Pagcor files another graft rap vs Genuino

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) on Monday filed yet another graft case against its former chair, Efraim Genuino, for allegedly diverting some 3,500 sacks of donated rice worth about P3.1 million to bolster the mayoral bids of his two sons in the 2010 elections.

Jorge Sarmiento, Pagcor president and COO, filed a case for malversation of public funds at the Department of Justice against Genuino, his sons Anthony and Erwin, former Pagcor spokesperson Edward “Dodie” King, and one Mai mai Tado.

“This shipment of rice was donated for the victims of typhoon ‘Frank’ but were used for the electoral campaign of Genuino’s sons,” Sarmiento told reporters.

Erwin, also a former Pagcor counsel, lost in the mayoral race in Makati City while Anthony won as mayor of Los Baños, Laguna.

According to Sarmiento, the rice in question were part of the 300-metric ton of rice which were donated by Japanese gaming firm Aruze Corp. for typhoon victims in June 2008.

To avoid paying taxes and duties, he said the shipment of 10,000 sacks of rice- each weighing 30 kilograms- were coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

However, Sarmiento said 3,500 sacks of rice were brought to a warehouse in Imus, Cavite and were repacked in smaller 5-kg sacks which bore the faces of Erwin and Anthony.

The sacks of rice were then distributed in Los Baños and Makati purportedly to aid the mayoral bids of Genuino’s sons.

In a previous interview, Genuino claimed that the rice was directly given to him by Aruze officials.

But a press release posted on Pagcor’s website showed that Aruze officials donated the rice shipment for the state-owned gaming firm, belying Genuino’s claims.