Nograles pointed out that these land holdings violated the Philippine Constitution, which explicitly states that non-Filipinos cannot own land in the country. She emphasized that foreign entities and individuals, especially those involved in the gaming (POGO) business, have exploited legal loopholes to illegally acquire land, undermining national laws.
She stated: "The Philippine Constitution clearly stipulates that non-Filipinos cannot own land in the country. The increasing reports of Chinese citizens and companies, particularly those related to the gaming business, holding real estate assets are very concerning and must be urgently addressed."
Nograles called on the Land Registration Authority to immediately issue adverse declarations on these properties to prevent further transactions and return the lands to the government. She also emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation between government agencies to investigate and combat illegal land acquisitions, especially those related to foreign criminal organizations involved in the gaming business.
Nograles also expressed concerns about the potential links between illegal land acquisitions and other criminal activities, particularly in the gaming sector, which are associated with illegal acts such as human trafficking and money laundering.
