The Efraim Genuino graft conviction was affirmed by the Sandiganbayan as the former chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), along with four other top officials, was found guilty of graft and malversation involving the illegal use of ₱45.1 million in public funds.
In a 257-page decision, the anti-graft court convicted Genuino, former Pagcor president Rafael Francisco, senior vice presidents Rene Figueroa and Edward “Dodie” King, and assistant vice president Valente Custodio of five counts each of graft and malversation.
Each official was sentenced to over 100 years in prison and was also ordered to return the ₱45.1 million to the government.
The court found that funds were improperly used to finance projects of the Bida Foundation—an entity founded by Genuino—which included Christmas and barangay programs, “Bida Comics,” the “Bida Caravan,” and the “Grand Bida March” from 2005 to 2008.
However, the court acquitted the group of charges related to funding rice relief efforts during a 2008 typhoon and the production of the film Baler due to insufficient evidence.
Meanwhile, former Pagcor vice president for accounting Ester Hernandez remains at large, and the charges against her have been temporarily archived.
The case was originally filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2011, alleging irregular transactions that favored the Bida Foundation and its allied party-list organization.
Tags:
Efraim Genuino, Pagcor, Graft Conviction, Bida Foundation, Sandiganbayan, Philippine Corruption, Public Funds Misuse,