Seven years ago, I was privileged to accompany then recently-retired Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to the “Ilocos 6” congressional hearings. He stood (well, sat really) as private counsel for Imee.
The legal battle which took place under the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability (GGPA) chaired by Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Ty Pimentel, was between Majority Leader Representative Rudy Farinas and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.
It was an inquiry on the matter concerning House Resolution No. 882 which initiated an investigation of Ilocos Norte’s tobacco funds allegedly being “misused” for the acquisition of motor vehicles through cash advances. The vehicles were distributed to barangay captains and farmers in 2011 and 2012.
It was an uphill battle for Imee, but not until JPE came to the rescue like a knight in shining armor. His wise counsel led to the eventual release of the “Ilocos 6.”
Fast-forward. Last July 31, I was privileged again to be with now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and his daughter Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile who was appointed by the President some months back as Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).
The two Secretary Enriles, author and administrator respectively of RA 7922, otherwise known as the “Cagayan Special Economic Zone Act of 1995” were in attendance at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety and the House Committee on Games and Amusement chaired by Rep. Dan Fernandez for the former and Rep. Antonio Ferrer for the latter.
The purpose of their presence was for two very important reasons to tell the public.
First, for Secretary Katrina to categorically state that, “There are no POGOs in CEZA. There never was, and there never will be.” Period.
Second, for JPE to “lecture” younger lawyers in attendance on the strategic importance on why he created CEZA and for what purpose as he discussed this with the late former President Marcos Sr. when national security and defense were on the top agenda of RA 7922.
Seated right behind father and daughter, I was teary-eyed when JPE spoke as I was quite pugnacious when Secretary Katrina delivered her opening message. Indeed, this man is a living repository of vital historical and geopolitical facts worthy of attention.
The hall was quiet as they spoke, as if all were in agreement as well as surprised and were in a reflective mood as to the importance of his wise words on the nation and her revelations of the truth about PAGCOR.
In her opening statement, Secretary Katrina further stated that CEZA is one with the nation and our President in the clamor to rid our country of the criminality brought by the POGOs and are the exclusive creation of the past administration of PAGCOR.
And while CEZA has the authority to conduct offshore iGaming operations since it can register enterprises organized or domiciled in the Philippines or any foreign country.
Unlike CEZA, PAGCOR’s charter does not include operations outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines. PAGCOR’s charter and authority is territorial to the country. CEZA, under its charter, is not only a gaming authority, it is a special economic zone as well.
As a special economic zone and freeport, CEZA has the power to approve, accept, accredit, and allow any local or foreign business, enterprise, or investment within the zone. CEZA’s activities vary, as it also has a seaport, tourism-related activities, real-estate development, trading, and are also on the verge of developing an industrial park to accommodate manufacturing companies.
Furthermore, unlike POGOs, each of CEZA’s master licensors have an investment commitment of US$ 100 million to help develop the zone. Unlike POGOs, Interactive Gaming Support Service Providers (IGSSP) offer outsourced services to credible foreign gaming companies that lawfully operate in different offshore markets.
They are called locators because they are located within the confines of CEZA where they are closely monitored as well as enforce the IRR. As for PAGCOR, their POGOs practically operate wherever they want to anywhere in the country. So our question is this: how can PAGCOR effectively monitor these POGOs when they are nationwide?
CEZA’s IGSSPs are only service providers and do not accept bets. Unlike POGOs, CEZA does not allow sub-licensing. POGOs have a sub-licensing structure that is disadvantageous to PAGCOR. In addition, POGOs sub-licensing model also allowed fly-by-night and scam operators to proliferate as PAGCOR is no longer able to track how deep the sub-licenses go.
Lastly, because CEZA controls working visa issuances and the physical entry into the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport, it controls the ratio of Filipino to expatriate employees. And all interactive gaming support service providers are encouraged to prioritize local talent where the average number of Filipino to expatriate ratio is 70% Filipinos and 30% expatriates.
So, no POGOs in CEZA. Sta. Ana, Cagayan then is Utopia of the North. Conclusion: no POGOs, no scamming activities.
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Random Memorandum: The government’s budget for confidential and intelligence funds for 2025 declined by 16% compared to this year, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
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Factoid: Ramon Magsaysay was the first elected President to wear a Barong Tagalog when he was sworn into office in 1953.
(Leslie Bocobo is a former Special Assistant to the Secretary at the Office of the Press Secretary, Malacañang, and a former Public Affairs Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
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