After thorough discussions and numerous back-and-forth talks, the Philippine Congress’ House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability announced that it was closing its investigation on the alleged multimillion anomalies attached to the previous administration of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
The decision to close the investigation was made by Iloilo Representative Jerry Treñas, the House panel’s chairman, who terminated the inquiry following a motion made by Negros Oriental Representative George Arnaiz. The committee chairman also said that the committee has gone to great lengths to ensure that all bases are covered as far as the allegations hounding former Pagcor chief Efraim Genuino. During a recent meeting with Commission on Audit and Pagcor officials, Treñas told everyone that the commission has “exhaustively discussed all these anomalies as covered in the COA report.”
“The DoJ (Department of Justice) already explained the reason why it took time for them to file the case. It is about time to terminate this,” the chairman added.
With the House investigation apparently completed, the cases involving Genuino and his kids, Erwin and Anthony, is now in the hands of the Department of Justice, which, in turn will be tasked to continue the investigation surrounding various anomalies allegedly tied to the previous Pagcor administration. Among the allegations being looked into include a rice donation that Pagcor supposedly made to victims of a typhoon some years ago. Instead, the funds used to buy these sacks of rice were alleged to have been used for the political campaigns of both Erwin and Anthony Genuino.
In addition, there’s also that investigation involving food purchases made for the Philippine National Police, the illegal disbursement of Php 26.7 million for the production of a movie from 2008, Genuino’s alleged unaccounted assets since 2008, and the former chief’s Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA) Foundation Inc, a congressional party list group that was allegedly headed by Sheryl Genuino-Sy, the daughter of the embattled former Pagcor chief, and one that has been suspected to have spent Php185.96 million during the 2010 elections.
With one investigation closed, the committee is now turning its attention towards assisting the House committee on games and amusement in the latter’s investigation of the alleged bribery involving Universal Entertainment boss Kazuo Okada and former Pagcor consultant Rodolfo Soriano.
“As far as the bribery and Okada thing is concerned, it is still pending before the Committee on games. We already sent a letter to them and we are still waiting for their response,” Treñas said.
There’s no rest for the weary, it seems, for these guys. Maybe they can get things going and come to a resolution on that case sooner than later.
