Meta Cracks Down on PH Influencers Over Illegal Gambling Ties
So, let’s talk about something that’s been shaking up the social media scene here in the Philippines — and it's no small matter. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, just made a major move by removing at least 20 Facebook pages linked to influencers promoting illegal online gambling. Yes, you heard that right. This isn't just a slap on the wrist — it's a full-on takedown that sends a clear signal that both the government and the platform are no longer playing nice when it comes to content that breaks the law.
This all came to a head after Digital Pinoys, a digital advocacy group, teamed up with the Philippine National Police's Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, also known as the CICC. Digital Pinoys submitted a list of influencer accounts that were reportedly promoting gambling platforms, and not long after, Meta took decisive action. Some of the names taken down include massive social media personalities like Boy Tapang, Sachzna Laparan, Kuya Lex TV, and even actor Mark Anthony Fernandez — people with millions of followers combined.
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Ronald Gustilo of Digital Pinoys didn’t mince words either. He said this is just the beginning of a broader campaign, and he made it clear: these influencers had time to clean up their acts, but instead, they gambled — quite literally — and lost. This was no bluff. These accounts were warned, and now they’ve been wiped off the platform for violating policies and laws.
And it’s not just civil society that’s speaking up. Senator Joel Villanueva also weighed in and praised the joint efforts of Meta, the CICC, and Digital Pinoys. He called it a step forward in the fight against online gambling, even linking it to his proposed Senate Bill No. 47, which aims to outlaw all forms of online gambling nationwide. According to him, public figures have a moral responsibility to uphold ethics — especially when their influence can directly impact the behavior of millions of followers.
But here’s the twist — many are now asking: Why stop there? If Meta can take down these gambling-promoting pages, shouldn’t it also go after the vloggers and so-called influencers who are spreading political disinformation and lies? You know the ones — personalities under the payroll of political factions, flooding newsfeeds with fake stories and half-truths designed to polarize and mislead. They’re still out there, operating freely, despite their role in shaping public sentiment through deception.
It’s a valid point. Disinformation, just like online gambling, erodes the fabric of our society. Whether it's influencing elections or stirring up political hate, it's dangerous. If Meta is serious about cleaning up its platform, then this takedown should just be step one — a starting point toward a healthier, more honest digital space for Filipinos.
So yes, this recent move is worth praising. But let’s not stop here. Let’s keep pushing for accountability — not just for those chasing easy money, but also for those selling out truth in exchange for power. Because at the end of the day, whether it’s for a bet or a ballot, manipulation on these platforms needs to end.
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