FILE – Former PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Former Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch’’ Ramirez was acquitted by the Supreme Court along with ex-Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chief Efraim Genuino in a graft case connected to the training of swimmers from the Philippine national team.

The Supreme Court’s second division reversed the earlier decision of the Sandiganbayan affirming the conviction of Genuino, former Pagcor president Rafael Francisco and Ramirez over the illegal transfer of P37 million of public funds to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA).

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Ramirez appealed his case before the high tribunal, which set aside the charge due to the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The graft case stemmed from Pagcor’s direct release of P37,063,488.21 in multiple disbursements to the PASA, the national sport association for swimming, for 18 months during the first term of Ramirez as PSC chief in 2008 and 2009.

The prosecution argued that these transfers violated Section 26 of the Republic Act 6847 which explicitly states that “5 percent of the gross income of Pagcor should be automatically remitted to the PSC.’’

Ramirez asserted that Pagcor’s direct release of funds to PASA was without his knowledge and consent. He maintained that Pagcor’s disbursements were direct financial assistance to the local swimming body deductible from the government gaming corporation’s operational expense and not from PSC’s 5-percent share from Pagcor’s gross monthly income.

Based on the Supreme Court’s resolution, the direct release of funds to PASA was a unilateral action of Pagcor duly authorized by its board and that Ramirez did not give any unwarranted benefit or advantage to PASA at the expense of other athletes or national sports associations (NSAs).

The high court likewise mentioned that in any event, the funds deducted from PSC’s 5-percent share from the income of Pagcor was returned through offsetting, clearing Ramirez of any wrongdoing.