Duterte tells 2 Apeco execs to quit

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has asked two ranking officials of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) to resign, Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III of party-list group Act-OFW said yesterday.

“The President told them to resign or they would be fired. He told them he did not like gambling. They are from Apeco, not Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.),” he said.

The STAR had erroneously reported that the gaming officials Duterte would fire were from Pagcor.

Bertiz said he was present when Duterte asked the two Aurora free port officials to quit before the President’s speaking engagement in Talisay, Negros Occidental last week.

“They even followed him to Cebu City, where he proceeded, to explain their side but the President ignored them,” he said.

Asked to identify the officials, Bertiz said he was not familiar with their names. The STAR called other lawmakers who were in Talisay and Cebu with the President, but they too did not know the names of the officials whose resignation Duterte demanded.

A check showed that the top officials of Apeco are Israel Maducdoc, president, and Edward Pineda, deputy administrator.

Bertiz said the President got mad when he learned that the officials granted a 75-year gaming franchise to an unspecified free port locator.

“He also expressed anger over their issuance of permits for gambling activities outside Apeco,” he said.

He likened such permits to those issued by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

One firm CEZA has allowed to conduct gambling activities outside the Cagayan free port in Sta. Ana town is Meridien Gaming, which is identified with Charlie “Atong” Ang.

Some Bicol congressmen have complained that Meridien has extended its operations to their region, and that some of its operators were engaged in illegal gambling.

CEZA is the brainchild of former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, while Apeco was a pet project of the late former senator Edgardo Angara.

In the course of his speech in Talisay, the President hinted that he would dismiss two erring gaming-free port officials.

“Meron pa, meron pang isang (there’s one more) head of an agency. When you are granted this free port… and you are beginning to abuse by issuing too many franchises of gambling,” he said.

He said the two officials even followed him to Cebu City where he had a number of engagements over the weekend.

“Sabi ko, you go. Both of you, you go,” he said.

He added that the two tried to explain why they issued 75-year gaming franchise and gambling permits outside of Apeco.

“And you give these contracts for foreigners for 75 years? P..... i... di ka ba gago. Ilang presidente ang dadaanan niyan – 75 years, you must be crazy. (Son of a… you must be crazy. How many presidents will the franchise go through)?” Duterte said. – With Edith Regalado, Helen Flores