Meta representative fails to attend the Philippine Senate hearing on gambling

Senator Erwin Tulfo has questioned the company’s decision to miss the hearing. 

The Philippines.- The Senate Committee on Games and Amusement has issued a show-cause order to Meta, requiring the tech company to outline why it should not be subpoenaed after its absence from a Senate meeting on online gambling today.

Genixon David, public policy manager of Facebook Philippines Representative Office, was listed to attend the hearing, but the company sent a letter saying that subject matter experts were based in Singapore and the US and were Wunavailable due to prior commitments.”

“On behalf of Meta, we remain committed to supporting the legislative process and would appreciate the opportunity to meet separately with your office,” the Meta official said in the letter, which was read by the committee secretary during the hearing. “This will allow our authorised representatives to present Meta’s initiatives, policies, enforcement, and partnership with both government and non-government stakeholders to discuss Meta’s existing policies on online gambling and real money gaming content.”

The Inquirer reported that Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the committee, criticised the failure to attend. “You don’t respect this committee. If you have no respect for other committees, don’t do that here. There are plenty of detention cells downstairs—I can have you placed in one,” he reportedly said.

Tulfo also asked for updates from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and other government agencies on the enforcement of regulations on online gambling. 

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Senator Erwin Tulfo has questioned the company’s decision to miss the hearing.  The Philippines.- The Senate Committee on Games and Amusement has issued a show-cause order to Meta, requiring the…