Ex-Pagcor chair denies malversation raps

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Efraim Genuino denied before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday the charges of graft and malversation filed against him over the alleged misuse of P26.7 million of the firm’s funds to produce the film “Baler” in 2008.

Genuino denied the charges and submitted his counter-affidavit to the DOJ panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Gino Paolo Santiago.

He claimed that the complaint was a mere vendetta by current Pagcor chair Cristino Naguiat, whom he had previously fired when he was still in the state-run gaming firm for allegedly taking kickbacks from suppliers of gambling equipment like playing cards and casino chips.

Genuino described Naguiat as an ex-subordinate who has a personal axe to grind.

“What do you expect from a bitter ex-employee but payback? We could prove that these cases reek of vendetta, and if we would be given a fair shake, these could go straight to the garbage can,” he said.

Aside from the Baler case, Naguiat has raised several allegations against Genuino and has filed other complaints against him and his former officials.

Genuino believes “these baseless allegations are aimed at further nailing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the process.”

Assisted by lawyer Ramon Esguerra, Genuino belied Pagcor’s allegation that P26.7 million or two-thirds of the cost of production of the film Baler that was made by BIDA Productions Inc. and VIVA Communications Inc. were misappropriated from the gaming firm’s funds.

He said no public fund was used during his stint with Pagcor because all of the disbursements came from private funds and therefore, his administration committed no plunder.

“The only time Pagcor funds can be considered public is when it is turned over to the national treasury,” Genuino explained.

It was the first of four graft cases Genuino is facing.

The other three charges involve alleged diversion of funds to Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA) Foundation, which ran but lost in the party-list elections with Genuino’s daughter Sheryl Genuino-See as its first nominee; the anomalous release of funding assistance worth P34 million to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, Inc. (PASA) starting in 2007; and the rice donations and funds worth over P3 million allegedly used for his two sons’ electoral bid last year.

Aside from Genuino, the other respondents in the case are 11 other former officials of Pagcor.

Also included in the complaint are BIDA Foundation officials and officials of VIVA Communications.

A hold departure order was issued against Genuino in connection with the graft cases. He has already asked the DOJ to lift the order.