Genuino wants to attend PDP-Laban meet with China’s party

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Efraim Genuino wants to go to China for a meeting of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) with the Communist Party of China (CPC) and have a vacation in Hong Kong later this month.

PDP-Laban is the political party of President Duterte while the CPC is the ruling political party in the People’s Republic of China.

In a four-page motion filed before the Sandiganbayan Third Division, Genuino informed the anti-graft court about the meeting between the PDP-Laban delegation to be led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and CPC officials on Jan. 22 to 25 in Beijing.

Genuino is facing multiple graft and malversation cases before the anti-graft court’s Third Division.

But Cusi and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III downplayed the meeting.

Cusi, who is PDP-Laban vice chairman, said he would be in China strictly in his official capacity as energy secretary and the visit of party officials simply coincided with this trip.

Cusi said the PDP-Laban visit would be a “simple side trip for pleasantries, sharing and cultural exchange.”

In a text message to reporters, Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, also confirmed the upcoming meeting but refused to give details, saying they want to keep the matter “internal.”

Pimentel added the meeting would not be Senate-related or “of national concern.”

Pressed for the purpose of the meeting, Pimentel said: “Strengthening of ties between the two parties. Very simple objectives only.”

Genuino asked that he be allowed to join the meeting, being the chairman of PDP-Laban’s finance committee.

Genuino said the meeting aims to “deepen exchanges and cooperation (and) boost mutual trust and friendship” as part of efforts to maintain a “sound and stable progress in China-Philippines strategic and cooperative relationship for peace and development.”

Genuino said the exact time of the flight and the place of his accommodation were yet to be finalized, but he promised to inform the court as soon as he secured the details.

Cusi said their visit to China was upon the invitation of Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua to enhance energy cooperation between the two countries.

He added his department was fortunate to have the opportunity to touch base with China’s ministry of energy.

“The purpose of the meeting is exclusively to improve our overall energy development efforts, gain knowledge from their best practices and hopefully attract investments in our local energy projects,” Cusi said.

He said the meeting was a clear indication that President Duterte’s state visit to China late last year was successful and is now yielding tangible benefits for the country.

Amid his tirades against the United States, Duterte has been consistently saying that his administration wants to pursue a stronger relationship with China and Russia.

Meanwhile, in his motion, Genuino said aside from attending the supposed meeting between the two political parties, he also intends to stay in Hong Kong from Jan. 27 to 30 for a “much needed short vacation.”

Genuino said he would post a cash bond as may be fixed and required by the court and comply with other requirements and conditions for his travel.

Genuino is facing cases in connection with the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds worth P63 million in 2010 and P37 million from 2007 to 2009. – With Paolo Romero