The Philippines’ Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, or CICC, has identified 30 social media influencers suspected of promoting illegal online gambling. The agency has endorsed the list to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, or PNP-ACG, so that legal action can be taken against these individuals.

CICC Chief Undersecretary Renato Aboy Paraiso spoke at a press briefing in Quezon City. He said that the agency’s Threat Monitoring Team worked with the advocacy group Digital Pinoys to identify new influencers who continue to post content related to gambling. According to reports, the top 15 influencers on the list have follower counts ranging from 1.1 million to 9.2 million. These figures highlight the potential reach and impact of their posts on a large online audience.

Previous Warnings Ignored

Paraiso explained that the influencers were previously warned to remove gambling-related content from their accounts but did not comply. He said the CICC would now move to endorse them to the PNP-ACG for filing the appropriate legal cases. In addition, the agency plans to request the removal of the gambling websites that were promoted by these influencers.

This move comes after a warning issued by the CICC in July, urging content creators to stop promoting illegal gambling. Authorities made it clear that failing to follow this warning could lead to serious legal consequences. Despite the notice, some influencers continued posting gambling content, prompting this renewed action.

Possible Charges Against Influencers

Officials said the influencers could face several legal charges. These may include breaking the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and Presidential Decree No. 1602, which has stricter penalties for illegal gambling. They could also be charged under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code for fraud.

Paraiso added that investigators are checking if some influencers are working together on a bigger plan to commit online fraud. Authorities are looking into whether these actions involve several people acting as a group.

New Tools to Monitor Gambling Sites

Ronald Gustilo, a national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, said the group will soon introduce new monitoring software. This technology will make it easier for authorities to detect illegal gambling websites and track their activities online. Gustilo explained that the software can identify gambling sites quickly and help authorities take action more efficiently.

The CICC’s latest move shows that Philippine authorities are taking stricter steps to regulate online gambling promotions. By holding social media influencers accountable, the government aims to protect the public from illegal gambling and prevent the spread of content that could encourage fraud or other crimes. Authorities are signaling that online platforms are not exempt from the law and that those who ignore warnings will face consequences.