Prosecution chief inhibits from handling Okada cases

The head of the National Prosecution Service (NPS) has opted to inhibit himself from the criminal complaint against Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada.

“In view of the said motion for our inhibition, we are refraining from taking any action on these cases, much less to recommend the designation of a prosecutor as acting city prosecutor of Parañaque City,” Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. said in a letter to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

He added that the NPS will leave it up to the Secretary of Justice to designate a member of the NPS to continue the preliminary investigation of the cases.

Catalan issued the letter after Tiger Resorts Leisure & Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI) made the request for his inhibition.

Okada’s cases were transferred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) from the Parañaque City prosecutor’s office following reports that the court resolution on the cases had been leaked on social media.

READ: Tiger Resort denounces leak of resolution on its complaint vs. Kazuo Okada

TRLEI earlier filed a manifestation before the DOJ seeking its approval to handle the estafa cases.

The Japanese gaming firm said the DOJ should handle the case and not the Parañaque Prosecutors Office.

Paranaque City Prosecutor Amerhassan Paudac also inhibited himself from the case. /ee