Enough evidence found vs Okada firm

MANILA, Philippines - Government investigators have found evidence that a firm of Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada had bribed officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to get the nod for the $2-billion resort casino at the Entertainment City in Parañaque, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told The STAR.   

Documentary evidence gathered during the initial investigation indicated bribery was indeed committed.

“We just could not file the case then because we need testimonial evidence to be able to come up with a strong bribery case,” she said.

De Lima said she has directed a panel of prosecutors and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to secure witnesses to come up with a solid case.

“My instruction to the panel is to continue with case buildup on the bribery,” she said. “They are now eyeing potential witnesses who have implicated former Pagcor officials.”  

De Lima said former Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino has been implicated in the anomaly.

“Former Pagcor chair Genuino is among the names that floated, but as to the extent of his involvement in the anomaly, we are still validating,” she said. “We can’t say categorically yet that he’s involved. But he is among those being investigated since the alleged payments were done during his time.” 

De Lima said investigators had considered three Japanese nationals privy to the reported transactions of Okada’s Universal Entertainment Corp. and Pagcor as possible witnesses. 

But they all refused to cooperate in the probe, prompting investigators to look for other potential witnesses, she added.