Thread by @olliekarp

For today's #dailysoup, I'll talk about Efraim Genuino, a former PAGCOR chairman who was involved in many corruption stints during his term.

Story: A gov't-controlled gambling corporation funded a political party, coffee shops, and a swimming complex.

More info in this🧵.

1/17

From 2001-10, Genuino served as the chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a government-controlled corporation handling casinos in my country, the Philippines.

2/17

When Cristino Naguiat succeeded Genuino as PAGCOR chairman in 2010, he discovered that from 2003-10, funds from Genuino-led PAGCOR were diverted to the entities of a "party-list" (miniature political party in my country) named BIDA Foundation.

3/17
pagcor.ph/press-releases…

BIDA Foundation (or simply BIDA) was a "party-list" known for initiating marketing campaigns for Filipino youths against illegal drugs during the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001-10).

4/17

Besides bypassing public bidding, funds from Genuino-led PAGCOR to BIDA exceeded the usual amount spent by PAGCOR to other entities for sponsorships and financial assistance.

For example, in February 27, 2009, PAGCOR processed 4 BIDA grants amounting to around Php15M.

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Moreover, Genuino-led PAGCOR spent Php14M for BIDA merchandise, caravan, and other collaterals.

Meanwhile, PAGCOR spent another Php14M for events management of two BIDA projects, one in 2005 and another one in 2006.

6/17

In 2008, Genuino-led PAGCOR diverted funds amounting Php26.7M for producing the Filipino movie "Baler", in which Efraim Genuino's son, Erwin Genuino, was one of its executive producers.

Then, ticket sales of "Baler" were donated to PAGCOR.

7/17
pagcor.ph/press-releases…

From December 2008 to June 2010, Genuino-led PAGCOR paid Php63.1M for BIDA adverts in television and radio, aiming to increase BIDA's popularity before the 2010 Philippine elections.

8/17

Furthermore, Genuino-led PAGCOR funded BIDA's "Grand Bida March", an anti-drug rally held back in 2009, a BIDA animated mini-series, and even BIDA comic books.

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Besides payments to BIDA, Genuino-led PAGCOR granted contracts and concessions to BIDA officials so that they would join PAGCOR.

For example, Carol Matsuda, a BIDA official, became the manager of a PAGCOR VIP club, as well as an energy drink supplier in PAGCOR casinos.

10/17

Meanwhile, Genuino-led PAGCOR, from August 2001 to June 2010, diverted around Php700M of PAGCOR funds to Promolabels Specialty Shop for the operation of its Figaro coffee shops in all Casino Filipino branches.

11/17
pagcor.ph/press-releases…

All contracts between Genuino-led PAGCOR and all Promolabels' Figaro coffee shop branches were signed by "Lot Manalo", the wife of Johnny Tan, an ally of Genuino connected with BIDA.

Worse, they were unaccredited by the SEC, my country's agency for business registration.

12/17

Moreover, Genuino-led PAGCOR had a coffee supply monopoly on all Promolabels' Figaro coffee shop branches, while PAGCOR imposed sales quotas of Php3K/day for all branches.

13/17

Meanwhile, the Commission on Audit discovered in 2005 that prices of Figaro coffee inside Promolabels' coffee shop branches were higher than ordinary Figaro coffee shops, thus indicating excessive payments to Genuino-led PAGCOR.

14/17

From 2007-09, Genuino-led PAGCOR released more than Php34M of "financial assistance funds" to a private sports organisation named "Philippine Amateur Swimming Association" (or PASA) for training of Filipino swimmers for the 2012 London Olympics.

15/17
pagcor.ph/press-releases…

However, instead of funding the training of Filipino swimmers, PASA used the "financial assistance" funds from Genuino-led PAGCOR to fund the creation and maintenance of the TRACE Aquatic Complex in Los Banos, Laguna, which is actually owned by the Genuino family.

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In March 4, 2023, after facing multiple criminal charges in the past for his corruption stints in PAGCOR, Efraim Genuino and other two former PAGCOR officials were sentenced to ten years in jail for misallocation of government funds.

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philstar.com/headlines/2023…