Inquirer
Cardinal David rebukes Pagcor’s defense of online gambling
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio 'Ambo' David strongly criticized the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.'s (PAGCOR) defense of online gambling, arguing that the revenue generated does not justify the societal damage.
David, who heads the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, recounted that PAGCOR chief Alejandro Tengco had written to him to defend the regulation of online gambling, emphasizing the potential government revenues.
The Cardinal likened gambling addiction to "modern day slavery" and questioned PAGCOR's reasoning by suggesting the government should also legalize illegal drugs like shabu if revenue generation is the primary justification.
He further argued that if the government's goal is revenue, it should consider regulating all other sources of addiction.
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See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Senators Loren Legarda and Raffy Tulfo have filed separate bills seeking a nationwide ban on online gambling and its promotion, citing negative social impacts, particularly on minors.
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not yet decided on a total ban for online gambling, as urged by various stakeholders and groups.
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