P3.2b Pagcor mess prompts Alvarez to keep death penalty for plunder

February 14, 2017

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Tuesday said he is more determined to retain plunder among the list of heinous crimes punishable by capital punishment under the death penalty bill, a statement from the House of Representatives said.

Alvarez made the comment after the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government where he said the  P3.2 billion, 15-year lease agreement between the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and Vanderwood Management Corp.  is highly disadvantageous to the government.

“In response to the inquiry on what legislation should we propose, now,Mr. Chairman, with more reason that I will pursue that the offense of plunder be included in the death penalty,” Alvarez said.

He tagged former Pagcor chairman Cristino Naguiat and members of the board, as well as former Government Corporate Counsel Raoul Creencia who gave the go signal to the deal. Alvarez also urged the committee to subpoena officials of the original lessee of the property Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corporation, namely Simon Paz, Cornelio Aldon and Mario Leabres, who did not attend the hearing.

Alvarez wants to find out why Oceanville sub-leased the property to Vanderwood for only P300,000 a month, the same amount it pays to the City of Manila which owns the property.

Alvarez said the committee will summon former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to explain their side. Manila government owns the property in  Museo ng Maynila complex.

He said current PAGCOR officials, headed by chairman Andrea Domingo, will also likely be liable for plunder if they push through with the Vanderwood deal despite the COA disallowance. DMS