The Philippines Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed a decision by the Commission on Audit (CoA) that invalidated the financial aid provided by former senior executives of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), amounting to PHP2 million ($35,200).
This aid was intended for a flood control initiative within a subdivision located in Laguna.
According to local media reports, a 24-page decision, dated August 18th, disclosed that the SC ruled the disallowance to be justified. This ruling was based on the principle that public funds should not be allocated to private endeavors, as exemplified in this instance by the flood control project of the Pleasant Village Homeowners Association (PVHA).
While PAGCOR is authorized to finance infrastructure and socio-civic projects, it is imperative that these projects maintain a genuinely public character. They should not merely serve as an “unintended benefit to the public or the state,” arising from the advancement of a private entity’s interests, the authorities note.
