The Philippines E-Sabong Scandal Results in Accusations Against PAGCOR Leadership
A dispute between an e-Sabong operator and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) is causing trouble for the gaming regulator. Now, ten people, including the current and ex-heads, are being accused of abusing their authority.
In the center of this mess is a PHP75 million (US$1.32 million) bond that Kamura Highlands Gaming and Holdings Inc. paid to PAGCOR to run their e-Sabong business. The company operated online betting on cockfights.
Those involved in the accusations include ex-PAGCOR board members Gabriel Claudio, Carmen Pedrosa, Reynaldo Concordia, and James Patrick Bondoc, as reported by news outlet Philstar. Additionally, Andrea Domingo (previous head of PAGCOR), Alejandro Tengco (current boss), and Tengco’s top aide, Dianne Erica Jogno, are also mentioned.
Complications arose when e-Sabong was shut down in the Philippines due to criminal activities. A few cases involved police officers and someone trying to sell her baby to settle their e-Sabong debts. When Kamura inquired about getting their bond money back, it turned out the cash had vanished.
Disappearing Act
Joaquin Sy, Kamura's chairman and main shareholder, reached out to PAGCOR for the missing money. However, he claims he never got a response. Later, it was learned that PAGCOR had given the money to someone else entirely. How this happened is still uncertain. Former PAGCOR chief Andrea Domingo allegedly gave it to someone called Jewel Castro.
After Castro got the money, she withdrew it from the bank account it had been deposited into. Despite having connections to Kamura, Castro wasn't a major shareholder or a designated assignee in the company.
That leaves Sy demanding accountability from PAGCOR's current management. The ten individuals implicated could be facing charges of corruption for potentially benefiting from these questionable transactions.
Initial Innocence
The disputed transactions happened during the time of the old PAGCOR regime. Still, Alejandro Tengco, who became PAGCOR's boss in August 2022, is included in the accusations. He's charged with obstructing justice for allegedly hiding the issue from Sy by not providing a prompt answer on the location of the missing funds.
Pedrosa and Concordia, ex-board members, are also under fire. Unfortunately, they passed away sometime after Kamura's request for reimbursement and before the payment to Castro's account.
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