Manila, Nov. 26 -- The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Australia-based firm TMA Australia PTY Ltd. and its local subsidiary TMA Group Philippines, Inc. (TMA) to return PHP707.2 million representing the assets of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) that were garnished by a court to pay for thermal papers and bets slips made by the former for lotto operations in the country.
The ruling renders the decision of the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on the case as "void and of no force and effect."
In a 33-page decision dated August 28 by Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., the SC's Third Division also set aside the March 27, 2014 decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) which upheld the May 13, 2011, September 4, 2013 and the Novemb...