An anti-graft and corruption watchdog group has lodged a plunder case against former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman and chief executive officer Cristino Naguiat in connection with the anomalous P3.21 billion (US$ 66.68 million) lease of the former Army Navy Club.
Charged before the Philippines’ Department of Justice for violation of Section 3 (e) of the Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft law, were Naguiat, former PAGCOR board of director Jose Tanjuatco; PAGCOR directors Enriguito Nuguid and Eugene Manalastas; Atty. Jorge Sarmiento; PAGCOR’s Bids and Awards Committee members Milagros Pauline Visque; Ramon Jones; Romeo Cruz, Jr.; Annalyn Zogimann; Atty. Kathleen Delantar; and Manuel Sy.
The heart of the case lodged by the Officers of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) was the anomalous lease contract bidding of the iconic Army Navy Club complex in Manila to Vanderwood Management Corp.
It would be recalled that PAGCOR awarded Vanderwood Management Corp. with a 15-year contract for the lease of casino space behind the Army Navy Club after a long and tedious 14-month bidding process.
In the complaint obtained by CalvinAyre.com, the petitioners alleged that award of the lease contract was found to be “highly irregular and anomalous.”
They anchored their case to the findings made by a city auditor, which noted that the lot, is owned by the City of Manila and already leased to Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corporation, which, in turn, subleased the property to Vanderwood.
Aside from the fact that the former Army and Navy Club was declared a national historical landmark in 1991, the group pointed out that the property also falls “within the portion of the Museo ng Maynila Complex.”
The auditor, according to the petitioners also pointed out that PAGCOR released P234 million (US$ 4.86 million) to Vanderwood “despite the fact that the premises to be leased was not existing at the time of the execution of the contract.”
“Considering that there was no leased premises to speak of, the disbursement of P234 million (US$ 4.86 million) was irregular and, therefore, disallowable in audit pursuant to [Commission on Audit] Circular No. 2012-003 dated October 29, 2012,” the complaint read.
In July, PAGCOR announced that it is targeting to open a casino in the controversial site by yearend. But PAGCOR’s project has become a favorite target of black propaganda.
A petition calling for President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the casino project has also been launched on the same month.
