THE Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Monday filed a P234-million plunder case against former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Celestino Naguiat and 10 other officials in connection with a lease contract they entered into with a private company for a non-existent casino.
In its complaint, the VACC through its president Dante Jimenez and board member Arsenio Evangelista asked the Justice Department to investigate the P3.2 billion lease contract that Pagcor awarded to Vanderwood Management Corp. in 2015 for being “highly irregular and anomalous.”
The VACC said the 6,500-square-meter lot, the subject of the lease contract, was within the portion of the Museo Maynila Complex, formerly the Army and Navy Club and is owned by the Manila City government.
The complainant said the property was leased by the city government to Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp. in January 2014.
“The amount of P234,000,000 was paid to VMC representing 12 months advance rental and six months security deposit at P13,000,000 per month pursuant to the lease contract, despite the fact that the premises to be leased [were] not existing at the time of the execution of the contract,” the complaint said.
“Considering that there was no leased premises to speak of, the disbursement of P234,000,000 was irregular and, therefore, disallowable in audit pursuant to Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-003 dated October 29, 2012,” it said.
Also named as respondents were former Pagcor chairman Jorge Sarmeinto and board members Jose S. Tanjuatco, Enriguito M. Nuguid, and Eugene G. Manalastas; members of the Bids and Awards Committee Milagros Pauline L. Visque , Ramon Jose E. Jones, Romeo R. Cruz Jr., Annalyn Zoglmann, lawyer Kathleen G. Delantar; and VMC president Manuel B. Sy.
The VACC also questioned the bidding committee’s decision to qualify VMC in the post-qualification process despite non-submission of certain documents and non-compliance with certain conditions under the technical requirements of the bid.
In September 2014, the BAC of Pagcor bid out the leased space for a casino in Manila for 15 years.
During the first pre-bid conference, six prospective bidders attended but the members of the BAC were replaced by the respondents.
On Nov. 28, 2014, the new BAC convened the second pre-bid conference for the negotiated procurement of lease space for a casino gaming facility in Manila for the same period.
Only VMC submitted its offer for the lease contract.
Subsequently, the BAC announced the results of failed offer due to the failure of VMC to comply with all the requirements but later resolved to grant the firm’s motion for reconsideration.
The BAC endorsed to the Pagcor board the approval of the award of contract to VMC having submitted a quotation of P3.21 billion. The board approved the recommendation on March 24, 2015, on the same day it was endorsed by the bidding committee.
“Indubitably, all respondents acted in common concert and in unison to achieve their criminal design to raid the public treasury of the amount of P234,000,000 to the prejudice of the government,” the complaint said.
The complainants accused the respondents of taking advantage of their position to “unjustly enrich themselves to the damage and prejudice” of the government.