MANILA, Philippines - It’s all-out war, this time against illegal gambling.

President Duterte has signed an executive order further regulating the issuance of gambling licenses – including those for online operations – and directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to go after gambling syndicates and unlicensed operators.

Duterte’s EO 13 was issued amid the P50-million bribe controversy involving Chinese casino tycoon Jack Lam and former officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

This developed as Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. (MVGC), the company operating off-fronton jai alai in the Philippines, insisted that the firm’s gaming operation is legal and compliant with all government regulations.

In the EO, Duterte reiterated the government “condemns the existence of illegal gambling activities as a widespread social menace and source of corruption.”

Duterte, who has vowed to eradicate corruption in the Philippines, noted in his EO how gambling can diminish an individual’s appreciation for the value of hard work.

He said the PNP and the NBI would be the lead agencies in the intensified fight against illegal gambling.

The two agencies would coordinate with the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the conduct of their operations.

“The same law enforcement agencies are further directed to coordinate and promptly act on requests of gambling regulatory authorities to investigate and put a stop to illegal gambling activities in their respective jurisdictions,” the order read.

Duterte signed the order on Feb. 2 as the Senate was investigating the P50-million bribe controversy involving Lam and former BI officials.

Lam operated gambling facilities at the 300-hectare Fontana Leisure Park and Casino in Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Immigration agents earlier rounded up more than 1,300 Chinese nationals working illegally in his operation.

The executive order was anchored on Presidential Decree 1602, which defines illegal gambling activities and imposes penalties against violators.

In the EO, Duterte also enjoined the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone Authority (APECO), the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) to make sure no confusion arises from the issuance of licenses and permits.

The Office of the President, through its authorized representative, shall exercise oversight in the implementation of the order.

It added that the President’s representative shall coordinate with relevant agencies and recommend to the President the issuance of rules, regulations and directives for the suppression of illegal gambling and the improvement of efforts to raise revenue from legitimate gambling activities.

“No duly licensed online gambling operator, or provider of activities and services related to or in support of online gambling activities, shall directly or indirectly allow persons who are physically located outside the territorial jurisdiction of the licensing authority to place bets, or in any way participate, in the games conducted by such operator, whether through an online portal or similar means,” it added.

“Nothing herein, however, shall prohibit the duly licensed online gambling operator from allowing the participation of persons physically located outside the Philippine territory,” it added.

In the EO, Pagcor, CEZA, AFAB, APECO and other regulatory entities are required to submit a consolidated report on the progress of the fight against illegal gambling in their jurisdictions within six months and every six months thereafter from the effective date of the EO.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), for its part, said it is doing its part in the anti-illegal gambling drive of the administration by setting up Small Town Lotteries (STL) to neutralize illegal numbers game or jueteng and generate more revenue for its charity funds.