Pagcor chief disputes firing of gaming officials

A COMMITTEE report at the House of Representatives on Wednesday said that Cristino Naguiat Jr., the chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), has disputed a reported claim of a ranking member of the minority bloc who said that two executives of the corporation were dismissed from their post after an investigation of a casino scam.

The report prepared by the House Committee on Games and Amusements said that Naguiat considered axing Rogelio Bangsil Jr., a former officer- in- charge of the Gaming department, and Jose Tulio of Airport Casino Filipino over the probe that found the government losing P160 million in government- run casinos to Ben Lui, a Singaporean.

Bangsil was recently assigned to the gaming corporation’s international marketing department and while Tulio is the Casino Filipino Olongapo general manager.

“Mr. Cristino Naguiat Jr., chairman and CEO of Pagcor, agreed with the observations of the committee that there are lapses in the operations of Pagcor. He also stated that inasmuch as Mr. Rogelio Bangsil Jr., former OIC [officer-incharge] of the Gaming department, and Mr. Tulio are under investigation, Pagcor is considering relieving them from their present position,” the panel report dated January 31 stated.

Assistant Minority Leader Milagros Magsaysay also on Wednesday insisted that Bangsil and Tulio were removed, saying that Naguiat assured them during the panel hearing last Monday that he would be ousting the two officials in his capacity as chief of the gaming corporation.

Magsaysay surmised that Naguiat was only contesting her claim that Bangsil and Tulio were sacked because he wanted to be the one to “relieve” the two officials instead of effecting the dismissal through a motion.

The motion, which was seconded by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, was eventually retracted as part of an agreement during a recent hearing before the House games and amusements panel.

Magsaysay said that she has no idea whether Naguiat has honored the agreement.

On Tuesday, she told the hearing that the chief of the gaming corporation sacked Bangsil and Tulio because they were being investigated on massive losses posted by government-run casinos.

During the investigation, the two officials “should not have any position of influence in the meantime as they seemed the most guilty,” Magsaysay said.

During last Tuesday’s hearing, Magsaysay disclosed during a hearing Bangsil’s recent transfer to the international marketing department from being general manager for Metro Manila casinos.