Legenda Casino CEO Khoo Boo Boon hit back at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) yesterday for what he calls a “mobsterlike takeover” of its facilities last Friday, adding that the manner of the takeover and closure of the casino was intended to scare security staff and employees of the gaming facility.

Insisting that Legenda Casino has no financial obligation to PAGCOR, Boon said: “They were very rude and they forcibly entered the casino and harassed our security staff, casino personnel and other guests." The Legenda Casino CEO complained that PAGCOR’s actions were "barbaric and without due regard to Philippine laws and courts of justice," adding that his company is now preparing appropriate criminal charges against PAGCOR officials and employees who took part in the raid that closed down the casino.

Boon spoke at a press conference in the lobby of Legenda Hotel, stating that in fact it is PAGCOR that owes Legenda around P300,000 (US$5,700) in nominal and attorneys’ fees, awarded in a decision handed down by Judge Eliodoro Obiadas of Branch 72 of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court. PAGCOR has said that it revoked the licence of the Legenda Casino because it had allowed cockfighting on casino premises, and for its failure to pay the government more than P365 million in gaming licence fees.

By virtue of PD 1869, state controlled PAGCOR is the only agency authorized to issue or revoke permits to operate casinos in the country. The statement also said that the operation of the Legenda Casino has been deemed illegal and its permit revoked. Meanwhile, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said it would distance itself from the rift between the Legenda and PAGCOR, saying that it has no jurisdiction over the matter. (E-05.16.06)

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