MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) formalized a historic partnership on Monday to include DOJ personnel on the state gaming regulator’s list of restricted persons, effectively barring them from entering casinos.
PAGCOR CEO Alejandro Tengco called the agreement the first ever signed with a government agency, noting that only a fraction of government employees—around 600,000 out of 4.5 million—are currently prohibited from gambling.
Presidential Decree 1869 forbids government officials and employees from participating in gambling, and PAGCOR has enforced this regulation by nullifying PHP310 million in winnings from bettors who failed eligibility checks at regulated gaming sites, including Casino Filipino.
The DOJ’s workforce of approximately 60,000 spans its central office and agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Corrections, Office of the Solicitor General, Public Attorney’s Office, Parole and Probation Administration, and Land Registration Authority.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida highlighted the move’s impact on integrity and accountability, stressing that violations of gambling prohibitions by public servants undermine ethical governance.
He further noted that the agreement enhances the identification system, allowing PAGCOR to control gaming access more effectively while enabling the DOJ to uphold discipline among its personnel.
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