TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Philippines—Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. should be presumed innocent until it is proven that he committed improprieties in his dealings with Japanese casino operator Kazuo Okada, President Benigno Aquino said here Friday.
Aquino, nonetheless, indicated that his longtime friend and classmate would be sanctioned if Malacañang finds him at fault with respect to allegation made by US magnate Steve Wynn against him and Okada.
“There is a presumption under our laws—it applies to Chief Justice (Renato) Corona—there is a presumption of innocence unless proven guilty, so in this particular instance, we should afford him also the benefit of hearing him out before we make any judgment,” Aquino told reporters.
The President said he would task Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to investigate Naguiat.
“Anybody who has been proven to have done something they shouldn’t have or neglected to do something that they should, has to be meted out the appropriate sanctions,” Aquino said.
Critics say that erring Cabinet members of Aquino, especially those close to him, would simple get a slap on the wrist.
US-based Wynn Resorts filed a suit on Tuesday accusing Okada of spending more than $110,000 in travel expenses and gifts on Pagcor officials, including Naguiat and his family, so that his mega-gaming venue in Manila went ahead.
The suit against Okada, a director of Wynn with a 19.7-percent stake in the firm, alleged the suspect payments were made to Naguiat and his predecessor at Pagcor, Efraim Genuino, from 2008 to last year.
The top officials’ relatives and associates were also beneficiaries, as was the current chairman’s nanny.
Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, Jose Miguel Arroyo, also enjoyed a week-long stay at the Wynn Las Vegas resort in 2009 that cost Okada’s company $4,642, the suit alleged.
Pagcor awarded a license to Okada’s Universal Entertainment in 2008 to build a gaming resort on the shores of Manila Bay featuring 2,000 guest rooms and three hotels.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda and Pagcor confirmed Wednesday that Naguiat had accepted free hotel stays at Wynn’s Macau resort.
But they said this was standard procedure in the gaming industry, with foreign casino chiefs receiving free accommodation in return when they visited the Philippines.
The suit alleged that Naguiat, his wife, three children, nanny and company officials had a five-day trip to Wynn’s Macau resort in 2010 during which Okada met with the Pagcor chairman to discuss his Manila casino venture.
Okada allegedly ordered that Naguiat be given the most expensive accommodation at the resort — a $6,000-a-night villa normally reserved for high rollers — as well as use of the casino’s best butler.
More than $50,000 was spent on Naguiat’s visit, including about $20,000 in cash given to the Filipino delegation for shopping and gaming, the suit alleged.
Naguiat also requested and received a Chanel designer bag worth 15,000 Macau patacas ($1,878) for his wife, according to the suit. With Agence France-Presse