The motu proprio inquiry of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety chaired by Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, joint with the Committee on Games and Amusement headed by Cavite Rep. Antonio Ferrer, into the proliferation of criminal activities and unlawful acts linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) continued on Wednesday.
Ferrer highlighted the achievements and ongoing issues from the two past hearings, revealing extensive illicit activities in the POGO industry. He noted that revenue from offshore gaming does not justify the social costs, leading to growing public support for a ban as echoed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his last State of the Nation Address.
Ferrer called for a centralized monitoring of foreigners, proactive local government actions, stricter SIM registration, and possible revisions to EO 13 on the regulation and licensing of gambling and online gaming facilities in the country.
Fernandez echoed Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez's call for inventory management and proper agency oversight to protect POGO facilities and equipment, stressing the importance of investigating corruption among elected officials.
"We can see a pattern of bribery in the highest form to betray the Filipino people, attempting to kill the sovereignty of this nation at ibenta ang ating kalayaan," Fernandez stated. He cited recent drug busts involving Chinese nationals, underscoring the urgency of addressing organized crime and public accountability through joint committee efforts.
"Illegal drugs and human rights violations must be investigated thoroughly," he concluded.
Also during the hearing, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. questioned Ronelyn Baterna, an alleged incorporator of Lucky South 99, asking if she was pressured into the role. Baterna responded that her job is primarily clerical and she was unaware that she is an incorporator.
"Wala po talaga akong alam kasi ang instruction po sa akin dagdag lang po siya sa trabaho ko," she said. Baterna was held in contempt by the joint panel for repeatedly lying under oath and refusing to disclose the owner of Lucky South 99. She will be detained at the HRep Custodial Center for 30 days.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro questioned Atty. Harry Roque about former President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order (EO) 13, which introduced the term "online gaming." Roque responded that he was unfamiliar with EO 13 and could not address it, as his expertise is in international law, saying, "My only knowledge of EO 13 was in the last hearing when former Chair Domingo said that President Duterte regulated online gambling."
Luistro mentioned the principle of separation of powers, stating that if the law creating Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) does not include provisions for online gaming, then executive orders should not introduce it. She pointed out that "online gaming" was not mentioned in the legislation passed by Congress, specifically Republic Act 9487, or the amended PAGCOR Charter.
"When the President issued EO 13, it is the humble submission of this representation: he legislated, he amended, he repealed the law. An act which violates the fundamental principle of the separation of power," Luistro asserted.
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