PEZA not involved with online gambling firms, Duterte told

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on Friday denied giving registration to online gaming or gambling operations, following President Rodrigo Duterte's latest directive against the activity.

In a letter to Duterte, PEZA Director-General Charito Plaza saidthat "online gaming or online gambling or any form of gambling operation is not registrable with PEZA and is not allowed by PEZA."

Plaza's letter was in reaction to the President's speech on Thursday where he mentioned that Jack Lam and his group are in cahoots with PEZA's corrupt officials.

"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," Plaza said.

"PEZA has no company that is engaged in online gaming activity or online gambling activity and that PEZA has not registered any company that is engaged in on-line gaming or on-line gambling," she added.

Sought for comment, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre clarified Duterte's remarks.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II clarified that Duterte was referring to the  not the PEZA.

"He was referring to CEZA [Cagayan Economic Zone Authority], not PEZA," Aguirre told GMA News Online.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella also clarified that Duterte was referring to CEZA, not PEZA.

"The President stated recently that he was still looking for the 'proverbial honest man' to head the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which he inadvertently referred to as PEZA - or Philippine Economic Zone Authority over which the President has already appointed Ms Charito Plaza as Director General," he said in a statement.

"CEZA according to the President has unremitted earnings amounting to Ph 300 billion annually; it is currently headed by Jose Mari Ponce, a holdover from past administrations, who was appointed in 2004," he added.

Duterte ordered the closure of online gaming firms and made reference to PEZA as the agency dealing with online gaming that set up in export zone.

Plaza likewise informed the President that Clark Freeport Zone, where Jack Lam was operating, is not administered by PEZA, rather it is administered by the Clark Development Corp., which is under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

"We wish to assure the President that the PEZA policy of not registering online gaming or online gambling 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," Plaza said.

She noted that PEZA recognizes and will continue to recognize that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has the sole and exclusive authority to grant franchises and regulate gambling operations in the entire country. —with a report from Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News