Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez scored a legal victory after the Supreme Court acquitted him of graft charges in connection to the release of the financial assistance worth P37 million to the national swimming squad.

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

The decision is already final and executory.

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 national swimming federation for 18 months during the first term of Ramirez as PSC chief in 2008 and 2009 under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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.’’

But Ramirez asserted that PAGCOR’s direct release of funds to PASA was without his knowledge and consent.

He said 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.

The high court also 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.

Ramirez has been instrumental in leading the Philippines in the international stage.

In fact, he was the PSC chief when the country captured the overall titles in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games and the 2019 SEA Games.