Just a few hours after the government shut down the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) business in the bay islands of Krabi Province, the Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that the Malacañang Palace is "making every effort to expedite" the process of confiscating assets from illegal gambling operations in the Philippines.
Although there are laws regarding the government's acquisition of properties related to illegal operations, the "confiscation process is very slow," Bersamin told reporters in an impromptu interview at the Malacañang Palace.
The Executive Secretary mentioned that President Ferdinand Marcos "does not need to issue an order" to confiscate the illegal POGO properties, as "if these properties are involved in crimes, they will be confiscated."
"These buildings will become government assets. The government will handle them," he said.
Several senators are pushing for the passage of the Anti-POGO Act, which will include a provision that all POGO assets can be "confiscated and owned by the government."
