Pagcor allows Best World to operate 'bingo domino'

Bingo domino or plain old jueteng?

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) admitted yesterday that it has allowed Best World Gaming and Entertainment Corp. to operate a new game called "bingo domino."

"This variation enables the bingo players to bet on any two-number combination from 1 to 75. The winning combination is determined by the first and last numbers drawn in the present on-line bingo game," Pagcor said in a statement faxed to reporters.

In Congress, lawmakers called on President Estrada to stop the "unholy combine" of Best World (BW) Resources and Pagcor from launching an on-line version of jueteng.

Reps. Miguel Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon), Michael Defensor (LP, Quezon City), Rolando Andaya Jr. (Lakas, Camarines Sur), Hernani Braganza (Lakas, Panga-sinan) and Robert Ace Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del Sur) said there is no need for gambling to invade cyberspace "unless the government has developed an insatiable appetite for its share -- or tong...."

Earlier, Malabon-Navotas Rep. Federico Sandoval disclosed that Pagcor and BW Resources have agreed in principle to operate an on-line jueteng.

This developed as the President defended yet again Stanley Ho, saying there is no evidence linking him to Hong Kong crime syndicates.

Mr. Estrada took up the cudgels for Ho and other foreign investors a day after the Macau casino tycoon canceled a trip to inaugurate his floating restaurant in protest of local criticism of his activities.

The so-called bingo-domino's jackpot goes to the player who bets on the winning numbers in the proper order. Those who bet the winning numbers in the reverse order get consolation prizes, Pagcor said.

But opposition congresmen said the bingo variation is exactly the same as jueteng except for only one feature: in jueteng, a player bets on any two-number combination from 1 to 37.

"That is the only difference. It is jueteng labeled as bingo domino," they said.

They said by allowing BW to engage in this gaming activity, Pagcor has in effect usurped the power of Congress and legalized jueteng, a popular numbers game in Luzon.

The Pagcor statement said before it can start the gaming variation, BW would have to submit implementing guidelines to Pagcor which would have to approve them.

"Pagcor will get an income share of 20 percent from the monthly gross sales to be derived from this bingo variation, which amount includes the five percent franchise tax," it said.

Congressmen reminded Alice Reyes, Pagcor chairwoman, that she had assured them in a hearing that her agency would not go into jueteng since this activity is illegal.

"This gaming activity which they have allowed is jueteng, whatever name they call it. It is therefore illegal and not covered by the Pagcor charter," the congressmen said.

BW Gaming and Entertainment Corp. is a subsidiary of BW Resources, which the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Philippine Stock Exchange are investigating for alleged stock manipulation.

In another development, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago asked Senate President Blas Ople to inquire into reports that Sen. Raul Roco had met privately with SEC chairman Perfecto Yasay on the Senate investigation on alleged market irregularities.

"If the Senate president deems that it is worth a serious look, then he can make an informal inquiry from the senator concerned first. If he (Roco) has a justifiable answer, then the matter stops there," she said, adding that otherwise, the issue should best be referred to the ethics committee.

Meanwhile, reacting to Ho's threats to cancel all his investments in the Philippines, the President told reporters: "It's up to him. But we have invited all foreign investors to come here."

Lawmakers however said Ho should take his Jumbo Palace back to his country if he intends to abandon his investments here anyway.

Zubiri said Ho's absence Sunday during the blessing of the floating restaurant "did nothing but bring a hundred more unanswered questions to the people" about his personality and his investment plans in the country.

But a spokesman for Ho said yesterday that the gambling lord will push through with his planned investments in the Philippines, with presidential friend and BW executive Dante Tan, the New Zealand-based Savoy Group and Ho himself overseeing these investments.

Ho canceled his trip and put out full-page ads in at least two local newspapers saying allegations against him and his businesses have been "so vilifying and bitter and cynical as to be completely unacceptable."

In a dig at the Philippine press, Mr. Estrada said serious accusations should be backed by evidence.

"Show me the documents that this Mr. Stanley Ho is really a criminal or has any criminal record whatsoever. We have no evidence," the President said.

"Before accusing any foreign investors you must have documents instead of scaring away foreign investors. These are bits of rumors," he said.

Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson said the PNP was coordinating with the International Police (Interpol) and with various Philippine embassies in other countries where Ho has investments for a background check on him.

"Nothing but pure rumors," Lacson said of the allegations against the gambling tycoon. "The quiet investigation that we were conducting, we already have feedback from the different embassies, from Interpol, from foreign counterparts ... there is nothing."

Media reports quoting a 1999 intelligence report from Canada have linked Ho to international crime syndicates while local politicians accused him of having illegally contributed to the campaign fund of US President Bill Clinton.

Ho said Sunday he canceled his trip to attend the ceremonial blessing of the Jumbo palace restaurant because of "bitter and cynical" allegations against him, which he said were "groundless."

Congress has initiated a move to investigate his reported links to crime gangs in Hong Kong, prompting him last week to announce that he may pull out of the country altogether.

Ho also expressed "bewilderment" over the negative coverage he has received from the local press and the opposition from the Catholic Church, which has warned that the Jumbo Palace could become a front for casino operations.

But the President assured yesterday that the four-story structure now berthed in Manila Bay was only granted a license as a restaurant to attract tourists, contrary to what is being alleged by Ho's critics.

"There will be no floating casino as long as I'm President here. I hope that is clear, okay?" the President stressed.

Mr. Estrada also warned that if foreign investors are driven away not only by negative publicity but also because of lingering communist and Muslim insurgencies, the Philippine economy might soon be overtaken by such fledgling economies as Vietnam.

Politicians who were invited to attend the blessing ceremonies of Jumbo Palace last Sunday snubbed the event as Christian students and anti-vice groups greeted it with a protest denouncing Ho and Mr. Estrada as "kings of gambling."

Ho said on Sunday that he was looking forward to having his "good name cleared" and said he was taking legal advice regarding he press coverage of him.

Meanwhile, Zubiri said if Ho really wished to come clean, he should have attended the blessing ceremony.

"It's supposed to be a great investment for Stanley Ho and the Philippines, but why is it that he was not present during the Sunday blessing? Were they refusing to answer the questions raised with regards to the project?" Zubiri asked.

The lawmaker noted that Ho's absence only cast doubt on the honesty of his intentions. "Could it be an indication that he is backing out? If that's the case, he should take the slow boat back to China."

Ho, credited for transforming Macau into Asia's gambling center, took over as chairman of gaming firm BW Resources in October last year after pouring in $30 million for a ten percent stake.

BW Resources officials are now under investigation for insider trading after the company's stock rose 5,000 percent in the eight months ahead of Ho's takeover.

Ho had also lined up investments in socialized housing in partnership with the government as well as a hydrofoil service between Manila and the northern port of Subic. -- With Marichu Villanueva, Liberty Dones, Rocel Felix, Efren Danao, AFP