Assets of shuttered POGOs to undergo inventory

State lawyers will conduct a comprehensive inventory of assets belonging to shuttered Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) following the expiration of the ban on the industry at the end of 2024, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) announced recently.

“The OSG’s massive post-POGO tasks will consist of cancelling all certificates of birth fraudulently acquired by aliens/foreign nationals and forfeiting their illegally acquired real properties and other assets in the Philippines,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said in a statement.

Guevarra noted that the scope of the assets to be seized, which may include substantial real estate holdings outside Metro Manila, remains undetermined.

“At this time, we have no definite figures on the aggregate value of these assets. The first order of the day is to take possession of and control over them,” he added.

Investigations by Congress revealed that some Chinese nationals obtained fraudulent birth certificates to acquire Filipino citizenship. This allowed them to form corporations and purchase properties used for illegal activities such as drug trafficking.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin previously emphasized the government’s commitment to expediting the forfeiture process for properties and assets tied to POGOs. He acknowledged that while existing laws facilitate property forfeiture, the process remains slow.

Both chambers of Congress are working on proposed legislation to authorize the government to seize all POGO-related assets.

The proposed measure seeks to transfer ownership of buildings, equipment, materials, and proceeds from illegal POGO operations to the government. This initiative aims to ensure that the cessation of POGOs benefits the public and strengthens the government’s ability to address illegal activities associated with the industry.