Migz: Let High Court rule on PSC share

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) found an ally in its bid to get its full share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) as Sen. Miguel Zubiri expressed willingness to bring the matter before the Supreme Court.

Zubiri, vice chairman of the Senate committee on games, amusement and sports, offered to take the cudgels for the PSC to compel Pagcor to remit 5 percent of its gross income to the sports agency as mandated by Republic Act 6847. At present, state-run casinos remit 5 percent of its net income, a practice done since the term of President Fidel Ramos who channelled the rest of the PSC pie to the Presidential Social Fund.

“Sen. Zubiri said he’ll file a case in the Supreme Court against Pagcor for non-compliance,” said PSC chairman Ricardo Garcia, who attended yesterday’s Senate hearing on the Azkals and the state of Philippine sports.

A similar complaint will be lodged against the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which has refused to remit proceeds from lotto draws, claiming the game is different from the lottery mentioned in the said law.

But Garcia insisted that if ever, the PSC will not be a party to this and this will solely be Zubiri’s and the Senate’s move. “ The PSC will have nothing to do with this because we’re (PSC and Pagcor) both under the Office of the President,” Garcia said.

Garcia and Philippine Olympic Commitee chairman Monico Puentevella asked Zubiri and his peers to hold off their planned action, pending the result of a still-to-be-scheduled talks between sports officials and President Aquino.

“Before they file maybe we can bring the matter up to the President. Nobody really wants to go to court and we’re hopeful we can settle it without court action. Maybe President Aquino can order Pagcor to remit the full 5 percent right there and then,” Garcia said, adding “We really need additional funding.”