If I am not wrong Philippines is a democratic nation so they can't simply force a rule because it's considered as sin in a particular region but indirectly that's what the democracy is, what most people want will be chosen. To answer the question, the government should not intervene into something because majority don't want that while the leaders need their support so they will do things that can satisfy the belief system of most if not everyone, for them the number of votes matters more than what country is leading into.
Yes, the Philippines is a democratic country, and my people are free to speak about what they want. However, decisions can't be made too easily, and the opinion of any religious belief is granted. Investigation and legal rules are still needed before a conclusion is made about whether the government banned gambling or not. But I think the point here is that Catholic leaders just show help for the government to see the real sentiment of the people who fall into addiction. All they need is for the government to take action, not to ban gambling completely. Unless it was illegal.
So in summary gambling is not banned in the Philippines? I have met so many people from the Philippines in this forum and it seems some like slot games which means gambling may not be banned there after all.
What I understand in this topic is that religious leaders only interfere in matters that poses as a problem to the people they lead and as for gambling, the action of gambling addicts might prompt them to intervene. This may not be wrong because they care and will use that to discourage more people from gambling so they don't develop addiction. But morally, gambling is not bad.