Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño yesterday called for the suspension of the casino deal involving the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Entertainment City.
At yesterday’s budget deliberations, Pagcor Chairman Cristino Naguiat told Congress  they are awaiting the findings of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) on the legality of the Pagcor Entertainment City.
“Considering the seriousness of the anomalies unearthed  regarding the P13 billion land acquisition for the project which involves the suspected dummy corporations Eagle 1 and Eagle 2 owned by Okada and persons closely associated with former Pagcor Chairman Efraim Genuino, there is also the issue of conflict of interest by Genuino who granted the provisional license for Okada’s Tiger Entertainment Co.,”  Casiño said.
“It would be best for Pagcor to suspend the projects pending the outcome of investigations,” he added.
At the hearing, Casiño reminded Naguiat of his possible violations of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act on grounds of receiving “any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit” and of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees in agreeing to accept favors from Okada in at least three instances in Las Vegas and Macau.
“Knowing all these, bakit nagpalibre pa kayo kay Okada sa Macau? Hindi ba ito violation ng ating code of conduct and ethical standards at ng anti-graft laws natin? The freebies might be an industry practice but you are not an ordinary company, you are a public corporation imbued with public interest and subject to government standards. Shouldn’t we hold you liable for violating the code of conduct and anti-graft laws,” Casiño asked.
Naguiat assured the solon he would not do the same thing again.