Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is pushing for the permanent ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), stated that the bill would address legal loopholes in the acquisition and management of seized Pogo properties.
Senator Gatchalian mentioned that a section of the proposed Anti-Online Gambling Act stipulates that "all assets" used in the online gambling industry will "be confiscated and owned by the government."
The clause authorizes the government to take over all "buildings or other structures or facilities, materials, gambling equipment and gambling paraphernalia used directly or indirectly in violation of this law, as well as the proceeds from such illegal acts or activities."
As the chairman of the Senate Fundraising Committee, Gatchalian stated that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the proposed measure will clearly define the budget sequestration procedures.
Previously, Deputy Minister of Justice Nicholas Ty from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking pointed out that the government lacks clear legal authorization to "temporarily use" seized assets during the confiscation process.
The government has not yet disclosed whether it has conducted a comprehensive inventory of the assets of the raided and shut down offshore gambling companies, including the number of buildings and their floor area, the land they are on, and their actual value, especially the assets of offshore gambling companies in Banban, Tarlac, and Pampanga's Porac.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Committee has proposed repurposing these properties, such as using them for government offices, school buildings, or even evacuation centers. These properties still need thorough inspection to determine if they are suitable for such uses.
On Monday, Gatchalian delivered a sponsorship speech urging his colleagues to support Senate Bill No. 2868, the proposed 2024 Anti-Online Gambling Act, in order to shut down all online gambling companies targeting Chinese overseas gamblers by the deadline set by President Marcos on December 31.
Senator Joel Villanueva, one of the legislators who exposed criminal activities associated with online gambling companies, also believes that the proposed legislation will help immediately facilitate the disposal of assets seized from online gambling entities.
He added that this bill will "supplement" the president's order to ban the online gambling industry, which previously bred serious crimes such as kidnapping, torture, cyber fraud, murder, prostitution, and human trafficking.
Law enforcement's surprise inspections also revealed that offshore gambling facilities were used as scam centers.
Villanueva stated: "We ensure that the measure covers all necessary aspects, including the confiscation of assets from online gambling companies and the destruction of gambling equipment and paraphernalia."
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who led a series of Senate investigations into crimes related to online gambling, stated that her amendments to the Anti-Financial Accounts and Fraud Act actually allow authorities to use confiscated properties to compensate victims of online gambling groups.
Hontiveros expressed her hope that the internal review rules of the law would be published soon, thus providing "proper guidance" to agencies at the forefront of the online gambling ban.
She suggested that the seized properties be sold, with the proceeds donated to the victims of human trafficking by gambling companies.
