Manila, Aug. 12 -- Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Tuesday hailed the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) move to prohibit its personnel and local government officials from engaging in online gambling, calling it a step in the right direction.

Villanueva thanked Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla for promptly acting on his call for a clear and explicit prohibition, saying the directive fills a long-standing gap in regulating the conduct of public officials.

The memorandum applies to all elected and appointed officials at the barangay, municipal, city, and provincial levels, and even extends to the DILG's attached agencies, including the Philippine National Police.

"This is a step in the right direction as ...