Malacañang on Friday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. prefers a careful and deliberate approach on the issue of online gambling, stressing that any decision must be based on a thorough study.
“Dapat pong aralin at hindi po dapat na ora-orada ay mag-uutos agad na tanggalin iyan. Dapat inaaral po iyan. Ganyan po kasi ang gusto ng Pangulo. Inaaral [hindi] magpadalus-dalos sa aksiyon,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing.
Castro said critics should consider as one aspect of the issue the revenue that licensed online gambling operators generate.
“Kapag nga tinanggal natin agad-agad ang online gambling at maapektuhan naman iyong ibang mga lisensiyado, makakaapekto ba ito sa tulong sa bayan, sa tulong sa mga estudyante, sa tulong sa mga Pilipino?” Castro said.
Castro said revenues from licensed online gambling outlets provide funding for public assistance programs.
“Dapat muna po malaman natin saan ba nanggagaling iyong kamalian, doon ba sa licensed online gambling app o doon sa mga hindi lisensiyado? Dapat malaman natin saan ba nagugumon ang ating mga kababayan sa sugal – doon ba sa mga iligal na gambling app?” Castro added.
Before his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, President Marcos had already voiced dismay that digitalization has made access to online gambling easier and warned that gambling addiction could destroy families. | PND
