Jamaine Punzalan

The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178633653484620220824-supreme-court-facade-GC-2 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — The Supreme Court has approved the rules on civil forfeiture of assets related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations or POGOs which were declared illegal by the Marcos administration.Under Republic Act No. 12312 or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, the high court was mandated to formulate rules of procedure governing the civil forfeiture of any property or assets used directly or indirectly by POGOs, as well as a summary procedure for the release of the assets during the pendency of the proceedings for “operational support and victim protection.”In his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered the banning of POGOs which were legitimized in 2021 during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte through Republic Act No. 11590 or the law for the taxation of offshore gaming operations.Raids conducted in POGO hubs led to the discovery of human trafficking operations as well as money laundering and the fake Filipino citizenship of former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.The SC noted that a civil procedure refers to a judicial proceeding “in rem” or involving the forfeiture of a property in favor of the government, independent of a criminal case against an individual.Under the rules, the petition for civil forfeiture shall be filed with the Regional Trial Court having territorial jurisdiction over the area where all or a portion of the assets is located.The petition shall be verified and shall state the name and address of the respondent as well as a detailed inventory of the  assets sought to be forfeited.“If the court finds no probable cause, it shall issue an order to that effect and dismiss the case, with or without prejudice,” the rules stated.But if there is probable cause and the seized or confiscated assets have not been provisionally released, the court may direct an appropriate provisional asset preservation or control measure.“Within 24 hours after finding probable cause, the court shall issue a notice directing the respondent to file a verified comment or opposition, not a motion to dismiss, within a non-extendible period of 20 calendar days from notice,” the rules said.If the whereabouts of the respondents are unknown, service shall be effected by publication in a newspaper and the respondent has 20 days to file a comment or opposition.The petitioner shall have 30 days to complete its presentation of evidence while the respondent shall be given time to make oral comments and the will resolve the offer of evidence.“The ruling shall be embodied in the written order that the court will issue in the same hearing,” the rules added.The rules also provided for an appeals mechanism for an aggrieved party through the Court of Appeals.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/29/boc-sells-pogo-owned-bugatti-cars-for-p205m-1725">BOC sells POGO-owned Bugatti cars for P205 million</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/12/10/boardroom-tea-when-pogo-scam-farms-closed-hell-opened-elsewhere-2200">Boardroom Tea: When POGO scam farms closed, hell opened elsewhere</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/29/pogo-exit-still-hurts-but-bpos-and-ai-firms-fuel-office-market-revival-colliers-ph-1455">POGO exit still hurts, but BPOs and AI firms fuel office market revival—Colliers PH</a></div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/syjGDQBmcbw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

The Supreme Court has approved the rules on civil forfeiture of assets related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations or POGOs which were declared illegal by the Marcos administration.

The Supreme Court has approved the rules on civil forfeiture of assets related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations or POGOs which were declared illegal by the Marcos administration.

Supreme Court approves rules for civil forfeiture of POGO assets

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Supreme Court approves rules for civil forfeiture of POGO assets

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 10, 2026 12:38 PM PHT

Read More:

POGO

SC

civil forfeiture

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