Kontrata sa third-party POGO auditor, tinapos na ng PAGCOR

Kontrata sa third-party POGO auditor, tinapos na ng PAGCOR

March 9, 2023 @ 6:48 PM 3 weeks ago


MANILA, Philippines- Winakasan na ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) ang kontrata nito sa third-party auditor na inatasan na mag-audit sa Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) sa umano’y “unlawful acts” kasunod ng pagsusuri sa kanilang kasunduan.

Inihayag ng gaming industry regulator na “after careful investigation and in accordance with R.A. No. 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Act,” ipinalabas at isinilbi nito ang Notice of Decision to Terminate the Consultancy Contract sa Global ComRCI, na pinagkasunduan ng dalawang partido noong December 2017.

Maguguniya na sa Senate hearing noong Enero, sinabi ni Senator Sherwin Gatchalian na posibleng naloko ang PAGCOR ng Global ComRCI, at sinabing ibinigay sa third-party auditor ang kontrata base sa isang “spurious” bank certificate.

Iginawad sa Global ComRCI ang 10-year contract mula sa PAGCOR noong 2017, at sinabi ng ahensya na sumailalim ang service provider sa wastong bidding process at nakumpleto ang lahat ng legal requirements sa ilalim ng Procurement Law.

Subalit, ayon sa PAGCOR, sinuri ang kontrata sa Global ComRCI mula September 2022 kasunod ng pagtatalaga sa bagong liderato ng gaming industry regulator.

“Upon careful evaluation and with observance of due process, PAGCOR has determined the Third-Party Auditor to be IN DEFAULT of its obligations and that there exists prima facie evidence that it has committed UNLAWFUL ACTS as defined under R.A. No. 9184,” pahayag ng ahensya.

Sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang tugon ang Global ComRCI hinggil dito.

“PAGCOR would like to reiterate that contrary to previous reports, it has not yet paid the contract amount of P6 billion to Global ComRCI,” anang gaming regulator.

“No payment has been made by PAGCOR in the past four years due to the shortfall from the minimum revenue stipulated in the contract,” dagdag nito.

Sinabi ng PAGCOR na inendorso na nito ang isyu sa Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) para sa posibleng paghahain ng administrative, civil, at criminal cases laban sa Global ComRCI.

“PAGCOR shall likewise explore all legal remedies available for the restitution of more than P800 million out of the partial amount released to Global ComRCI prior to the assumption of the current administration as well as damages it has caused to the Corporation,” anito.

Sinabi ng PAGCOR na ito ay “firm in its commitment to uphold the integrity of the gaming industry in the country so that all revenues from regulated gaming will continue to support the government’s nation-building efforts and uplift the lives of Filipinos.” RNT/SA