Kathlyn dela Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/business2/04/05/katrina-nepomuceno-benny-tan.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Leisure and Resorts World Corp. counsel Katrina Nepomuceno (left) and Bloomberry Resorts corporate secretary Benny Tan (center) testify before the Senate hearing on the $81 million money laundering scheme. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Of the total P1.365 billion ($29 million) that ended up in Solaire operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp., P903 million and P100 million were sent to two Chinese junket operators.Speaking before the Senate committee investigating the $81-million money laundering heist on Tuesday, Bloomberry Resorts corporate secretary Atty. Silverio Benny Tan reiterated that they were able to <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/29/16/solaire-freezes-p107-m-in-chips">freeze only P107 million in chips</a> from the account of the group of Chinese businessman Ding Zhize, who had been identified by casino junket operator Kim Wong as a high roller from Macau.Ding, along with casino junket agent Gao Shuhua, were allegedly responsible for slipping into the Philippines the &quot;dirty money,&quot; Wong had said.According to Tan, the management of Solaire Resorts and Casino took it upon themselves to confiscate the chips of Ding&#x27;s group, composed of about 19 players, upon learning that the money was part of the funds stolen from the central bank of Bangladesh.Cash worth P1.347 million was also confiscated from the casino players, Tan said.&quot;When they were playing, we stopped them from playing and confiscated all the chips. We went up to their room and while in their presence, confiscated their cash,&quot; he said.&quot;We took a risk. It&#x27;s possible that what we did can be questioned by them. But we decided to take the right side of history,&quot; he added.He said they are just waiting for a court order on what to do with the recovered money.LOOK: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/03/31/16/look-junket-agent-high-roller-tagged-in-money-laundering-scheme">Junket agent, high roller tagged in money laundering scheme</a><figure class="op-social"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTpWOVIa0Fs" width="510"></iframe></figure>A little over a billion pesos -- in the amounts of P903.73 million and P100 million -- were used to purchase non-negotiable chips which were then distributed to two Chinese junket operators, according to Tan.Of these, P361 million was played in Solaire&#x27;s premium program, he said, P278.6 million of which was withdrawn as winnings.&quot;They took it in cash,&quot; said Tan.The two casino junket operators were identified as Chao Cheok Wa (P903.73 million) and Chang Lai Fong (P100 million). Both were represented in the hearing by their respective legal counsels.The lawyers said their clients, both currently in Macau, are still in the process of confirming the amounts stated by Solaire.&quot;Mr. Chao was advised of this investigation on April 2, just a few days ago. So upon learning of this investigation, he is now tallying the counting between Solaire and his junket operation,&quot; said Atty. Francis Aguilar.Chang, meanwhile, is &quot;most willing&quot; to cooperate and has already given instructions to cull all information and submit a formal report &quot;on whatever was received and whatever was played in the junket,&quot; Atty. Eduardo Escaño said.<div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/v1/03/31/16/pagcor-junket-operators-bring-high-rollers-to-casinos">PAGCOR: Junket operators bring high rollers to casinos</a></div>Meanwhile, Leisure and Resorts World Corp. counsel Katrina Nepomuceno said of the P1 billion ($21 million) that ended up in Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co., owned by Wong, only P532,139,000 was played in Midas Hotel and Casino in February.Of this, a total of P111,050,500 was encashed and withdrawn as winnings, she said.<div>EARNINGS?</div>Senator Bam Aquino then questioned Solaire and Midas where the remaining funds -- or the losses incurred by the players -- are now, asking them if these are therefore considered as the casinos&#x27; earnings.&quot;Not exactly,&quot; Nepomuceno said. &quot;Because part of that should have been remitted already as part of commissions, there are certain expenses, and I believe that some would already go to the share of our company as the junket agent and then a portion has already been remitted to PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation).&quot;Tan and Nepomuceno were then asked by the senator if Solaire and Midas would be willing to return the dirty money and not contest the civil forfeiture case to be filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in a bid to recover the money played in the casinos so that it could be returned to the people of Bangladesh.&quot;Regardless of where the money went, [they] should be recovered,&quot; AMLC Secretariat executive director Julia Bacay-Abad said.Tan, however, said he has yet to receive instructions from the management of Solaire on what to do with the &quot;winnings of the house.&quot;The legal counsels of the two casino junket operators, meanwhile, said they will still have to discuss all possible options to their clients.

MANILA - Of the total P1.365 billion ($29 million) that ended up in Solaire operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp., P903 million and P100 million were sent to two Chinese junket operators.

Solaire: P903-M, P100-M sent to two Chinese junket operators

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Solaire: P903-M, P100-M sent to two Chinese junket operators

Kathlyn dela Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 05, 2016 08:41 PM PHT

|

Updated Apr 06, 2016 02:01 AM PHT

Read More:

money laundering

casino

Solaire

Bloomberry

Silverio Benny Tan

Midas

LRWC

Katrina Nepomuceno

casino junket operators

Kim Wong

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