Sandigan junks one of ex-Pagcor chief Genuino's graft cases over funds misuse

MANILA - The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division junked one graft case involving Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chairman Efraim Genuino, but only because the amount of government funds involved in the case is already included in a related case he is also facing before the anti-graft court.

In a resolution promulgated on February 7, the court granted the motion to withdraw the case filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor because the P9 million involved in the first case is already included in the P37.063 million involved in the second case.

“This is legally impermissible,” the court said in the resolution penned by Presiding Justice and Division Chairperson Amparo Cabotaje-Tan, withthe concurrence of Associate Justices Bernelito Fernandez and Sarah Jane Fernandez.

Government prosecutors originally filed 3 counts of graft against Genuino over the allegedly anomalous use of public funds to train swimmers for the 2012 London Olympics, part of which went to TRACE Aquatic Center which is supposedly owned and controlled by the Genuino family.

• Ex-PAGCOR chairman posts bail for graft cases

As the court granted the motion of the prosecution, the case was consequently dismissed.

Genuino’s bail bond for the dismissed case was also ordered released subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures.