Ban on Casino Entry for Gov't Officials

Republic Act No. 6713 declares it the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service.
Under Republic Act No. 6713, government personnel must discharge duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, and must uphold public interest over personal interest while leading modest lives.
The circular is issued to ensure observance of the highest ethical standards among public officials and employees.
The circular identifies gambling-casino conduct as undermining the public perception of government service as a whole.

All government officials and employees must strictly observe and comply with laws and policies prohibiting government personnel from entering, staying, or playing in gambling casinos.
The circular orders heads of departments, bureaus, offices, government-owned or controlled corporations, and local governments to ensure reminders and reiteration of the prohibition to subordinates.
The circular covers AFP members, including the Army, Navy and Air Force, and extends the reminder duty to include AFP personnel.
The circular extends the reminder duty to include the Philippine National Police.

Republic Act No. 6713, Section 2 provides the policy basis for promoting high ethics in public service.
Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1067-B (s. 1977), as amended by PD No. 1869 (s. 1983), prohibits the following from playing in gambling casinos:
- Government officials connected directly with the operation of the Government or any of its agencies.
- Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including the Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Persons under 21 years of age or students of any school, college, or university in the Philippines.
Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 20 (s. 1986) and MC No. 8 (s. 2001) reiterated the casino prohibition on the government personnel listed in PD No. 1067-B, as amended by PD No. 1869.
Executive Order (EO) No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987), specifically Section 46 (b), Chapter 7, Subtitle A, Title I, Book V, treats gambling prohibited by law and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service as grounds for disciplinary actions.

The circular provides that the mere entry or presence of government officials and employees in a gambling casino constitutes conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
This “conduct prejudicial” treatment applies unless the presence occurred in the performance of official duties and functions.
The circular directs that appropriate sanctions and penalties must be imposed for violations, consistent with the disciplinary framework under EO No. 292, Section 46 (b).
The circular emphasizes that casino activity has a negative effect on the public perception of government service as a whole.

All heads of departments, bureaus and offices must remind and reiterate the prohibition to officials and employees under them.
All heads of government-owned or controlled corporations must remind and reiterate the prohibition to officials and employees under them.
All local government heads must remind and reiterate the prohibition to officials and employees under them.
The reminder-and-discipline duty extends to officials and employees of the AFP and the Philippine National Police.
The PAGCOR Management must ensure the strict observance of the circular by all government officials and employees.

The circular reiterates and builds on MC No. 20 (s. 1986) and MC No. 8 (s. 2001), which had previously reiterated the casino prohibition rules.
The circular operates in alignment with the disciplinary ground in EO No. 292, Section 46 (b) regarding gambling prohibited by law and conduct prejudicial to service interest.