Poe denies receiving funds
Macau junket operator Suncity has denied allegations that it made political donations of 150 million pesos (MOP25.7 million/US$3.21 million) to Philippines presidential candidate Grace Poe, in violation of the country’s election laws.
The Philippines Tribune Daily reported that it is in possession of documents indicating that Poe’s campaign accepted the money from a company called Sun City Holiday Resort, which is controlled by the Macau junket group. One of three vouchers contained the candidate’s “discernible signature,” reported the Macau Business Daily.
“The document they are releasing is not true,” Poe told the Sun Star Manila. “You know, I’m just holding myself back, but I think they should be held liable for what they’re doing.”
The country election laws ban companies from making donations to candidates seeking public office.
Suncity, owned by Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, has been described by investment analysts as Macau’s largest aggregator of VIP junket operations based on annual chip turnover. The junket runs half a dozen VIP rooms in the Philippines, including two in the City of Dreams Manila; three in Solaire, Manila, and another in Cagayan, according to its website. According to the Daily Tribune, Sun City Group is also planning to expand its VIP room presence in Solaire and City of Dreams.
Meanwhile, Senator Miriam Santiago, also a presidential candidate, said almost all the candidates in the May polls are incumbents who have access to government funds and should have no need for gifts. Yet “they have spent at least five times the net worth they have declared for ads. One candidate even spent by 17 times his net worth. Where did they get the money?
“If the public is to speculate, they would think that these candidates have either stolen from public funds or peddled their influence,” Santiago said. “The people deserve to know who bankroll the campaigns of elective officials so when a campaign contributor enjoys benefits to the detriment of the public under the official’s watch, the people would know who to hold accountable.”
