Graft charges filed against former Pagcor executives

Sunday 5th of June 2016

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against former Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino and several others, local media reports.

The graft charges is reportedly in connection to the release of P37 million (US$799,740) to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association Inc. (PASA) for the training of swimmers for the 2012 Olympic Games.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Ombudsman, the funds were used to pay for the use of the aquatic facility of Trace Aquatic Center (TAC) which was allegedly owned by Genuino and his family.

Other named respondents included former Pagcor president Rafael Francisco; former senior vice president for corporate communications and services department Edward King; former executive vice president Rene Figueroa; former vice president, accounting department Ester Hernandez, and former assistant vice president, internal audit department Valente Custodio.

Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez and former PASA President Mark Joseph were also included in the charge sheet, according to the Manila Times.

According to the charge sheet, the Pagcor president at the time entered into a memorandum of agreement with PASA president Mark Joseph after he proposed to Genuino that Pagcor fund the swimmers’ training for the 2012 Olympic Games.

“The MOA was executed even before the PAGCOR Board of Directors could have deliberated on the matter,” it said.

The Ombudsman alleges that Genuino and Francisco signed the checks disbursing PAGCOR funds totaling P37 million in favor of PASA, and added that the funds should have been given to the Philippine Sports Commission, not to PASA.

The former pagcor executives have been charged with the violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Bricks & Mortar Court case Graft Charges