Pacquiao files cases vs 21 game fixers

Senator Manny Pacquiao filed a formal complaint on Tuesday to the Department of Justice (DoJ) against 21 individuals who were accused of game-fixing, betting and point-shaving in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

The senator – who is also the MPBL president – said in a press conference that a certain “Mr. Sung” is allegedly the “mastermind” of the game-fixing ring in the league as he is accused of 17 counts of game-fixing and betting, as well as two counts of point-shaving.

The complaint was lodged at the DoJ by MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes and MPBL legal counsel Brando Viernesto on the instructions of the senator.

Pacquiao said that MPBL players and officials involved receive commissions of P20,000 to P50,000 per game fixed and while the cases are still under investigation, if the respondents are found guilty, they would be banned from the league.

The other 20 respondents in the document revealed by Pacquiao include: Kevin Espinosa, alias Kein, alias Emma, Serafin Matias, EJ Avila, Niño Dioniso, Ferdinand Melocoton, Nice Ilagan, Sonny Uy, Jake Diwa, Exequiel Biteng, Ricky Morillo, Jerome Juanico, Matthew Bernabe, Julio Magbanua, Abraham Santos, John Patrick Rabe, Ryan Regalado, Janus Lozada and Joshua Alcober.