for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
The entire leadership team of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), including Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, has voluntarily submitted courtesy resignations to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., signaling a potential shakeup in the country’s gaming regulatory landscape. The move, described as a “customary practice” during government reorganizations, grants the president flexibility to realign key positions while maintaining continuity in the agency’s operations.
Leadership Transition Aligns with Broader Reform Agenda
Tengco confirmed that he, alongside President and COO Wilma Eisma and Directors Jose Maria Ortega, Francis Democrito Concordia, and Gilbert Cesar Remulla, filed their resignations last week. This proactive step preceded a May 21 directive from Malacañang Palace requiring all officials of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to tender their resignations. “We serve at the pleasure of the President, and we will accept whatever the Chief Executive’s decision will be,” Tengco stated, emphasizing the leadership’s adherence to protocol.
The mass resignation follows President Marcos Jr.’s call for a bureaucracy-wide “recalibration” after the May 2025 midterm elections, which revealed public dissatisfaction with government performance. With only 30% approval ratings in recent polls, the administration has prioritized restructuring to address voter concerns about inefficiency and political fatigue.
Courtesy Resignations: A Philippine Political Tradition
In the Philippines, courtesy resignations allow incoming or reorganizing presidents to assess and appoint officials aligned with their governance priorities. While the resignations technically place PAGCOR’s leadership in flux, insiders suggest most resignations will be rejected, enabling current officials to retain their roles after review. This process avoids abrupt disruptions, particularly for agencies like PAGCOR, which contributed PHP12.67 billion ($228 million) to the National Treasury in 2024, exceeding its mandated remittance by 25%.
Despite the uncertainty, Tengco and other officials continue to perform their duties. Recent weeks saw PAGCOR reaffirm commitments to military infrastructure projects, including barracks and training facilities at Camp O’Donnell, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Strong Performance Amid Political Shifts
PAGCOR’s operational resilience remains evident amid the leadership transition. The agency reported PHP28 billion ($502.9 million) in earnings for Q1 2025—an 11.2% year-on-year increase—surpassing government targets by 4.45%. Gaming operations and license fees drove 91% of this revenue, while cost-cutting measures reduced expenses by 15.5%, boosting net income to PHP4.22 billion ($75.9 million).
These achievements follow PAGCOR’s critical role in the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list earlier this year, a milestone underscoring improved anti-money laundering protocols. The resignation push, therefore, appears unrelated to performance issues but rather part of Marcos Jr.’s systemic overhaul.
What Comes Next for Philippine Gaming Regulation
The Office of the President has yet to announce decisions on the resignations, leaving PAGCOR’s leadership in interim status. Analysts anticipate continuity in the short term, given the agency’s strategic importance as both gaming regulator and operator. However, the reshuffle could introduce fresh perspectives to align with Marcos Jr.’s “results-first mindset,” particularly as the administration seeks to revitalize public trust.
For now, stakeholders in the Philippine gaming industry are advised to monitor updates from Malacañang. With PAGCOR contributing significantly to national revenue and tourism-linked economic growth, its stability remains crucial to the country’s post-pandemic recovery efforts.
The coming weeks will clarify whether the current board retains its mandate or makes way for new appointees. Either way, the courtesy resignations highlight the delicate balance between political strategy and institutional stability in the Philippines’ evolving governance landscape.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief (AGB)
