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MANILA, Philippines — In its bid to terminate criminal activities hounding offshore gaming operators in the country, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has declared all service providers under probationary status, mandating them to reapply for licenses until September 17.
Assistant vice president for offshore gaming licensing Jessa Fernandez said this is pursuant to Pagcor’s new framework which was adopted in July 2023.
“Just this July 2023, we have declared all licensees and service providers under probationary status. We are also inspecting them very thoroughly para maireport and mai-record na namin kung ano ang locations na may mga suspicious activities,” said Fernandez in a public hearing conducted by the Senate’s committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality Wednesday.
(We are also inspecting them very thoroughly so that we can report and record what locations have suspicious activities.)
Under this new framework, all licensees and service providers shall reapply for offshore gaming licenses.
“This month until September 17, 2023, we are giving probationary status to our licensees and service providers. We are fixing the current framework. After this and if we see that nothing has really changed, we will be the one to prepare our recommendations on where this industry should go,” said the Pagcor official in a mix of English and Filipino.
Fernandez explained that Pagcor has decided to terminate its old licensing framework after noticing that it was being used as a gateway for criminal activities.
The old framework allows one licensee to have 10 service providers. This, according to Fernandez, is being used by perpetrators as an “umbrella” to cover up erring activities.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who presided over the hearing, said the Senate is looking at permanently banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), but she noted that they will leave the decision to the Executive department on whether Pogos will be allowed to continue operations or not.
To this, Fernandez answered: “As long as Pogos are here, we will do our best to enforce what needs to be done.”
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