Press Release
November 19, 2012

MIRIAM WANTS SENATE PROBE ON ALLEGED MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BRIBES GIVEN TO EX-PAGCOR CHIEF GENUINO & HIS "BAGMAN"

Feisty Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago today filed a Senate resolution urging a legislative probe on allegations that former Pagcor Chair Efraim Genuino and former Pagcor consultant Rodolfo Soriano received millions of dollars in bribes in connection with a $2-billion casino project in Manila Bay. The banner headline in a newspaper today reported that Soriano, who is allegedly Genuino's "bagman," was paid millions of dollars by Universal Entertainment Corporation when it was lobbying the government for tax breaks and other concessions for its planned casino on Manila Bay.

Santiago said Genuino and Soriano should explain and account for the alleged millions of dollars they received from Universal. She said they could be facing up to ten years imprisonment, perpetual disqualification from public office, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the Government of any unexplained wealth if found to have violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Santiago also said that she was aghast that a mere consultant such as Soriano appeared to have been representing Pagcor and negotiating with Universal for a $2-billion dollar project. She said Congress should limit the powers of consultants in government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and penalize government officials who give blanket authority to consultants to transact on behalf of their agency or the Philippine government.

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