PAGCOR, the gaming regulator of the Philippines, announced that the gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the country experienced a slight decline in Q3 2025, reaching approximately...
Meta takes down 20 Filipino influencer pages
Meta has removed 20 Facebook pages of Filipino influencers accused of promoting illegal online gambling platforms, following a formal request from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
The advocacy group, Digital Pinoys, that submitted the initial batch to the CICC, verified the takedown. While the identities of all affected influencers have not yet been officially disclosed, some high-profile names were confirmed. Among the removed pages are:
- Sachzna Laparan – 9.7 million followers.
- Boy Tapang – 5.5 million followers.
- Mark Anthony Fernandez – 242K followers.
- Kuya Lex TV – 100K followers.
According to Digital Pinoys National Campaigner Ronald Gustilo, the crackdown action serves as a strong message that both their group and the government are serious when it comes to online gambling violations.
Ronald Gustilo, National Campaigner at Digital Pinoys, stated:
“These influencers act as if they’re untouchable. This move proves we’re serious, and more will follow.”
Facebook, owned by Meta, has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter. However, the removal aligns with ongoing efforts to curb the spread of illegal activities on digital platforms, particularly online gambling operations that violate Philippine law.
The crackdown appears to be part of a broader effort by Meta to combat the increase of unregulated gambling content on its platforms, which poses risks to users and violates community standards.
Authorities have yet to confirm the full list of influencers involved. Meanwhile, the online community is speculating as several high-profile creators have gone silent or disappeared from the platform.
The CICC and Digital Pinoys emphasized that this is only the first batch of takedowns and further actions against violators should be expected.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced a huge increase of 49% in net income for the first three quarters of 2025, amounting in $243 million.
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