Pres. Bongbong Marcos Asked about Not Mentioning Online Gambling in SONA 2025
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President claimed that he wants Catholic bishops and priests to be part of the body that will form online gambling policy.
Over a week ago, the 4th State of the Nation Address of Marcos Jr. gathered the senators, the members of the House of Representatives, his Cabinet officials, and several distinguished guests in Batasang Pambansa. The President gave a report about the projects and accomplishments of his administration in the past three (3) years.
Marcos Jr. is halfway to the end of his term as president. During his SONA 2025, Pres. Bongbong Marcos vowed to sign budget proposals that are not in line with the plans of the government. He also called on the public officials involved in illegal activities like pocketing the government’s money to be ashamed of what they are doing.
According to the President, the flood control project failed. He warned erring public officials that somebody really has to answer for the suffering of the Filipino people. During the Marcos SONA 2025, the Chief Executive assured that education remains on top of the priorities of his administration.
He claimed that the laptops for the public school teachers have already arrived and the educators will be paid for the excess in their workload and for their overtime work. The President also stressed that more classrooms will be built in the next three (3) years of his term and he wants to digitize the schools.
However, there was one major issue that many people wait for Pres. Bongbong Marcos to mention in his SONA 2025 but he did not — the issue about online gambling. Many Filipinos are curious if the President will announced a total ban on it or have it regulated through policies.
Recently, Pres. Bongbong Marcos answered to a question about online gambling. Based on a report on GMA News, he revealed that he wants Catholic bishops and priests to be part of the body that will craft the policy for online gambling.
According to Marcos Jr., he already started a conference among the affected stakeholders regarding online gambling. When asked why he did not mention it during his SONA, the President claimed that they still have to form the policy on what the government will do about it.
“I have already started to organize a… shall we, to convene a conference of those who are… all the stakeholders. We are talking about, maraming marami tayong naririnig from the CBCP. So, sama natin sila. Mga pari, mga obispo. The parents, of course,” the President said.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos further said that the youth are the “victimized demographic”. According to him, after convening, they will have to talk to the people who will be in-charge in implementing the policy. Based on the report, he does not want to not have a control over online gambling so he did not opt to ban it.
“The first effect of banning it fully is to put it underground. And then we have no control. ‘Yan talagang wala na tayong recognition,” Marcos Jr. expressed.
Based on the report, Pres. Bongbong Marcos claimed that online gambling is allegedly not the problem but its social effects to the children and those who are addicted to it. He assured that they will come up with a plan to address the problem.
Recently, through a podcast interview, Pres. Bongbong Marcos also expressed his belief that the P17.27 trillion debt of the Philippines can be brought down slowly.