ASSETS proven to be owned by Philippine gaming offshore operators (POGOs) will be automatically seized by the state, the Palace said on Tuesday.
Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin made the remark amid lawmakers’ proposals for the passage of a law that would reverse the ownership of POGO assets to the government.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. “does not need to issue a directive” on the seizure of POGO assets, Mr. Bersamin told reporters.
“It’s already a given that they will be forfeited if they were involved in a crime,” he added.
Under existing laws, the government shall confiscate instruments or tools used for the commission of a crime. However, the owner of such assets needs to be convicted first of the crime.
Crimes linked to POGOs include human trafficking, homicide, and serious physical injuries, which take years to be decided on by courts.
A report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the weekend said Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian would file a bill to address legal challenges in seizing POGO assets.
The proposed Anti-Pogo Act would have a provision that “all” POGO assets would be “forfeited in favor of the government,” the report said, citing the senator.
The expected bill would have a provision authorizing the government to seize all “buildings or other structures or facilities, materials, gaming equipment and gaming paraphernalia used directly or indirectly in violation of this Act, and the proceeds of such illegal act or activity,” it added.
“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,” Mr. Bersamin said.
“We have to give due process to whoever claims to be the owner of these assets. We can’t just grab them,” he said in mixed English in Filipino. “But we have already in place, existing rules and regulations about forfeiture.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
