The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), the country’s gambling regulator, has pledged a PHP50-million (US$861,000) grant to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) “to strengthen operations against illegal gaming, including the banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs)”.
On Monday, the regulator’s chairman and chief executive, Alejandro Tengco (pictured, right), signed a memorandum of agreement with NBI Director, Jaime Santiago (pictured, left), at Pagcor’s corporate office, according to a press release from Pagcor.
An initial PHP25 million was immediately turned over to the NBI by Pagcor, according to the announcement.
Mr Tengco said the agreement “underscores the shared responsibility of Pagcor and the NBI in promoting lawful, fair, and responsible gaming in the Philippines”.
He stated: “This assistance will defray the cost of food and expenses for POGO detainees, as well as support the Bureau’s legitimate operations against illegal gaming activities.”
The Pagcor chief added that the agreement additionally demonstrated Pagcor’s resolve to safeguard the country’s gaming industry and ensure that revenues from legal gaming benefitted Filipinos.
He was quoted saying: “Illegal gambling operators undermine our laws, exploit our people, and put our communities at risk.”
Mr Tengco added: “By working hand in hand with the NBI, we are sending a strong message that we will not allow unlawful gaming practices to persist.”
Mr Santiago was cited saying that Pagcor’s assistance will enable the NBI “to step up” its “operations against illegal POGOs and other unlawful gaming activities”.
He further stated: “This partnership affirms our shared duty to uphold the law and protect the Filipino people.”
The Philippine authorities recently said that on September 19 the country deported 91 Chinese people said to have been working illegally in the country either in unlicensed online gaming activities or illegal mining.
A few days earlier, Philippine senator Erwin Tulfo had called for “updates on the online gambling issue” in the country, a month after a Senate committee started discussing a path of tighter regulation for the sector. Three bills seek an outright ban, while two measures propose stricter regulations.
An opinion paper last month from Marie Antonette Quiogue, a gaming law expert and chief executive of Metro Manila-based Arden Consult, had stated that Pagcor’s remit gave it only limited enforcement powers against illegal gambling operators. But the paper said there was the opportunity for law enforcement in the country to maximise use of Pagcor intelligence on the sector, to pursue rogue actors.
