MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) during the time of then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has allegedly spent P1 billion for coffee, President Benigno Aquino himself disclosed this on Monday.
Aquino made this revelation during his second State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
In just one year in office, Aquino said his administration uncovered another irregularity involving the previous management of Pagcor.
“Ang totoo nga po, marami pang kalokohan ang nahalungkat natin sa Pagcor,” the President said.
“Isang bilyong piso po ang ginastos ng dating pamunuan ng ahensya para sa kape. Sa isang daang piso na lang po kada tasa, lalabas na nakakonsumo sila ng 10 milyong tasa,” he said.
“Baka po kahit ngayong iba na ang pamunuan ng Pagcor ay dilat na dilat pa rin ang mga mata ng ga umiinom ng kapeng it. Hanapin nga po natin sila at itatanong ko: “Nakakatulog pa po ba kayo?” he added.
The state-gaming firm was being headed then by its chairman, Efraim Genuino, who has been slapped with various cases by the incumbent management of Pagcor.
Pagcor is now being headed by chairman Cristino Naguiat.