Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2) – Sen. Win Gatchalian on Sunday urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to file complaints against agency officials who were allegedly involved in a questionable multi-billion-peso auditing contract involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
“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,” he said.
[Translation: The officials and employees of Pagcor who were negligent or who colluded with Global ComRCI must be held responsible because this was the reason why the contract was given to them even though it was clear that they were not qualified.]
During a Senate hearing in January, Gatchalian grilled Pagcor over the ₱6-billion contract with Global ComRCI for the audit of gross gaming revenues of POGOs in 2017.
Photos presented during the hearing showed that instead of an office, a house was built at the address submitted by Global ComRCI to the regulator. Gatchalian said the supposed office was the basis for approving the third party auditor.
He also said that while Global ComRCI seemed to meet the ₱1-billion operating capital requirement, it was certified by a certain Soleil Chartered Bank, which was not registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Under Section 69 of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, submission of falsified documents is a ground for imposing the administrative penalty of suspension for one year for the first offense and two years for the second offense.
On March 9, Pagcor announced the termination of its contract with Global ComRCI. According to the gaming regulator, Global ComRCI was in default of its obligations and a prima facie evidence exists that it committed unlawful acts as defined under the Government Procurement Reform Act.
READ: Pagcor terminates contract with third party POGO auditor
Pagcor also said it has endorsed its decision to the Office of the Solicitor General for the possible filing of administrative, civil, and criminal complaints against Global ComRCI.
READ: Gatchalian hits Pagcor for questionable 3rd party auditor
