Advocacy group targets PAGCOR

Advocacy group ATM is targeting PAGCOR for “usurpation of judicial powers” over the regulation of online gambling.

Philippines.- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) could be cited by the Supreme Court in case an advocacy group succeeds in its claim. The Anti-Trapo Movement (ATM) sent a 14-page petition where it accuses the regulatory body of “usurpation of judicial powers” over the regulation of online gambling.

According to the ATM, PAGCOR takes for granted that Philippine legislation gives it the authority to “interpret and implement the law” over online gambling. However, they argue that it never expressly mentions said authority, making the body’s actions over the segment illegitimate.

The group had already submitted a petition seeking to stop PAGCOR from extending internet gaming franchises to private operators.

The regulatory body replied through a comment filed by the Office of Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) and argued that Section 10 of Presidential Decree 1869 cited jai alai as the only gaming activity expressly excluded from its coverage. “If it were really the intention of Congress to exclude internet gaming, then it would have expressly included the latter in the exclusion,” it stated.