Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24) — Sen. Win Gatchalian is proposing a separate regulator for casinos and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) amid issues on the agency allowing gaming operators possibly involved in kidnapping and human trafficking cases to continue operating in the country.
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“In my view, it’s much cleaner to establish a separate gaming regulator regulating all gaming corporations including Pagcor itself,” Gatchalian told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Tuesday. “Pagcor should be subjected to an independent regulator because they also operate casinos.”
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At a Senate hearing on Monday, Gatchalian criticized Pagcor for its lack of sense of urgency regarding the matter.
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The senator noted that in December, Sen. Grace Poe named in her privilege speech two POGO service providers involved in criminal activities.
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Since then, Pagcor only fined them with a “miniscule” ₱500,000, and is still coordinating with the police as of Jan. 23, he added.
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For Gatchalian, this issue also highlights the conflict of interest of Pagcor.
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“Pagcor makes money out of the licensees and the service providers,” he pointed out. “On the other hand, they are making money, they are making revenue, on the other hand they are regulating, meaning they’re enforcing laws against these licensees.”
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Gatchalian said this goes to show that “profits [are] more supreme over regulation” that is why these erring licensees are allowed to continue operating in the country despite their possible involvement in kidnapping and human trafficking cases.
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He said Pagcor should have been proactive in looking into the involved service providers, immediately coordinated with the police, and conducted its own investigation.
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“We are talking about kidnapping case here, we are talking about human trafficking case here,” the senator said.
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