PAGCOR chair sued at Ombudsman for ‘monopolistic control’ over online gaming

The Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines (ATM) on Monday sued Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairperson Andrea Domingo at the Office of the Ombudsman over her alleged monopolistic control of the online gaming industry.

ATM founding chairman Leon Estrella Peralta led the filing against Domingo and several unnamed PAGCOR officials for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Peralta said Domingo also violated several executive orders designating the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) as the sole agency serving as the law office of all government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries.

The nine-page complaint-affidavit said the case stemmed when Domingo solicited the Office of the Solicitor General's (OSG) opinion on the legality of the operation of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority’s (APECO) online gaming licensees outside the Aurora Economic Zone.

Peralta said Domingo, with the approval of other PAGCOR officials, violated protocol when she went to the OSG after she received an adverse legal opinion from the OGCC.

The complaint said Domingo's action was a form of forum shopping so she can hold her grip on the online gaming industry.

"[Respondents] unduly dragged the honourable Office of the Solicitor General into a controversy, knowing fully well that such request is not sanctioned by the President, which only shows their failure to exhibit the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence, and skill expected of public officers like them," the complaint read.

"Instead, they have become dispensers and harbingers of undue dispute within the government," it added.

Peralta said Domingo committed clear malice and intent when she ordered the posting of the OSG legal opinion on the PAGCOR website.

The complaint did not specify other instances where Domingo performed alleged monopolistic control of online gaming aside from the APECO incident.

Peralta criticized Domingo for using another government agency in taking APECO out of the online gaming market.

“What gives? They are both government agencies; and all their proceeds are supposed to all go to the government treasury. Why take APECO out of the online gaming scenario? This is unless there is something else to be gained from a monopoly of licensing,” Peralta said. —ALG, GMA News