No gaming firms in Peza roster

The head of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) dispelled allegations that it registered firms engaged in online gaming and gambling, stressing that this activity has never been included in the agency’s list of economic activities eligible for incentives.

In a letter to President Duterte dated Dec. 22, Peza Director General Charito B. Plaza clarified that online gaming or any form of gambling operation could not be registered with Peza.

“Peza has never registered any online gaming or online gambling activity and has never included online gaming or online gambling as an activity that can be registered with Peza. Hence, Peza has no company that is engage in [such activities],” Plaza said.

Plaza was reacting to Mr. Duterte’s speech on Thursday that Jack Lam and his group were allegedly in “cahoots” with corrupt Peza officials in locating their operations within the economic zones.

“May I also inform the President that Clark Freeport Zone, where Jack Lam was operating, is not administered by Peza. Rather, it is administered by Clark Development Corp., which is under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority,” Plaza said.

“We wish to assure the President that this policy of not registering online gaming or online gambling in Peza will not change and will continue as Peza is one with the President in his conviction that any form of online gaming or online gambling will not benefit the country and the Filipino people. We have recognized and we will continue to recognize that Pagcor has the sole and exclusive authority to grant franchises and regulate gambling operations in the entire country,” the Peza chief further stressed.

On Thursday, Mr. Duterte said he wanted to close down all online gambling operations in the country as it did not have any positive effect on the economy. He justified the closure of these firms because while their operations were in the Philippines, the betting was being done outside the country.

The President earlier ordered the arrest of Macau gambling tycoon Lam, who ran the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino and who was under fire after authorities discovered that he hired illegal Chinese workers for his online gaming firm and that his online gaming casino allegedly had no license.