Ex-Pagcor Genuino’s bid for justices to inhibit denied | Inquirer News
FUND MISUSE

Ex-Pagcor Genuino’s bid for justices to inhibit denied

/ 05:42 AM July 23, 2023

The Sandiganbayan has denied the plea by former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chair Efraim Genuino for the inhibition of the court’s Third Division from handling his graft and malversation cases over the purchase of tickets worth P26.7 million for the movie “Baler.”

Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chair Efraim Genuino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Sandiganbayan has denied the plea by former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chair Efraim Genuino for the inhibition of the court’s Third Division from handling his graft and malversation cases over the purchase of tickets worth P26.7 million for the movie “Baler.”

In a 26-page resolution dated July 20, the court’s Third Division itself said Genuino failed to show proof that its members were “indicative of arbitrariness” after he reasoned out that it was the same division that found him guilty of earlier charges of graft and malversation.

ADVERTISEMENT

The previous case involved the alleged misuse of P37 million worth of funds for the training of swimmers for the 2012 London Olympics. He, along with former Pagcor president and chief executive officer Rafael Francisco and former Philippine Sports Commission chairperson William Ramirez, were convicted of graft and malversation.

FEATURED STORIES

The present case, on the other hand, allegedly involved Genuino’s supposed misuse of P26.7 million to purchase 89,000 tickets for the movie “Baler,” which were distributed to 12 Pagcor casino branches.

Funds diverted

State auditors, however, found that the funds were reportedly made payable to the Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA) Foundation Inc.

In his motion, Genuino sought the inhibition of the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division, which includes Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, the division chair, and Associate Justices Bernelito Fernandez and Ronald Moreno.

Genuino cited as a reason that it was the Third Division who found him guilty on his previous graft charges.

The court, however, was not satisfied with his arguments.

“The court is unpersuaded,” it said in the resolution penned by Tang. “Again, jurisprudence provides that mere imputation of bias or partiality is not enough ground for inhibition; mere suspicion is not enough.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Fernandez and Moreno also concurred with the resolution.

RELATED STORIES:

Ex-Pagcor chief granted 2 days for evidence

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

SC junks ex-Pagcor chief’s plea to dismiss graft cases

TAGS: Efraim Genuino, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more, please click this link.