Aquino backs official in US case

Manila: President Benigno Aquino has accepted the explanation of the head of a gaming regulatory office who was implicated in a US case filed by a Las Vegas gambling firm accusing its former Japanese partner of bribery to gain gambling contracts in the Philippines.

After a year of investigation led by former US Federal Bureau of Investigation chief, Robert Freeh, Wynn Resorts filed a lawsuit against Kazuo Okada in a district court in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

"Okada, his associates and companies appear to have engaged in a long-standing practice of making payments and gifts to his two chief gaming regulators at the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation [Pagcor]," it said.

Cutting costs

The lawsuit referred to Pagcor chairman Cristino ‘Bong' Naguiat and former Pagcor chair Efraim Genuino, including their families.

Presidential spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, said: "Chairman Bong Naguiat has already mentioned [to President Aquino] that this is an industry practice.

"If, for instance, we [in government, or our Pagcor officials] go to the US for a gaming convention… which is primarily more expensive than our standard of living, if they offer these, in effect, we are cutting cost on that… Instead of paying a huge amount, they are helping us reduce government expenses. So that's the rationale and… it appears that it is cost beneficial for us," said Lacierda. He added: "Naguiat never profited from it personally, anyway.