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Filipino Gaming Company Disputes Critics' Claims13 August 2002PHILIPPINES – As reported by the Manila Time: "Top officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. branded the issues raised by its critics as non-starters, saying the claims were misleading because the use of facts was selective. In a press statement, Pagcor chair Efraim Genuino said there was `no truth to reports that Pagcor will flood the country with slot machines.' "He said "the expansion program Pagcor is presently undertaking in line with its slot machine operations (was) a modest and reasonable one." "The Inquirer reported on Saturday that an additional 2,000 slot machines would be installed in at least 11 non-casino-based locations in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao in the next few months. "`It's saddening . . . that (our) critics have made an issue of our modest slot machine program, which is merely an attempt to keep the country abreast with the fast-developing global technology in the gaming-entertainment business,' Genuino said. "…But in Cebu City, a fuming Rep. Raul del Mar said he would initiate a congressional inquiry into the proliferation of slot machines outside the state-run gambling casinos. "…Del Mar, a member of the House committee on legislative franchises, said he believed that Pagcor has no authority to operate slot machines outside its casinos. "…Rene Figueroa, Pagcor deputy chief of staff for operations, said the `progressive jackpot system' that critics had denounced would actually benefit the government…" |