Aside from his avowed policies against crime, corruption, illegal drugs and other kinds of vices, President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday also declared his policy against online- gambling operators, while promising to allocate government revenues from gaming for health services to the poor.
In his first Cabinet meeting in Malacañang, Mr. Duterte said some of the online-casino licenses approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) would have to be cancelled, pursuant to his new policy against gambling.
“Online gambling must stop. I don’t want a proliferation of gambling all over the country,” Mr. Duterte said in the televised first Cabinet meeting held in Malacañang.
President Duterte said he would ask Pagcor Chairman Andrea Domingo to cancel the licenses of those online gambling establishments, which—to paraphrase him—“have sprouted like mushrooms” throughout the Philippines.
He was apparently referring to the so-called e-games casino outlets proliferating even in the poorer communities in the country and catering to lower-income gamblers betting on card games, bingo and professional basketball games.
Under the charter of Pagcor, the establishment of these e-games casino outlets in residential areas is illegal and goes against the rationale of regulating gambling as a tool to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination.
Mr. Duterte said Pagcor revenues, which range from P30 billion to P35 billion per year, would be allocated for government hospitals to help indigent patients with their medical needs.
No changing of rules
The new President also vowed to honor government contracts already approved and ordered all agencies not to change the rules in the middle of the game.
In his inaugural speech in Malacañang, Mr. Duterte also said the Philippines will abide by its international commitments in good faith as a member in good standing of the international community.
“I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to refrain from changing and bending the rules, government contracts, transactions and projects already approved and awaiting implementation. Changing the rules when the game is ongoing is wrong,” Mr. Duterte said in his speech after being sworn into office at noon on Thursday.
Members of the diplomatic corps, who were among those invited to the inaugural, welcomed President Duterte’s pronouncements regarding his economic policies, ostensibly aimed at increasing foreign investments in the Philippines by making the regulatory policies and the justice system more consistent and, thus, predictable.
One of the most sensitive issues closely watched by foreign business chambers in the Philippines is the issue of refunds on their input value-added tax (VAT) payments, wherein the former leadership of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had a policy of making it harder for a VAT-registered taxpayer to claim input taxes, wary that such claims for input VAT payments are being abused to evade payment of correct taxes due.
Response of diplomatic community
The diplomatic corps, represented by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, welcomed Mr. Duterte’s election as the new president and vowed support of the international community for his administration’s programs. “We are grateful to you, Mr. President, for your kind invitation to this historic encounter and offer to the diplomatic family the possibility to greet you personally in order to strengthen the bonds of friendship and collaboration between the Philippines and the government of their countries and international organizations they represent,” Pinto said in his toast remarks during the reception after the inauguration ceremonies.
Mr. Duterte outlined his other policies in his inaugural speech, aside from his well-known advocacy against crime and illegal drugs.
He said the Philippines will honor its international commitments.
“On the international front and community of nations, let me reiterate that the Republic of the Philippines will honor treaties and international obligations,” the new President said.
Against red tape
On the issue of curbing corruption, the first order of Mr. Duterte to his Cabinet secretaries is to lessen red tape.
President Duterte said corruption has pervaded the government, from the top ranks down to the bottom, resulting in widespread distrust by the public for their leaders. He committed to restore the people’s faith in the government by fighting corruption.
“I direct all department secretaries and heads of agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all applications, from the submission to the release. I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to remove redundant requirements and compliance with one department or agency shall be accepted as sufficient for all,” he said.
“I abhor secrecy and, instead, advocate transparency in all government contracts, projects and business transactions from submission of proposals to negotiation to perfection and finally, to consummation,” he added.
Due process
Mr. Duterte vowed not to resort to any extrajudicial methods of achieving his advocacies, particularly in the fight against crime and illegal drugs, as he is believed to have supported during his two decades of tenure as mayor of Davao City.
In response to criticisms against his style of fighting corruption as being “unorthodox and verging on the illegal,” President Duterte said his strong-arm tactics should be viewed in the context of a person who has personally witnessed how crime, corruption and illegal drugs have destroyed the lives of Filipinos.
But he assured that no illegal methods of prosecuting criminals will be used in his fight against crime and illegal drugs, and asked the Congress and the Commission on Human Rights to cooperate with the Executive branch in its efforts to enforce the laws.
“As a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what is not. My adherence to due process and the rule of law is uncompromising. You mind your work and I will mind mine,” Mr. Duterte said to his critics.
Image credits: Malacanang Palace via AP