Pagcor bares anomalous funds use

Pagcor bares anomalous funds use

From: manilastandardtoday.com

Funds of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) were used to turn an anti-drug abuse foundation into a party-list group in pursuit of the political ambitions of the family and friends of its former chairman Efraim Genuino.

Pagcor lawyer Jay Santiago said in a statement that part of the funds, totalling some P186 million, were used for programs of the Bata Iwas Droga Foundation and for its accreditation as a party-list group.

The money was also used to buy goods and services for BIDA Foundation projects, financial subsidies and grants, and radio and television ads, the statement said.

The foundation’s anti-drug campaign encompassed a 13-episode animation series, identification cards, tarpaulins, and 40-page full-color comic books distributed during BIDA’s campus tour.

Santiago claimed BIDA received P14.42 million from Pagcor for campaign pins, ID cards, tarpaulins and other collaterals.

It also received P14.15 million for event management, creative design and production of BIDA Foundation’s Christmas projects in 2005 and barangay projects in 2006, Santiago added.

From December 2008 to June 2010, Pagcor supposedly approved disbursements amounting to P63.1 million for BIDA’s ad placements on television, radio and print media, he said.

BIDA Foundation’s nominees were Genuino’s daughter Sheryl Genuino-See, Johnny Tan and Emilio Marcelo, both Pagcor suppliers during Genuino’s term, Santiago said, adding that Marcelo was also a Pagcor consultant at the time.

BIDA was accredited as a party-list by the Comelec and was listed 119th on the ballot, but lost in the 2010 automated elections###.