling. However, the organization believes that sporadic arrests are hardly enough to truly shake the foundation of illegal gambling. It must be a collaborative effort involving provincial governments, local government units, and even neighboring provinces to form a robust law enforcement and supervision mechanism, while also guiding the public to choose legal gambling methods, ensuring proper implementation and clear accountability.
The law has long been established, enforcement needs to be upgraded
Indeed, as early as 1978, the Philippines enacted Presidential Decree No. 1602 which imposes strict penalties on illegal gambling activities, involving gamblers, operators, and homeowners providing venues for gambling, with heavier penalties for government officials who participate. The advocacy group calls for the government to treat the fight against illegal gambling as a long-term task, not just sporadic arrests, otherwise both the moral and economic environment of the community will face ongoing threats. Interested in the latest developments in gambling law enforcement in Southeast Asia? PASA official website keeps track.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
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