Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday, July 24 that the newly-enacted law Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) Law permits the government to seize and use properties of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and or Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) involved in large-scale scams and human trafficking.
Hontiveros said it is one of the most important amendment included in the AFASA law which she herself introduced during the plenary deliberations of the measure in the Senate.
“POGO man o IGL, itong buong industriya ng offshore gaming ay ginagamit para sa sankatukak na krimen: scamming, prostitution, human trafficking, torture, kidnapping, at marami pang iba (Whether POGO or IGL, this whole offshore gaming idnustry is being used for so much crimes: scamming, prostitution, human trafficking, torture, kidnapping and much more),” Hontiveros noted.
“I am pleased that my amendment granting the government authority to take POGO assets and properties was included in this measure,” she further said, thanking Sen. Mark Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, for accepting the amendment.
“Ngayon at inanunsyo na ang pag-ban sa mga POGO o mga IGL, maraming mga ari-arian na pwedeng magamit para ibigay sa mga biktima ng mga krimeng dala ng POGO sa bansa (Now that the President has announced a total ban on POGO or IGLs, there are so many assets that can be used to provide for the victims of POGO-related crimes),” the senator added.
Under the AFASA Law, “all properties, tools, instruments, and/or any other non-liquid assets used” in committing financial scams “shall be subject to civil forfeiture.”
Also under the law, these seized assets can be released to the Department of Justice (DOJ) “for operational support and victim protection, including victims of human trafficking involved in the commission of prohibited acts and other offenses in this Act.”
“The AFASA Law and the POGO/IGL ban are both welcome developments that need to work in tandem,” she said.
She further said she can only hope that through the law, the government can make amends by giving much-deserved reparations for victims of POGO-related crimes.
“While we celebrate the POGO/IGL ban, we must continue to ensure that accountability is exacted from perpetrators and justice is fully served for victim-survivors,” the lawmaker stressed.