Group wants Pagcor stripped of powers over online gaming

MANILA, Philippines — A cause-oriented group has urged the Supreme Court (SC) to issue an order restoring the right to grant online gaming franchises to economic zones.

In a 14-page petition filed earlier this month, the Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines Inc. also urged the SC to hold the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) in contempt for usurpation of judicial powers.

The group said PAGCOR erred in arrogating upon itself the authority to “interpret and implement the law” hence, giving itself the exclusive privilege to “centralize and integrate all game of chance” as defined by Presidential Decree 1869.

The group asked the SC to issue a status quo ante order “restoring the regulation of internet/online gaming to the economic zones that were created by special law for that purpose.”

The group’s founder and chairman, Leon Peralta, filed the petition in response to PAGCOR’s comment on his earlier plea to disallow PAGCOR from extending internet gaming franchises to private operators.

Peralta said the SC, not a mere government-owned or controlled corporation, is the “true agency of the government with the authority to interpret the law.”

He cited as precedent the SC ruling on a case initiated by then senator Robert Jaworski rejecting PAGCOR’s assertion that it can regulate online gambling.

In its comment filed by the Office of Government Corporate Counsel, PAGCOR argued that Section 10 of PD 1869 cited jai alai as the only gaming activity expressly excluded from PAGCOR’s coverage.

Peralta, however, said PAGCOR was apparently using a “bogus” document purporting to be PD 1869, saying the phrase “except jai alai” does not appear in the genuine version of PD 1869 as published in the Official Gazette on Dec. 26, 1983.