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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Gatchalian urges PAGCOR to file raps vs officials in third party auditor contract

Gatchalian urges PAGCOR to file raps vs officials in third party auditor contract

Published Apr 2, 2023 05:32 am
  Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, April 2 called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to file the necessary charges against agency officials who are  involved in the anomalous procurement of third-party auditor for gross gaming revenues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).   Gatchalian issued  the challenge after the state gaming regulatory agency terminated its 10-year, P6-billion contract with Global ComRCI after it was found to “have committed unlawful acts” and to be “in default of its obligations.”   “Kailangang panagutin ang mga opisyal at empleyado ng PAGCOR na naging pabaya o kaya’y nakipagsabwatan sa Global ComRCI na dahilan kung bakit sa kanila napunta ang kontrata kahit na malinaw na hindi sila kwalipikado (The officials and employees of PAGCOR who were negligent or colluded with Global ComRCI must be held responsible, which is why the contract went to them even though they were clearly not qualified),” Gatchalian said.   The Senate Committee on Ways and Means earlier terminated its investigation into the socio-economic costs of POGOs in the country, and eventually recommended the immediate ban on the industry.    The panel’s inquiry led senators to discover the numerous irregularities in the way Global ComRCI secured the contract with PAGCOR to undertake a third-party audit of gaming revenues generated by POGOs.   Global ComRCI was found to have submitted a falsified bank guarantee from a financial institution that was unauthorized by the central bank to provide financial services in the country.   Following this discovery, PAGCOR immediately rescinded its contract with Global ComRCI.   “Dapat nating habulin para masampahan ng kaso ang mga opisyal at empleyado sa gobyerno na gumagawa ng mga katiwalian para masawata ang mga ganitong gawain (We should pursue to file charges against the officials and employees in the government who commit corruption to prevent such activities),” the senator stressed.   Gatchalian said Global ComRCI’s submission of a false document is a ground for the termination of the contract under Section 69 of Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.   The said law also specifies the grounds and sanctions for blacklisting a contractor.    Also under the law, private individuals and any public officer conspiring with them in submitting falsified documents in order to influence the outcome of the eligibility screening process and competitive bidding shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment.   But PAGCOR has endorsed its decision to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for the possible filing of administrative, civil, and criminal cases against Global ComRCI. 

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POGOs Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian Global ComRCI Consortium
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