The Court of Appeals has sustained its earlier decision ordering the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to issue a license to Waterfront Philippines Inc. for a casino-hotel it plans to build in Entertainment City in Parañaque City.
In a two-page resolution promulgated last April 22, the CA’s former 6th Division dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by Pagcor seeking reversal of its decision in October last year.
“After carefully considering the grounds raised in the subject motion, We find that the said reasons and the arguments in support thereof have been amply treated, discussed and passed upon in the subject decision,” stated the ruling penned by Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan.
The CA instead reaffirmed its earlier ruling, which upheld the August 2017 ruling of Manila regional trial court branch 173 Presiding Judge Armando Yanga that compelled Pagcor to issue provisional license in favor of Waterfront.
The said order required Pagcor to immediately approve Waterfront’s proposal for the Grand Waterfront Hotel and Casino under the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Integrated City Project.
The court said it was “ministerial” for Pagcor to act on Waterfront’s application. Since Waterfront complied with all the requirements listed in Pagcor’s last letter dated April 23, 2008, the court said its application “warranted review and evaluation.”
It noted that while Pagcor failed to act on Waterfront’s application, it acted on similar applications by Resorts World Manila, City of Dreams, Solaire Resort and Casino, and Okada Manila.
The RTC issued the ruling upon petition filed in March 2015 by Waterfront, which questioned the inaction of Pagcor on its application for license despite its submission of all requirements—including a $100-million cash deposit.