BAMBAN, Tarlac — The path toward transforming former gambling dens into public infrastructure has become clearer following the Supreme Court’s approval of the Rule on the Civil Forfeiture of POGO-Related Assets on August 10, 2026.
The highest court’s ruling directly supports the vision of local leaders like Bamban Mayor Jose Salting Jr. to repurpose these facilities for the community.
The Supreme Court En Banc approved new procedural rules to implement Section 15 of Republic Act No. 12312, also known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025. The new forfeiture rules will take effect on August 24, 2026, 15 days after their initial publication.
These rules allow the government to take ownership of buildings, structures, and equipment connected to illegal offshore gaming, regardless of any ongoing criminal prosecutions.
Under the new guidelines, the process is designed for speed —
Once a petition is filed by the Office of the Solicitor General, a Regional Trial Court (RTC) has only 24 hours to determine if probable cause exists. Courts are then mandated to render a judgment within 30 calendar days after the presentation of evidence.
The rule includes a summary procedure that allows the release of certain assets even before a final judgment if they are needed to support government operations or protect victims.
This legal development provides a crucial boost to Salting’s plan to convert the notorious POGO hub in Bamban into schools and a major hospital.
The hub, which consists of at least 36 buildings located directly behind the municipal hall, was formerly operated by Zun Yuan Technology before being raided for alleged human trafficking in 2024.
“Our town lacks schools and a major hospital,” Salting stated last year, noting that he intends to utilize the structures once they are officially turned over to the local government.
The properties have been under the oversight of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) while investigations were finalized.
The transition marks a turning point for Bamban, which saw its previous mayor, Alice Guo, removed and detained following the raid that rescued 868 workers.
Under the Anti-POGO Act, the Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC) — which includes the DILG — is tasked with coordinating with local government units to ensure the law’s effective implementation.
To ensure transparency, the Supreme Court now requires that all judgments of forfeiture be publicly posted for seven days in three public places within the municipality where the property is located. This ensures that the community is informed as these former sites of “unlawful activity” are transitioned into assets for the general welfare.
