Group sues Clark execs over illegal gambling

An anti-corruption group on Monday filed a graft complaint against officials of Clark Development Corp. (CDC) for allegedly tolerating illegal gambling operations in the freeport zone.

In a 29-page complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, the Anti-Trapo Movement (ATM) accused six officials of the state firm of violating Sections 3(a) and 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Section 4 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Section 46 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.

READ: Jack Lam gambling operation closed

Named respondents were: Evangeline Tejada, vice-president for the business development and business enhancement group; Perlita Sagmit, vice-president for legal affairs; Thelma Ocampo and Rodem Perez, assistant vice-presidents for the business development department; Noelle Mina Meneses, assistant vice-president for the business enhancement department; and Anthony Emmanuel Tulabut, communication division manager.

ATM said that after recent raids yielded hundreds of aliens illegally working for online gambling outfits, CDC “cannot feign ignorance” of the illicit operations.

READ: Lam’s casino at Ft. Ilocandia closed

“Had [the CDC officials] only performed their duty properly and diligently as public servants, they would have easily detected and exposed the presence of the numerous illegal aliens at the Donggwang Annex Building and the even greater numbers at the Fontana Leisure Park and Casino and averted their illegal activities, especially since the requisite paperwork and documentation for their continued stay and operation in the Clark Freeport Zone would necessarily be processed in the said CDC office,” the complaint stated. RAM/rga