A CIVIL society group has asked the Supreme Court to stop the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. from granting licenses for online gaming operations.
In a petition for prohibition, the Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines sought the issuance of an injunction against Pagcor’s acceptance of applications, processing and issuance of licenses for Philippine Online Gaming Operations.
The ATM also asked the SC to nullify the rules and regulations for POGO issued by Pagcor board, led by chairperson Andrea Domingo, last September and void all existing licenses issued by the regulatory body.
ATM chairman Leon Peralta alleged that the Pagcor violated Section 1 of its own charter, Republic Act No. 9847, by issuing the licenses.
Petitioner stressed that under the said law, processing and approval of POGO licenses are “vested only to the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority.”
In particular, ATM specifically prodded the the high court to declare the “assumed authority” of Pagcor of continuing to accept applications for, processing of and issuance of POGO licenses as unconstitutional and illegal.
The group also alleged that Pagcor should be held in contempt of court for violating earlier rulings of the high court on jai alai and on operations of sports betting and internet gaming.
According to the group, the assailed Pagcor rules violate Executive Order No. 13 issued last month by President Rodrigo Duterte, which specifically defined and clarified individual authorities of each government agency.
Aside from recognizing the authority of Pagcor to operate and license gambling casinos, the order recognized freeport zones Apeco, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan as authorized to operate gambling facilities or give license to operators.
Section 3 of the EO clarified that in the case of online gambling, licensed online gambling operators are prohibited from letting persons “physically located outside the territorial jurisdiction” of the licensing authorities like Pagcor and the freeport zones to participate in the games, whether through an online portal or similar means.
Duterte issued the order following the P50-million bribe controversy involving Chinese casino tycoon Jack Lam and former officials of the Bureau of Immigration over his illegal online casino operations in Clark Field, Pampanga.
