Menardo Guevarra 鈥擧OUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will play a key role in dealing with the Philippine offshore gaming operators鈥� (Pogos) exit from the country.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday told reporters that the OSG鈥檚 post-Pogo responsibilities would involve initiating proceedings to cancel fraudulent birth certificates issued to foreign nationals and to seize any properties they have acquired illegally in the country.
鈥淎t this time we have no definite figures on the aggregate value of these assets. The first order of the day is to take possession of and control over them,鈥� Guevarra said in a Viber message when asked about the assets subject to sequestration and forfeiture.
Fake birth certificates
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had ordered all Pogos in the country to wrap up operations by Dec. 31, citing their involvement in criminal activities such as scamming, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and violence.
The House of Representatives, which has investigated illegal drugs, offshore gaming,g and extrajudicial killings, has already moved to approve a measure to expedite the cancellation of fraudulent birth certificates issued to foreign nationals in House Bill No. 11117 or the proposed fraudulent birth certificate cancellation law.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante said this measure was prioritized following revelations that thousands of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens, had obtained false Philippine birth certificates to acquire official documents.
These documents enabled them to engage in activities restricted to Filipino nationals, such as purchasing land, starting businesses, or even running for public office 鈥� as in the case of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who is believed to be a Chinese citizen.
The OSG has also earlier petitioned to cancel Guo鈥檚 birth certificate for failing to submit the required supporting documents for late registration.
In July last year, the National Bureau of Investigation revealed that it had uncovered 鈥渃lose to 200 falsified birth certificates鈥� issued to Chinese nationals between 2018 and 2019 by the civil registry of a single town, referring to Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.
Pogo properties
Three months later, on Oct. 20, 2024, the House quad committee turned over documents to the OSG concerning land acquisitions and properties allegedly 鈥渙wned, procured [and] acquired鈥� by Chinese nationals in violation of the Constitution.
The OSG has been instructed to collaborate with the Land Registration Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Justice to ensure thorough investigation and enforcement.
In response, Guevarra gave assurances that the OSG would promptly review the documents provided to assess potential legal actions against Chinese nationals accused of fraudulently acquiring properties in the Philippines.
Guevarra, a former justice secretary, said that after reviewing the files the OSG would coordinate with other government agencies to gather further evidence and build the cases.
鈥淥nce we have gathered sufficient evidence, we鈥檒l initiate the appropriate legal actions, which may include civil forfeiture, reversion, escheat, cancellation of birth certificates, deportation and criminal/administrative complaints,鈥� he added.
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Civil forfeiture, governed by the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, allows the government to seize money or property tied to illegal activities without requiring a criminal conviction.
Reversion refers to the return of illegally acquired property to the state, while escheatment involves transferring property to the government when there are no heirs or when the property is abandoned.