MANILA, Philippines – Three bills have been filed by House leaders following an investigation by the House Quad Committee. These bills propose to penalize extrajudicial killings (EJKs), enforce a nationwide ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), and introduce a Civil Forfeiture Act.

The bills respond to the Quad Committee’s findings on EJKs, the involvement of illegal POGO operations in human trafficking and money laundering, and the unlawful acquisition of real estate properties by foreign nationals, particularly those linked to POGOs.

The House leaders have filed House Bill No. 10986, or the Anti-Extrajudicial Killing Act; House Bill No. 10987, or the Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act; and House Bill No. 11043, or the Civil Forfeiture Act.

House Bill No. 10986 defines an EJK as “any killing other than that imposed by the State” and considers it to be “the deliberate and arbitrary killing of any person not authorized by a competent court.” The bill also proposes the creation of an Extrajudicial Killing Claims Board to provide reparations and monetary compensation of P250,000 to EJK victims and their families. If passed, EJKs would be considered a “heinous crime,” punishable by life imprisonment.

House Bill No. 10987 proposes the revocation of all licenses for POGO hubs, regardless of registration through gaming agencies such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). It also aims to cancel the visas of foreign workers employed by POGO hubs, impose a penalty of four to six years’ imprisonment, and a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000. The bill seeks to prohibit all forms of gaming operations in the country.

In connection with POGO, lawmakers also filed House Bill No. 1104, which aims to reinforce the constitutional ban on foreign land ownership provided in the 1935 Constitution. The bill includes provisions to ensure that forfeited properties are repurposed for public benefit and that any real estate properties acquired by a foreign national are deemed unlawfully obtained unless proven otherwise.

📷 House of Representatives of the Philippines