THE former chief of the anti-illegal gambling unit of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) has slapped charges against the agency’s chairman, Juan Ramon Guanzon, who gave him the boot
for opposing the creation of a parallel anti-gambling unit that was allegedly composed of individuals ”with pending criminal cases.”
Rolando Basmayor, a former police officer, sued GAB and Guanzon for breach of contract and to seek damages for his ordeal which, according to him, began when the GAB head created a “special regional anti-gambling unit” in February without his knowledge. The case is docketed as Civil Case No. 11-292 before the Regional Trial Court of Makati City.
Guanzon is reportedly related to the wife of businessman Herminio Aquino, President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s uncle.
In his complaint, Basmayor said that he strongly opposed the creation of the new anti-gambling unit because the individuals who were being appointed at the time did not belong to any of the government agencies listed in Presidential Administrative Order No. 222 stipulating as to where detailed personnel should be drawn from.
The new Cavite-based group, he claimed, is composed of private individuals whom he later learned to have pending criminal cases filed against them.
“The group is headed by one Peter Ignacio, who is charged with ‘highway robbery’ and ‘falsification of public documents,’” Basmayor said.
“A reliable source,” he added, “states that the true goal of this group is not to quell the rampant gambling activities [in] the area it was established, but rather to centralize the ‘tong collection’ operation in its supposed area of responsibility.”
The complainant said that he immediately informed Guanzon about his findings and argued that “the alleged acts committed by the chairman and the unit he created to carry on with his activities would reflect on his leadership and any illegal acts committed by the unit would be blamed on him.”
Unexpected reaction
Instead of heeding the information, Guanzon allegedly got mad and humiliated Basmayor in front of other GAB employees.
Basmayor was allegedly accused of being a “coward and an insubordinate.”
According to laywer Gilbert Zulueta, the complainant’s counsel, Guanzon tried to convince his client to just agree to his decision at first.
But when Basmayor refused, “his contract was arbitrarily/unilaterally terminated.”
The Manila Times was able to reach through phone Guanzon, who confirmed that indeed there was a breach of contract case filed against GAB and him before the Makati trial court.
He, however, refused to make further comments without the guidance of his lawyer.
“Thank you for making the effort to get the side of GAB about the breach of contract case against the GAB. It is an alleged breach by GAB filed by a disgruntled consultant who wants the office to pay damages aside from the stipulated compensation,” Guanzon said in a text message.
“However, as much as I would like to discuss the matter with you, please let me consult counsel first. I hope you understand that I have to respect the proceedings of the court [sub judice],” he added.
Basmayor’s lawyers at the Zulueta Law Office prayed for a favorable decision on the following: that the termination of the contract was illegal; the payment of actual damages in the amount of P100,000; moral damages in the amount of P500,000; nominal damages in the amount of P50,000; exemplary damages in the amount of not less than P50,000; attorney fees in the amount of not less than P50,000; appearance fees in the amount of P3,000; and litigation expenses in the amount of not less than P50,000.
Guanzon first grabbed headlines when GAB declared in March that jai alai operation in the country was illegal.
He issued a cease-and-desist order on March 3, 2011 against Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. which was asked to close down all its off-fronton betting stations.
Meridien operates jai-alai under a license it obtained from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).
Under its charter, CEZA may operate on its own or license its operation to other tourism-related activities, including games, amusement, recreational and sports facilities.
But GAB, according to Guanzon, was created in 1951 through Executive Order No. 392 to exercise powers, duties and functions over fronton and Basque pelota games, Guanzon said.
In an effort to save what’s left of it, Meridien proposed an “amicable” settlement with the gaming board to allow it to operate jai alai games, saying that it was willing to submit to regulations that the board may impose.
