Senate Criticizes Meta for Skipping Hearing on Online Gambling Proliferation

Senator Erwin Tulfo sharply criticized Meta for failing to appear at a Senate hearing on September 16, 2025, that scrutinized the unchecked spread of online gambling advertisements on Facebook. The hearing, held by the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement chaired by Tulfo, focused on the challenges posed by online gambling platforms, particularly those not licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

A letter from Genixon David, Meta's Public Policy Manager for the Philippines, was read during the session in which the company expressed regret for not attending, citing unavailability of their experts located in Singapore and the United States due to prior commitments. Meta reaffirmed its dedication to supporting legislative requests and offered to meet separately with Tulfo’s office to discuss its policies and enforcement strategies.

Tulfo rejected the offer, insisting that Meta cannot dictate the committee’s schedule. "No, no, no, committee secretary. Why are they dictating this committee kung kailan sila a-attend? That’s not an excuse," he stated forcefully. He emphasized his frustration noting that despite removing online gambling links from e-wallets like GCash and PayMaya, such content simply migrated to Facebook, where unlicensed platforms such as 1xBet continue to be promoted.

Senator Risa Hontiveros supported Tulfo’s stance and formally pushed for a show-cause order to compel Meta’s representatives to attend future hearings. Tulfo underscored the gravity of the issue, highlighting that approximately 65% of Filipinos are engaged in online gambling, making it a national concern extending beyond Metro Manila.

During the proceedings, Ronald Gustilo, a national campaigner from the Digital Pinoys civic group, revealed that illegal online gambling links are also being circulated through Facebook groups and messaging applications such as Telegram and Signal.

"That’s exactly what I’m saying. I invited Meta, but they don’t want to show up here. This is probably the most absurd of all, and yet they still refuse to attend. You can see they’re being stubborn and want it on their own terms. They need to be spoken to directly," Tulfo remarked.

The hearing also examined the impact of delisting online gambling links from e-wallet platforms. Pagcor Assistant Vice President Jessa Mariz Fernandez reported a 40 to 50 percent income decline in the two weeks following the removal of gambling payment options from platforms like GCash and PayMaya. Despite this, Pagcor reiterated its commitment to strict regulation of online gambling.

Senator Hontiveros raised alarm over the high maximum betting limits allowed on these platforms, noting wagers can reach up to ₱500,000. She questioned whether the payment platforms view this as problematic.

Representatives from PayMaya and GCash affirmed their opposition to any form of abuse on their systems. Toff Rada, Head of Corporate Affairs for PayMaya Philippines, stated, "We're in favor of measures that will curtail that kind of abusive behavior using our platform." Lawyer Gilbert Escoto, legal chief of G-Xchange, Inc. which operates GCash, added, "Any abuse or misuse of our payment system is suspended right away."

The Senate hearing highlighted ongoing concerns over the regulation of online gambling advertisements and the need for greater accountability from social media companies hosting such content.