SC dismisses petition challenging legality of Pogo rules

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the consolidated petitions challenging the legality of the 2016 rules and regulations for the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

In a 15-page unanimous decision written by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the SC said petitioners failed to observe the hierarchy of courts.

“This Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Regional Trial Court have concurrent original jurisdiction over petitions for certiorari and prohibition. The doctrine of the hierarchy of courts mandates that ‘recourse must first be made to the lower-ranked court exercising concurrent jurisdiction with a higher court,” the SC said.

“The doctrine is meant to guarantee this Court’s status as the court of last resort so that it can ‘satisfactorily perform the functions assigned to it by the fundamental charter and immemorial tradition,” it added.

The SC pointed out that acting on all petitions where the lower courts share original jurisdiction will clog their dockets “and exhaust resources that may be better utilized to resolve more pressing concerns.”

The SC added that petitioners also failed to show any direct and personal interests in the implementation of the rules and regulations.

The consolidated petitions were filed by the Union for National Development and Good Governance Philippines (Unilad), Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines, Inc., and lawyer Jovencio Evangelista.

The RR-POGO outlines the procedure for the licensing, accreditation, and registration of offshore gaming operators, offshore gaming agents, and other auxiliary service providers.

On the prayer for a restraining order, the SC said there was no showing that petitioners’ rights would be adversely affected by the implementation of the rules and regulations.