Ex-PAGCOR chief sued at Ombudsman over P317.67-M unliquidated intel funds

Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. has been sued for malversation and plunder at the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged failure to liquidate P317.67 million worth of intelligence funds.

Valente Custodio, former PAGCOR assistant vice president, filed the complaint-affidavit against Naguiat on March 18.

Custodio said Naguiat was responsible for the disbursement of 30 checks worth a total of P254.84 million and 18 checks amounting to P62.82 million sourced from PAGCOR's confidential and intelligence funds.

The funds were meant for the Save the House project of PAGCOR which started in 2010 with a budget of P67.12 million, but Custodio said the disbursements continued through 2012 and 2013.

The Commission on Audit had issued a notice of disallowance for the disbursement. It also found Naguiat liable for his failure to justify and liquidate the disbursements.

However, Custodio said Naguiat has yet to heed the demands of COA despite the details and supporting documents in his custody.

"The failure of the respondent to immediately account for the disbursements despite repeated demands of the COA created a presumption he appropriated, took, misappropriated or consented, or through abandonment of negligence, permitted another person to take them," the complaint read.

"The respondent is ultimately responsible to account for all the disbursements considering that the same are purportedly intelligence funds, which are by their very nature confidential and under the control of only a specific person, in this case the respondent," it added. — MDM, GMA News