Leaders of the House of Representatives are eyeing to remove the licensing powers of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) over casinos following the Resorts World Manila (RWM) carnage, where 38 people were killed.
During the lower chamber’s probe on the June 2 RWM incident, Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez and Majority Leader and PDP-Laban Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte scored Pagcor for not immediately suspending the license of RWM after the shooting and arson attack of lone gunman Jessie Javier Carlos.
“Resorts World Manila’s franchise should be automatically suspended, like what LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] does when a bus line is involved in an accident,” Alvarez said.
For her part, Pagcor Chairman Andrea Domingo told lawmakers that her office was not able to suspend the operation of RWM because “Resorts World Manila voluntarily suspended all [its] operations pending the investigation.”
“It voluntarily suspended [its operations following the attack], there’s nothing more to suspend,” Domingo said.
“Also under its [Resorts World] provisional license, it should be given due process—60 to 90 days to comply. That is the reason we did not immediately suspend its operations,” she added.
Fariñas said the leadership of the lower chamber will file a bill removing Pagcor’s power to grant licenses to gambling operators.
“The instruction of the Speaker to me, we will review Republic Act [RA] 9487 [An Act Further Amending Presidential Decree (PD) 1869, or the Pagcor Charter] with a view of amending it and repealing altogether PD 1869,” he added. RA 9487 was enacted during the Arroyo administration. The law extends Pagcor’s franchise for another 25 years.
It also grants Pagcor the authority to operate and license casinos and similar gaming and entertainment clubs in the country.
“You know gambling is prohibited in the country, but by a presidential decree, the power was delegated to Pagcor to have the sole authority to authorize, license [and] regulate gambling. That should not be allowed. That should only be a congressional grant of franchise,” Fariñas said.
“Worse, Pagcor is also operating casinos [and], at the same time, it is a regulator and it is also a licensor. By directive of the Speaker, we will file a bill removing [the
licensing power of Pagcor],” he said. Fariñas said the Pagcor chief should have immediately
issued the suspension of the casino operations after the havoc wreaked by alleged gambling addict Carlos.
“Why do you allow them to do it voluntarily, why not by a regulation, suspend it immediately. Why is Pagcor not exercising its licensing authority? You should immediately issue revocation or suspension…[currently] it is voluntary, they can resume anytime,” he said. In an interview, Domingo said she sees no problem with the proposal of Fariñas.
“There’s no problem with us, in fact, they said they will do what they want to do without asking us. I only work because I was appointed by the President,” she added.
Meanwhile, Domingo said Pagcor is still determining whether to cancel Resorts World’s franchise. “We will issue a recommendation on Friday,” she said. “We have to review everything because we do not want to open ourselves to court cases,” Domingo said.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes