Ex-Pagcor chief Genuino, others face plunder raps

Efraim C. Genuino INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice recommended the prosecution of former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman Ephraim Genuino for plunder.

Aside from plunder, the DOJ also recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman that Genuino be prosecuted for 175 counts of malversation of public funds and 174 counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices act.

Based on 3 separate resolutions, the DOJ submitted the cases to the Ombudsman for review and filing of the case in court.

Under the law, the Ombudsman has the authority to file the case and prosecute public officials. The DOJ and the Ombudsman have a memorandum where the DOJ is allowed to act as the Ombudsman’s prosecuting arm but its findings is subject to review of the Ombudsman.

On the first resolution, the DOJ approved the recommendation that Genuino and several others be charged with plunder, malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft law in connection with the alleged misappropriation of at least P186 million questionable transactions that benefitted Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA) Foundation and other entities from 2003 to 2010.

Aside from Genuino, facing a case of plunder include Rafael A. Francisco, Rene C. Figueroa, Ester P. Hernandez, Valente C. Custodio, Edward F. King, Manuel C. Roxas, Philip G. Lo, Gamaliel A. Cordoba, Mario B. Cornista, Rodofo Soriano Jr., Emilio B. Marcelo, Jesus T. Velmonte, Johnny G. Tan, Philip Beltran, Carolina Matsuda, Olive Soriano, Josephine Sumangil-Evangelista.

Facing several counts of violation of the Anti-Graft Law are Genuino, Francisco, Figueroa, Hernandez, Custodio, King, all 173 counts; Roxas (158 counts), Lo (155 counts), Cordoba (100 counts), Danilo A. Gozo (11 counts), Imelda Dimaporo (34 counts), Cornista (165 counts), Soriano (165 counts), Marcelo (165 counts), Velmonte (165 counts), Tan (165 counts), Beltran, Matsuda, Soriano, Evangelista (all 165 counts), Cornelio Valerio (13) counts, Manuel Nocon Jr. (13 counts), Dennis F. Celeste (13 counts), Ronald T. Tagayon (13 counts) and Rafael Torcuator (3 counts).

Those facing malversation of public funds are Genuino, Francisco, Figueroa, Hernandez, Custodio, King (all facing 173 counts); Roxas (158 counts), Lo (155 counts), Cordoba (11 counts), Dimaporo (34 counts), Cornista, Soriano, Marcelo, Velmonte, Tan, Beltran, Matsuda, Soriano, Evangelista (all 165 counts), Valerio, Nocon, Celeste and Tagayon (all 13 counts) and Torcuator (3 counts).

“In sum, evidence thus far presented showed that Bida foundation and Bida Production had repeatedly been the beneficiaries and payees of Pagcor in various grants and contract awards involving large amounts of money worth millions of pesos in numerous instances, all of which were approved and processed expeditiously despite non-compliance with the procedural and documentary requirements under the law,” the DOJ stated in its resolution.

On the second case, aside from Genuino, recommended for prosecution for violation of the Anti-Graft Law are Benedicto, Figueroa, King, Hernandez and Custodio.

The case is in connection with the disbursement of public funds amounting to P26.7 million for the production of the movie “Baler” in 2008

On the third case, the DoJ recommended that Genuino, King and Joseph Javier be prosecuted for malversation for misappropriation of 64,858 kilograms or 1,297 cavans and 8.5 kilograms of Angelica rice worth P1,409 million. A separate case for malversation is also recommended for Javier for misappropriation of 80 cavans of angelica rice worth P116,000.

 Originally posted at 4:04 p.m.