State-run Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. said Thursday that after careful investigation and in accordance with the Government Procurement Act, it issued a notice to terminate the consultancy contract with Global ComRCI, the third-party auditor for licensed offshore gaming operations.
PAGCOR said it also endorsed the matter to the Office of the Solicitor General for the possible filing of administrative, civil and criminal cases against Global ComRCI. PAGCOR said it would explore all legal remedies available for the restitution of more than P800 million of the partial amount released to Global ComRCI prior to the assumption of the current administration and damages it had caused to the corporation.
PAGCOR said that since September 2022, the new management had been conducting extensive reviews of existing contracts, including with Global ComRCI. “Upon careful evaluation, PAGCOR has determined the third-party auditor to be in default of its obligations and prima facie evidence to have committed unlawful acts,” it said.
“Nevertheless, under the principle of due process, Global ComRCI has been given an opportunity to be heard, as mandated by R.A. No. 9184,” it said.
PAGCOR also clarified it had not yet paid the contract amount of P6 billion to Global ComRCI.