‘Erap expected money from Bingo 2-Ball’

The testimony of a defense witness in the plunder trial of Joseph Estrada showed that the ousted president pushed the Bingo 2-Ball project of his friend, Charlie "Atong" Ang, in order to "rake in" as much as P160 million a month, the prosecution’s star witness said yesterday.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson said he "feels vindicated" by the testimony before the Sandiganbayan of lawyer Emily Padua, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. senior manager, that Ang was "verbally authorized by the Pagcor board of directors to operate Bingo 2-Ball," absolving him of any liability.

"Erap chose Bingo 2-Ball over jueteng because he could get a windfall of P160 million compared to the P10 million he was receiving from me," Singson said.

Padua’s testimony bolstered Singson’s allegations because it showed that Estrada was actually behind the Bingo 2-Ball project, he added. However, Estrada said the testimonies of Padua and former Pagcor chief Alice Ll. Reyes proved that Bingo 2-Ball was introduced because he wanted to eradicate jueteng by finding a legal replacement.

During cross-examination last March 9, Padua confirmed that Pagcor had given Ang "verbal and provisional authority" without the benefit of any public bidding, Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Igancio said.

"Why would Pagcor give a private person verbal authority, without the benefit of a contract, to operate Bingo 2-Ball and on a national scale?" he asked.

Ang was actually the one calling the shots during the 20-day dry run of Bingo 2-Ball, he added.

Padua also testified she was "told" that some of Ang’s business partners in the Bingo 2-Ball operations "were engaged in jueteng," one reason why the numbers game could not have taken off if it had been legalized.

"They may have undermined the project and were opposed to it," she told Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr.

"Yes, your honor, it could not completely eradicate jueteng. These jueteng operators remained… the competitors of Bingo 2-Ball."

However, Padua said the Bingo 2-Ball operations were "successful" and that they "fared well," although the projected income of P45 million was not met.

Padua said Ang’s proposal was approved four days after they met on Sept. 1, 2000. 

The Bingo 2-Ball project was "favorably acted upon" by the Pagcor board of directors, she added.