MANILA, Philippines — The government plans to implement forfeiture laws to seize the assets of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) as authorities move swiftly to shut down illegal entities before the year ends, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
He assured the public that while the government is committed to closing all POGOs by the end of the year, the process will respect due process.
“I read in the newspapers that it is the Senate that will look into it. But we are already doing everything to hasten the process. Except that we have to give due process to whoever claims to be the owner of these assets. Hindi naman pwede i-grab basta (we cannot just grab them),” Bersamin said during a press briefing at Malacañang on Tuesday.
Bersamin was referring to a bill introduced in the Senate that seeks to ban POGOs. The proposed Anti-POGO Act includes a provision that would see all assets used by POGOs “forfeited in favor of the government.” Bersamin emphasized that the country already has laws in place regarding forfeiture.
“There’s no need for President Marcos to issue a directive. It’s already a given that they will be forfeited if they were involved in a crime,” he explained, noting that the Revised Penal Code allows for the “confiscation and forfeiture of the proceeds or instruments of the crime” by the government.
When asked if the government would consider repurposing the seized assets, Bersamin responded, “Any kind of purpose that is (legitimate) to the government and to the use of the property.”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development recently repurposed a former POGO hub in Pasay City for its Walang Gutom Kitchen initiative.
In November, President Marcos signed Executive Order 74, which mandates a ban on POGOs and internet gaming licensees, covering illegal offshore gaming activities, new license applications, renewals, and the discontinuation of operations. Marcos stated that all offshore gaming operations are prohibited in the country, and no similar licenses would be issued. The ban was first announced during his third State of the Nation address in July.
