Members of the Philippine National Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion conduct an inspection of an abandoned property in Barangay Senyora, Porac, Pampanga, on July 9, 2024. The property with resort-like amenities is believed to be part of an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO), the Grand Palazzo Royale of the Lucky South 99, and used by its incorporators and Chinese big bosses for illegal activities, including scam modus, kidnapping, illegal detention, and human and sex trafficking activities. Stairs lead to the underground tunnel. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revoked the corporate registration of Lucky South 99 Corp. for illegally operating a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Pampanga.

The SEC’s Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD), in an order dated July 30, 2024, revoked the certificate of incorporation of Lucky South 99 for “violating Section 44 of Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCC) in relation to Section 179 (j) of the RCC.”

“Section 44 of the RCC provides that no corporation shall possess or exercise corporate powers other than those conferred by the law or its articles of incorporation (Aoi), and those necessary or incidental to the exercise of such powers,” SEC added.

According to SEC, the company was incorporated in 2019 under the name  Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., and was organized for the primary purpose of engaging in business process outsourcing activities, with engaging in the real estate business as its secondary purpose.

In February 7, 2024, the company changed its corporate name to Lucky South 99 Corp., and its primary purpose to gaming, entertainment and content streaming of live gaming action together with the operation of electronic games at gaming sites. It also included the development of a hotel with internet shops and gaming facilities as its secondary purpose, SEC added.

“However, an investigation by the EIPD revealed that Lucky South 99 Corp. has been included in the list of Offshore Gaming Licensees issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation as early as August 8, 2023,” SEC said.

Lucky South 99’s facility in Porac, Pampanga was raided in June 2024 after reports of illegal activities.

SEC said that although Lucky South 99 Corp. was registered, it is only allowed to “exercise powers inherent to its corporate existence as provided in the [RCC] and those conferred in its [Aoi]”.

“Considering that nowhere is it stated in its primary purpose that Lucky South 99 Corp, is authorized to engage and /or act as a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in the Philippines, the activity of the company that intends to mislead or deceive the public into believing that it was authorized to conduct the aforesaid activities is considered an ultra vires act and therefore constitute serious misrepresentation,” the order read.

Authorities recovered recovered cash, jewelry, and suspected illegal drugs in the company’s POGO hub.

Bundles of money worth P600,000, assorted jewelry, and 10 sachets of suspected shabu were seized inside at least seven buildings in Lucky South 99 that authorities searched.

Another raid at Porac POGO hub: Cash, jewelry, suspected drugs seized

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) earlier said it has denied Lucky South 99’s application for license in May 22 of this year but it was still operating on the day it was raided on June 4.

POGO Paradise: How the Philippines became a hub for illegal POGOs

In his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on POGOs due to their involvement in criminal activities.

Marcos: 'Effective today, all POGOs are banned'

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