Anti-graft court issues travel ban on Genuino, 6 in Pagcor fund malversation case

MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan Third Division has barred from travelling outside the country former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chair Efraim Genuino and his six others accused by the Ombudsman of bilking the government’s cash cow during the Arroyo administration. The Ombudsman’s case was filed last May 27.

Third Division Presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz and Associate Justices Alex Quiroz and Samuel Martirez issued the hold departure order (HDO) against Genuino and his co-accused who have been charged for fund malversation by the Office of the Ombudsman.  The Sandiganbayan ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to enforce the order.

The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation have likewise been furnished a copy of the HDO.

Aside from Genuino, the former Pagcor officers covered by the HDO are Rafael Francisco, Valente Custodio, Jose Benedicto, Rene C. Figueroa, Edward F. King and Ester Hernandez.

The Sandiganbayan justices said the anti-graft court was exercising the “inherent power to use all means available to carry its orders into effect, more specifically, to preserve and maintain the effectivity of its jurisdiction over the case and the persons of the accused.”

The HDO was issued less than a week after Genuino posted a P1.77-million bail for the 19 cases of graft and 20 cases of malversation  filed against him by the Ombudsman last May 27. Francisco, Custodio and Benedicto had likewise posted bail along with Genuino.

The 43-page resolution signed by the Office of the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last February 25 accused Genuino and his group of making   unlawful donations and payments amounting to P44 million to favored private groups such as Batang Iwas-Droga or BIDA Foundation, BIDA Production, Wildformat Inc. and Pencil First; allocation of over P50 million from Pagcor funds for marketing and events expenses of BIDA Foundation;  P63 million in ad expenses using Pagcor money to bankroll BIDA’s bid  for accreditation as a party-list group in 2008 and 2009; and advance payment of  P26.7 million for 89,000 tickets for the movie “Baler” in 2008. Genuino and King were named co-defendants in another malversation case relative to allegations of fraudulent handling of 300 metric tons of donated rice from a Japanese firm purportedly for victims of typhoon Frank in 2008.