Guevarra asked son who works for complainant vs. Okada to resign —DOJ

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has asked his son, who works for the complainant firm in the estafa case against Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada, to resign from the company.

This, according to Justice Undersecretary Mark Perete, who added that Guevarra would recuse if Okada appealed the case before the Office of the Secretary.

"Should his son find no reason to resign from Tiger Resorts, he will completely inhibit from resolving this cases should the same be appealed to his Office," Parete said.

Guevarra's son works for Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, Inc., the operator of the hotel and casino resort Okada Manila.

TRLEI accused Okada of conspiring with Takahiro Usui to get more than $3.15 million in salaries and fees without the authorization of the company's board of directors.

The National Prosecution Service (NPS) has found probable cause to charge Okada in court with estafa on December 7.

TRLEI accused Okada of conspiring with Takahiro Usui to get more than $3.15 million in salaries and fees without the authorization of the company's board of directors.

Okada was chief executive officer of TRLEI until he was ousted from his post in June last year.

Parete said Guevarra, who was appointed to the DOJ in April, had met with Okada and TRLEI lawyers as early as June 27 to inform them that his son worked for the firm, having applied for the job in November 2017 and being offered it the following month.

"The Secretary likewise assured the counsel for both parties that the engagement of his son by Tiger Resorts would have no bearing in the resolution of their cases, and that these cases will be resolved with utmost impartiality," Perete said.

He said Guevarra's son knew "absolutely nothing" about the cases and that father and son had not discussed the issues.

Even so, considering that the resolution to indict may be appealed to his office, Guevarra has "requested" his son to "seriously consider" resigning from TRLEI in order to remove doubts as to his impartiality, Perete added.

"Should his son find no reason to resign from Tiger Resorts, he will completely inhibit from resolving this cases should the same be appealed to his Office," the spokesman said, adding that Guevarra himself may consider resigning from the DOJ. —NB, GMA News