Sandiganbayan finds ex-PAGCOR chief Genuino, 2 others guilty of graft

The Sandiganbayan on Friday found former Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Efraim Genuino guilty of graft over the anomalous release of P37-million public funds in 2007 and 2009.

Aside from Genuino, also found guilty by the anti-graft court were former PAGCOR chief operating officer Rafael Francisco and former Philippine Sports Commission chairperson William Ramirez.

The three were sentenced to spend six to 10 years in prison over the release of P37 million in PAGCOR funds to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association Inc. (PASA) without the approval of PAGCOR's board of directors.

The funds were supposedly for the training of Philippine national team swimmers for the 2012 London Olympics.

PASA is the national sports association for and the governing body of the Philippine National Swimming Team.

The P37-million PAGCOR funds, government prosecutors said, were used by PASA to pay for the lease of Trace Aquatic Center, which was owned by Genuino and his family.

There were two Filipino swimmers who qualified for the London Olympics, namely Jessie Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi. Both did not make it to the Olympic medal round.

The same Sandiganbayan decision, penned by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, also perpetually disqualified Genuino, Francisco and Ramirez from occupying public office.

Genuino had posted a P90,000 bail in 2016.  

In his manifestations during the hearings, Genuino said there is no basis to hold him criminally liable as, citing the Commission on Audit, he had no discretion over the fund. —KBK, GMA Integrated News