Meta has removed 20 Facebook pages of influencers found to be promoting illegal online gambling, following a joint request from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and digital advocacy group Digital Pinoys.
Digital Pinoys National Campaigner Ronald Gustilo welcomed the move, saying it proves their efforts and government actions are serious.
“We thank Meta for swiftly acting on our joint request with CICC to take down the pages of influencers blatantly promoting illegal online gambling. We hope the remaining pages flagged in our initial report will be removed in the coming days,” said Gustilo.
Some of the affected accounts include those of Boy Tapang, who has 5.5 million followers; Sachzna Laparan, with 9.7 million followers; Kuya Lex TV, with 100,000 followers; and actor Mark Anthony Fernandez, with 242,000 followers.
Gustilo said the move marks only the start of a wider campaign.
“Some of these influencers thought they were untouchable—that we were bluffing. They had more than enough time to comply. They gambled with the law, and now they’re facing the consequences,” he explained.
He also praised the CICC for its response, singling out its current leadership.
Under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Aboy Paraiso, the CICC has taken swift and effective action.
The agency has been recognized for its decisive and proactive approach in addressing online threats and illegal gambling activities.
Senator Joel Villanueva also supported the crackdown, calling it a step forward in efforts to curb online gambling.
“This is a significant step forward in our campaign to push for a total ban on online gambling,” reports quoted Villanueva.
Villanueva, who authored Senate Bill No. 47 or the Anti-Online Gambling Act, said influencers and celebrities should be held accountable under morality clauses in their contracts.
Villanueva said he was the first to file a measure against online gambling during the 19th Congress. For a long time, he felt like a lone voice pushing for the ban.
Now that more lawmakers are calling for an end to online gambling and other forms of betting that drive Filipinos deeper into poverty and destroy families, he said the proposal will be given full attention in the 20th Congress.
The accounts currently under monitoring for possible deletion are Miss Ginbilog (6.7 million followers), Vic Desucatan (6.7 million), Yalu_Ok (4.6 million), Hypebits (4.6 million), MoxieTV (1.2 million), Mga ka-dreamers 2.0 (1.1 million), TanleyTV (986,000), Aklas (710,000), SalasJinky (707,000), Ekang Shurikat (442,000), Ann mini vlog (292,000), Gaile Ocariza (244,000), Ralyn Jane Pangasian Bernante (206,000), Gangster Squad (85,000), Frisco Gaming (68,000), and AwitG (45,000).
The CICC and Digital Pinoys said more names will likely be submitted, depending on the outcome of ongoing monitoring. Facebook has yet to release a formal statement.
