MANILA – Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday reiterated that a special law is needed to be passed by Congress to efficiently process the spurious documents issued to Philippine Overseas Gaming Operations (POGO) workers, as well as the seizure and disposition of properties of POGO firms.
"We’re coordinating with other government agencies kasi, dahil nga libo ‘yung ganyan ngang kaso, at kung iisa-isahin natin ‘yan…na file yan ng kaso sa korte, aabutin tayo ng siyam siyam at medyo magastos (there are thousands of these cases and if we file it in court piecemeal, it will take a very long time and will be very expensive)," Guevarra said in an interview over PTV4.
"Kaya hinihiling namin sa Kongreso at meron naman bill na na-file sa Kongreso na gawing administrative cancelation ‘yung mga ganyang klaseng birth certificates instead na dadaan sa husgado (That is why we are asking Congress, and there is a bill filed in Congress, to make these cases administrative instead of undergoing through the courts). Kasi ‘pag dadaan ‘yan sa husgado parang karaniwang kaso ‘yan na mag-schedule next month, siguro next hearing n’yan two months later (usual court proceedings will entail long delays)," he added.
In his last State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the closure and revocation of all permits granted to POGOs as these have become scam hubs and centers for corruption and crime.
Following the congressional investigations into POGOs, a report was given to the solicitor general, along with a request for the mass action for the cancellation of certificates of live birth issued to foreigners that were found to be spurious.
Guevarra noted that the fake birth certificates were apparently used by foreigners to masquerade as Filipino citizens to enable them to buy property and even run for public office.
He added that recovering assets illegally obtained by foreigners in the country is especially difficult.
"Right now ang batas na ginagamit namin para mag-civil forfeiture ng mga ganyang klaseng assets (the law we are using in civil forfeiture of these kind of assets) or money in banks for example or real properties, is the AMLA, the Anti-Money Laundering Act,” he said.
"But we are hoping that Congress will pass that bill and enact it into law the soonest possible time para magkaroon ng (to have a) special law focusing on the civil forfeiture of assets or real properties acquired by foreign nationals illegally." (PNA)