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MANILA - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation turned to the Office of the President for clarification after an audit report questioned the compensation and allowances it gives its officials, its chairperson said Friday.

In the 2017 audit report on PAGCOR, government auditors questioned the P13.020 million worth of 18 karat gold memento rings for 20-year loyalty awardees, as well as cash awards amounting to P12.495 million.

While the awards are in the PAGCOR employee's handbook, the Commission on Audit said the amounts were in violation of a circular issued in 2013 which provides for a maximum award of P10,000 for loyalty awardees.

• COA flags PAGCOR officials' allowances, 18-karat gold rings

PAGCOR Chairperson Andrea Domingo slammed the timing of the report and scored news items where it was portrayed as if she dictated her own salary.

"Wala namang karagdagang benipisyo. Ni-retain lang namin kung anong pina-iiral ng mga nakaraang administration dahil nga dun sa PD as amended nung 2008 ng PAGCOR. Wala kaming idinagdag kahit isang benepisyo," she told radio DZMM's Failon Ngayon.

(There were no additional benefits. We only retained what was implemented by the last administration because of the Presidential Directive as amended in 2008 by PAGCOR. We didn't add any new benefits.)

There was also an agreement with the Governance Commission For GOCCs that the previously approved compensation packages will be adopted, she said.

The alleged under-remittance to the Philippine Sports Commission was also due to the presidential directive released from the time of Fidel V. Ramos.

"Ang gusto ng COA ay i-follow ko yung dinidikta ng interpretation nila ng batas. Hindi puwedeng ako lang, desisyon ko babaliktarin 'yung presidential directive. Only another president can actually revise, amend or cancel that directive," she said.

(COA wanted us to follow their interpretation of the law. I cannot overturn the presidential directive by myself. Only another president can actually revise, amend or cancel that directive.)

This was also the case in the alleged under-remittance of P21.186 billion to the Bureau of Treasury, said Domingo.

"Napupunta sa franchise tax ng BIR kasi yan yung directive ni FVR since 1994 at tinuloy namin yung practice," she said, adding that there is also a pending case on this at the Supreme Court.

(It goes to the franchise tax of the Bureau of Internal Revenue because that is what's indicated in the directive from FVR since 1994 and we continued that practice.)

"Naghihingi kami ng clarification kay Presidente, pwede pa po ba ito o hindi na. Kasi kung hindi na, on my own, baka usurpation of authority 'yun. Makasuhan din ako," she added.

(We are seeking clarification from the President if this should go on. If it should not, on my own, I might be sued for usurpation of authority.)