MANILA – Senate Committee on Games and Amusement Chairperson Sen. Erwin Tulfo has warned Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan that he could face contempt charges if electronic wallet links to online gambling apps are not removed by Sunday, August 17.

At the committee’s inaugural hearing on Thursday, the BSP said it had ordered e-wallet providers, including GCash and Maya, to cut access to online gambling platforms within 48 hours from August 14.

“If I see a single link to gambling apps, I will cite you in contempt. The committee is serious—we have a problem, we have a crisis,” Tulfo said.

“I’m taking your word on this, we’ll give you actually more than 48 hours. So Sunday morning, we will not see online gambling games anymore and no more links of any sort will be accessible on e-wallets,” he added.

Tulfo stressed that the BSP, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and law enforcement agencies must present concrete measures in future hearings to address the social harms caused by online gambling.

“We want a clear and concise solution. We are talking now because majority of us wants total ban on online gambling while you are asking for regulation due to foregone revenues,” Tulfo said. “From the Senate’s end, we are inclined to ban it because social ills outweigh the income benefits. If you ask us, we want to stop online gambling right here, right now. But we will hear every side.”