Palace changes tune on Naguiat case

Pagcor chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Maybe the question of impropriety has started to bug Malacañang.

The Palace is now saying that its investigation of the allegation that the chair of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) accepted luxurious hotel perks from a Japanese gambling tycoon may also delve into the clashing roles of the state-owned agency as both regulator and operator.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made the statement when asked on Monday if the Aquino administration would issue new guidelines or policy for gaming regulators following the controversy involving Pagcor chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr.

Naguiat is being investigated by the Palace after he was named in a US lawsuit as among Pagcor executives who accepted $110,000 worth of hotel accommodations and illegal payments from Kazuo Okada to ensure that the Japanese gambling tycoon’s plan for a $2-billion Manila casino will push through.

At a press briefing, Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III had ordered the investigation to be conducted by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

“Maybe part of that also would be … a review of the role of Pagcor both as regulator as well as an operator,” he said.

Since the controversy broke out, the Palace has defended Naguiat, saying that the Pagcor chief did nothing wrong because accepting hotel accommodations is an industry practice, which saved costs for the government.

Palace officials also said that Naguiat was caught in the middle of the fight between Okada and his erstwhile business partner, Steve Wynn.