Billions 'lost'

After almost a year, the new Pagcor leadership headed by Chairman Cristino Naguiat has finally filed criminal charges against former Chairman Ephraim Genuino, his son Erwin, former Pagcor President Rafael Francisco, Viva Productions Chief Vic del Rosario and 23 others for funneling P26.7 million Pagcor funds to produce the movie “Baler” in 2008.

Pagcor Chief Legal Counsel Jay Santiago said “this is just the first of a series of cases we will file for the anomalous transactions entered into by previous Pagcor officials.”

Under question are the contracts with Resorts World, Fontana Resorts, Laoag Casino, Thunderbird Resorts in Binangonan, Rizal and San Fernando, La Union, Subic Bay Casinos and four other franchises granted at Pagcor City.

Also to be investigated is the tax free importations of thousands of slot machines, contract for internet gambling, the construction of new Pagcor casinos and the purchases of playing cards and other supplies and equipment, including giveaways, and the use of a P400 million intelligence fund for election campaigns.

All of the above were never investigated during Genuino’s time as he was a sacred cow protected by the First Gentleman.

Genuino was resourceful enough to block any congressional investigation.

The questionable disbursement of Pagcor funds is also evidenced by the huge increase of operational expenses from 20 percent of gross income under Chairman Alice Reyes to 40 percent under Genuino. Excessive bonuses and incentives higher than other GOCCs were paid to officers.

A casino in Subic Bay closed down after the operators alleged that a 17 percent under the table kickback was being demanded.

We urge Chairman Bong Naguiat and Atty. Jay Santiago to dig deeper and file the charges soonest.  Pagcor is the 3rd largest revenue producer after BIR and BOC. Run properly, it can produce another P20 billion more than its present submission to the Treasury.

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ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES… The local government of Malay, Aklan ordered the closure of the Boracay West Cove resort for building and operating the resort without getting any building, business and occupancy permits from the town.

Other Boracay resorts have questioned the resort for building on and destroying rock formations.

Reportedly co-owned by Crisostomo Aquino and Manny Pacquiao, the resort was built because of a Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism (FLAgT) purposes issued by then DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, a close friend of Pacquiao.

Now being a Congressman, Manny Pacquiao has some explaining to do. But I suspect he didn’t really know the legal requirements but then, he has a battery of lawyers assisting him.

Only in the Philippines can you see a luxury resort built and operating for three years without getting the required permits and licenses.

BIR Comm. Kim Henares should also investigate if the resort secured the proper BIR permits and is actually paying VAT and other business taxes.   

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MARAMING KORUP? … “He should fire and not protect his friends if they are guilty of wrongdoing.” That was the statement of Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez over Radio Veritas. He was seconded by Antipolo Bishop Francisco de Leon.

Corruption is still reported at the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, the PNP, DOTC, especially LTO, LTFRB and MARINA, DENR, especially regional and provincial offices coddling illegal loggers and illegal miners, DPWH regional offices, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Ombudsman.

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NO STOPPING CRIMINALS… Teresa Teaño was shot dead by carjackers who took her Hyundai Accent in Kamuning, QC as she was driving to go to her gym. Another woman, Sheryl Sarmiento was ambushed and shot dead inside her Toyota Altis on Commonwealth Ave., QC, Tuesday night. Taxi driver Roberto Rances, 32, was wounded by carjackers who took his taxi in Pasay City.

A taxi driver and a woman accomplice held up and kidnapped the two-week old baby of Maricel Quijano, 34, after she boarded the taxi at Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Motorcycle riding snatchers shot Armin de Leon of Meycauayan, Bulacan in front of a mall in Tondo, Manila when he tried to fight off the bag snatchers.

A Chinese national, Fei Jing aka Kevin Yu, 27 was shot and killed by unidentified suspects in Pasay City, Saturday afternoon, police said.

Korean, Nigerian and Indian criminal syndicates are operating in the country.

How can the PNP prevent crime when its personnel are caught in an ABS-CBN video sniffing shabu? They are PO1 Jonathan Lunzaga and PO3 Gerardo Javier of the Eastern Police District’s Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group.

How can you deter crime when prosecutors like those in Zamboanga City do not do their jobs properly? Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile decried their “ineptness”.

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TIDBITS… Dr. Pat Arguelles, Dr. Boy Palacios and Evelyn Berdon, regular readers of our column, texted us to complain about the lack of classrooms in Lobo, Batangas where Grades 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6 share one classroom. They also report the extreme poverty prevailing in that town due to lack of jobs or income of the residents.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda has called for a boycott of China made goods. It’s not practical, it will displace thousands of Filipino stores and vendors. Dismiss the idea.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino’s plan to build provincial bus terminals in North and South Manila is a good idea but it may not be timely because of the high levels of poverty, it will add more hardship and expense to the traveling public.

Chinatown residents are complaining about the closure of Ongpin St. everytime President Aquino eats at the President restaurant.

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Tune in to our program “Mr. Expose” over DZRJ-AM 810 Khz on your dial on Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 8 to 9:30 a.m.