Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Dealers check gaming cards inside a casino in Manila. Noel Celis, AFP/File Photo

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III admonishes Civil Service Commission Chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap for allegedly telling a House of Representatives hearing that there is no law banning government officials and employees from online gambling yet.He said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that the CSC chair had been asked about the discovery by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that some Department of Public Works and Highways district engineers had gone into casinos.&quot;So if you will read through the manifestation of this chairperson, Civil Service Commission at that, there is no law preventing government officials and employees from engaging in online or land-based gambling in casinos outside office hours,&quot; he said.He said Barua-Yap had made the statement on August 26, adding she also said &quot;and this is a quote, the only prohibition is provided under an executive order issued a few years back which prevents government employees from entering gambling establishment during office hours, etc.&quot;Sotto said that based on Barua-Yap&#x27;s statement, there was nothing wrong with DPWH officials gambling. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/8/senator-urges-csc-to-prohibit-state-workers-from-gambling-online-1345">Senator urges CSC to prohibit state workers from gambling online</a></div><div> </div><div>SOTTO: POLICY BARRING PUBLIC OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES FROM CASINOS STANDS</div>But, he said, under Presidential Decree 1869, which created the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., &quot;government officials connected directly with the operation of the Government or any of its agencies&quot; are not allowed to play at casinos.&quot;Wala nang lilinaw pa roon. Kahit na mahina ka sa Ingles, maiintindihan mo yun,&quot; he said, adding several other memoranda and government orders prohibit state officials and employees from going to casinos.(It cannot be any clearer. Even those who do not know English well would understand this)He said an order issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte even holds that mere entry into a casino &quot;shall be considered as conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.&quot;Sotto added that under Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, public officials and employees are expected to lead modest lives.He said Pagcor is bound to ensure strict observance of these prohibitions and that casinos that let officials in should also be held liable.&quot;These policies stand. It is best that CSC review their understanding of the law. We should always be careful in our pronouncements,&quot; he said, adding Barua-Yap may not be familiar with the guidelines her commission should be upholding.&quot;I&#x27;d like to say that it is extremely alarming to hear the Civil Service Commission making those statements, &quot; Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said in response.Villanueva referred the matter to the  Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization, and Professional Regulation.

"These policies stand. It is best that CSC review their understanding of the law. We should always be careful in our pronouncements," Sen. Vicente Sotto III said.

"These policies stand. It is best that CSC review their understanding of the law. We should always be careful in our pronouncements," Sen. Vicente Sotto III said.

Sotto bets against CSC chair’s take on gov’t execs at casinos

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Sotto bets against CSC chair’s take on gov’t execs at casinos

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 03, 2025 07:43 PM PHT

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Senate

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Civil Service Commission

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