DOJ probing Genuino's possible liability in Entertainment City deal

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday that the panel investigating the alleged bribery in the $2 billion Entertainment City deal is looking at the possible liability of former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Efraim Genuino.

De Lima said that Genuino's name has been mentioned in the probe on Japanese gambling magnate Kazuo Okada's alleged bribery of gambling regulators in the development of a casino resort complex near Manila Bay worth $2 billion.

However, she said the panel has yet to determine whether there is enough evidence that would merit the filing of charges against the former PAGCOR chairman.

The DOJ's and NBI's fact-finding panel led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosalinda Aquino on Monday recommended the filing of a case against Okada and eight other Japanese citizens as well as 17 Filipino law associates for allegedly violating the Anti-Dummy Law or Commonwealth Act 108, the Public Land Act and the Foreign Investments Act of 1991.

Related story: DOJ OKs anti-dummy case vs Okada in Entertainment City deal

The Okada-owned Universal Entertainment Corp. allegedly used dummy entities to establish a mammoth casino development within the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR)'s Entertainment City near Manila Bay, the resolution said.

Former PAGCOR consultant Rodolfo Soriano who served under Genuino has been accused of receiving bribes from Okada, whose casino development has been forbidden to open until his firm Universal Entertainment Corporation has addressed the case.

Okada is also facing an investigation before the same panel based on the complaint filed by American billionaire Stephen Wynn, a former business partner of the Japanese gambling magnate.

Wynn accused Okada of making $5 million improper payments to gambling regulators led by former PAGCOR consultant Soriano.