FALSE. Hontiveros wanted a total ban on online games
FACT. It was not Hontiveros, but DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla who encourages total ban on gaming
Despite viral posts circulating on social media networks, there are no credible sources, official transcripts, or public statements to support the claims that Senator Risa Hontiveros wanted a gaming ban.
The viral allegations against her appear to be cases of political misinformation that misattribute Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s proposals to her.
Hontiveros has focused her efforts on investigating the accountability and safety regulations of digital platforms rather than implementing an outright ban on gaming.
As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, she scheduled a legislative probe to examine online radicalization and grooming within digital spaces.
Moreover, Hontiveros clarified that the upcoming Senate inquiry does not seek to pin the blame solely on video games or criminalize the local gaming industry.
Instead, the investigation aims to push Big Tech and global game developers to strictly enforce age restrictions, improve content moderation, and protect Filipino minors from harmful online environments.
On the other hand, Remulla publicly urged for a permanent ban on video games that espouse extreme violence. This call came in the wake of the school shooting incident in Tacloban City, which ignited nationwide discussions on youth exposure to violent digital content.
Reports emerged that the teenage suspects were allegedly influenced by an ultra-violent mobile game called GoreBox, prompting immediate concern from public officials. Remulla emphasized that such graphic applications desensitize the youth to elements of death and murder, and he asked Congress to study preventative legislative measures.
