Seizure of POGO assets, cancellation of birth records begin

With the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) in effect, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will start the proceedings for the seizure of their illegally acquired real properties and other assets in the country, as well as the cancellation of fraudulent birth certificates issued to their foreign owners.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

The initiative is part of the OSG's task of enforcing the POGO ban declared by President Marcos in July last year, according to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.

"The POGO clean up is necessary following the President's ban on all POGOs. The OSG will need the assistance of government agencies and the active support of Congress through appropriate legislative enactments to enable us to get this massive clean up going," Guevarra told The STAR.

He admitted that there is a "huge number" of cases involving the fraudulent birth certificates of foreign POGO workers that need to be cancelled.

The solicitor general, however, admitted that the government has no definite figures yet on the aggregate values of the said assets.

"Much would depend on legislative action to facilitate the process of cancellation of fraudulent birth records and civil forfeiture of illegally acquired assets," he said.

Guevarra, who previously served as justice secretary, said the OSG has no definite figures yet on the aggregate value of illegally acquired assets of POGOs, but said "the first order of the day is to take possession of and control over them."