SCB denies issuing certificate to PAGCOR auditor

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

NEW York-based Soleil Chartered Bank (SCB) has categorically denied issuing a bank certificate that helped third-party auditor Global ComRCI consortium win a P6 billion contract with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to audit the revenue of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

It can be recalled that PAGCOR presented during a Senate committee hearing a bank guarantee purportedly issued by Soleil to Global ComRCI for $25 million in compliance with a capital requirement set by PAGCOR in contracting an independent auditor for POGOs.

Due to this, Senator Win Gatchalian, who is leading the Senate probe on POGO’s financial matters as chairperson of the Senate ways and means committee, called for the immediate termination of the deal.

“The contract between PAGCOR and Global ComRCI should be terminated immediately,” Gatchalian said.