CICC targets major Filipino influencers anew in crackdown on illegal online gambling

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By TechWatch PH Staff

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is moving from digital threat detection to full-scale enforcement as it formally endorsed to the Philippine National Police–Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) a new list of high-profile social media influencers allegedly linked to the promotion of unlicensed online gambling platforms.

The latest action strengthens the government’s campaign against operators that continue to evade regulation, with CICC confirming that many of the flagged platforms used well-known content creators to attract players, including minors, through livestreams, referral links, and online challenges.

The list includes some of the country’s biggest online personalities, among them Christian Merck Grey with 9.2 million followers, Whamos Cruz with 8.3 million, Toni Fowler with 7.8 million, Norme Garcia with 7.6 million, Vic Desucatan with 6.9 million, Miss Ginbilog with 6.8 million, Cherry White with 6.5 million, Boy Tapang with 5.6 million, Da Siblings’ Nica Pauline Llamelo with 4.6 million, Clarence “Wampipty” Santos with 2.9 million, Ohmyveenus’ Johnmar Villaluna with 2.6 million, and MotoDick with 2.3 million followers.

Several influencers have incomplete or private contact information, while the account associated with Whamos Cruz has already been taken down, which the CICC noted may be due to user action or platform enforcement.

The operation stems from reports submitted by Digital Pinoys, which documented URLs and influencer content promoting gambling sites that operate without authorization from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

These findings were validated by the CICC through its Threat Monitoring Center (TMC), which continues to observe active content promoting illegal online gambling as of November 13, 2025.

By endorsing the cases to the PNP-ACG, the CICC opens the door to formal case build-up and prosecution under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Presidential Decree 1602 on illegal gambling, and Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code on Estafa.

These laws hold both operators and individuals who knowingly promote illegal gambling criminally liable.

The CICC noted that past joint operations with PAGCOR, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the PNP have already resulted in arrests, equipment seizures, and the dismantling of gambling networks, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between government, law enforcement, and civil society.