PAGCOR sues ex-chairman Genuino, 26 others

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) today sued its 13 former officials, including ex-chairman Efraim Genuino, for malversation of public funds over the P26.7 million production cost of the 2008 film "Baler."

Aside from Genuino, named respondents were former Pagcor president Rafael Francisco, ex- Board members Manuel Roxas, Philip Lo and Gamaliel Cordoba, Jose Benedicto (former Pagcor chief of staff), Rene Figueroa (ex-executive vice president), Edward King (former senior vice president of corporate communications) Carlos Bautista Jr. (Former vp for legal department, Esther Hernandez( former vp for accounting), Valente Custodio (former assistant vp for internal audit), Jesselyn Durante-Cuizon( former assistant manager for legal), and Erwin Genuino, former executive assistant.

Also charged were BIDA Foundation officials Mario Cornista, Rodolfo Soriano Sr., Emilio Marcelo, Philip Beltran, Luis Guerrero, Olive Soriano, Jesus Valmonte, Carol Matsudaa, and Josephine Sumangil-Bautista.

Other respondents in the case were Viva Communications Inc. Chairman Vic del Rosario Jr., and officials Marcia Gina Lopez, Hermie Go, Maria Theresa Santiago and Tony Magtoto.

Based on Pagcor's investigation, Baler's production was at P40 million, with Bida shouldering two thirds of the cost amounting to P26.7 million while the one third will be accounted by Viva.

Pagcor also found out that payments made by Bida to Viva films were eventually charged to Pagcor through committed tickets.

The elder Genuino, Francisco, King and Benedicto were also Bida officials at that time while Cornista, Soriano, and Marcelo were all officers of Bida hired as consultants of Pagcor.

The film won best picture during the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival. It was also declared movie of the year in the 25th Star Awards for Movies of the Philippines Movie Press Club. The movie also bagged nine more trophies from the award giving body.