Ex-Pagcor chair, 4 others get 100 years for graft

Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman Efraim Genuino and four other former top officials of the state gaming firm have been sentenced to over 100 years of imprisonment for multiple counts of graft and malversation involving the alleged misuse of P50.05 million in agency funds.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

In a 257-page decision promulgated yesterday, the Sandiganbayan Third Division found Genuino, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office president and chief operating officer Rafael Francisco, former senior vice president for administration Rene Figueroa, former SVP for corporate communications services Edward King and former assistant vice president for the internal audit Valente Custodio guilty of five counts each of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

They were also convicted of five counts of malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

For the graft charges, each was sentenced to six to 10 years in prison per count and perpetually disqualified from holding public office.