Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Senators moved to tighten the reins on the digital gambling industry today, Wednesday, February 11, as the Committee on Games and Amusement launched a high-stakes inquiry into the industry’s "borderless" expansion. 

Led by Senator Erwin Tulfo, the hearing exposed alarming gaps in current regulations that allow illegal e-sabong and online betting platforms to flourish despite existing bans. 

Lawmakers grilled representatives from law enforcement and gaming regulators, questioning whether the persistence of these platforms stems from a lack of technological tools or a failure of enforcement will, as millions of Filipinos—including minors—remain vulnerable to predatory gambling apps.

The probe highlighted a deepening national crisis, with senators warning that easy access to betting through social media and e-wallets has turned mobile phones into "pocket casinos." 

Beyond the social toll of addiction and debt, the committee raised red flags over financial integrity, noting that the rapid flow of digital bets creates a high-risk environment for money laundering. 

In response, PAGCOR announced stricter "Know Your Customer" (KYC) protocols, requiring real-time selfies and government IDs to block fake accounts. 

As the Senate weighs a total ban versus more aggressive regulation, the message was clear: the government is no longer treating gambling as simple leisure, but as a direct threat to consumer protection and the safety of the youth.

PASAY CITY—The Senate is turning up the heat on social media giants, demanding a "united front" to dismantle the machinery of online disinformation. 

During a high-stakes hearing on Wednesday, February 11, the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media challenged platform representatives to step up their accountability and cooperate with government efforts. 

The session focused on a suite of new bills designed to penalize the spread of false content and enforce stricter online safety standards, signaling a major legislative push to clean up the digital landscape.

Beyond policing posts, the panel is looking to overhaul how the country manages media in the modern age. 

Discussions included the proposed abolition of the Optical Media Board (OMB), an agency many lawmakers view as a relic of the DVD era that is no longer equipped to handle today’s digital-first world. 

By streamlining these agencies and forcing tech companies to the table, the Senate aims to create a more transparent and secure internet for all Filipinos.

PASAY CITY—The Senate ramped up its push for national modernization on Wednesday, February 11, centering on a massive overhaul of the country’s healthcare system. 

Lawmakers resumed deliberations on Senate Bill No. 1508, a landmark measure that empowers the Department of Health (DOH) to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks and directly approve hospital upgrades. 

By allowing the DOH to increase bed capacities and service capabilities independently, the bill aims to eliminate the severe overcrowding and resource gaps that have long plagued state-run medical facilities across the islands.

In a parallel move toward long-term sustainability, Senator Loren Legarda delivered a high-impact privilege speech calling for a "recalibrated" economy focused on green growth. 

Warning that the nation’s debt ratio has breached critical thresholds, Legarda urged a shift away from traditional, infrastructure-heavy models toward an ecosystem-based development plan. 

She championed the enforcement of existing environmental laws and the creation of "green jobs" as essential tools to future-proof the Filipino workforce against economic instability and climate change.

PASAY CITY—Senate President Vicente Sotto III is sounding the alarm over a "broken" legal pipeline after revealing that over 4,000 drug cases were dismissed between 2022 and 2025. 

Despite law enforcement seizing an estimated P100 billion worth of illegal substances, technicalities in the current law have led to a surge in acquittals. 

Sotto argues that the Philippines’ unique and rigid "chain of custody" rules are hamstringing prosecutors, allowing major offenders to walk free due to minor procedural gaps.

To fix this, Sotto is pushing for a major overhaul of Republic Act 9165, specifically aiming to modernize how evidence is handled. 

His proposal includes amending Section 21 to allow the use of body-worn cameras or testimony from ordinary citizens as valid witnesses, moving away from the strict, often difficult-to-fulfill witness requirements currently in place. 

By simplifying these rules, the Senate leader believes the government can maintain due process while ensuring that multi-billion peso busts actually lead to convictions.

“The scale of justice must be balanced. Enforcement and prosecution must be matched with due process to protect citizens from abuse of authority. It is time for a holistic reform in the whole-of-government approach to eradicate illegal drugs and drug abuse,” the Senate President said.

Beyond legal tweaks, Sotto is calling for the creation of the Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority (PRDEA) to unify the country’s scattered anti-drug efforts. 

He emphasized that the current strategy is too focused on enforcement while neglecting prevention in schools and rehabilitation for users. 

Under the proposed PRDEA, all four pillars of the anti-drug campaign—prevention, enforcement, prosecution, and rehabilitation—would be managed under one roof to create a more balanced and "holistic" approach to the crisis.

PASAY CITY—Senators moved swiftly on Tuesday, February 10, to demand justice for the 51 victims of the MV Trisha Kerstin, turning the plenary session into a heated call for maritime reform. 

Lawmakers expressed outrage over the preventable loss of life, insisting that sea travel safety must be overhauled to prevent future disasters. 

The chamber echoed a unified sentiment: those responsible for the tragedy from ship owners to regulatory officials must face immediate and strict legal consequences.

During a privilege speech, Senator Robinhood Padilla turned emotional and slammed authorities for their "gross negligence" in enforcing existing safety protocols. 

Padilla highlighted a pattern of lack of oversight that allowed the vessel to sail despite clear risks, calling for an exhaustive investigation to uncover the root cause of the sinking. 

The Senate now prepares to summon transportation officials for a formal inquiry into the disaster.

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