Ex-PAGCOR chief Genuino denies accepting bribes

Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Efraim Genuino, through his lawyer, on Wednesday denied receiving bribes from a Japanese gambling tycoon as mentioned in a US lawsuit. The lawsuit named Genuino and current PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, as well as their families, as the recipients of the payoffs.  “He informed me that he was not part of the group who went to Las Vegas. According to him (Genuino), he has not left the Philippines since 2008. He therefore denies the alleged bribery,” Genuino's counsel Ramon Esguerra told GMA News Online via text. He was reacting to the accusation of American casino tycoon Steve Wynn that Kazuo Okada, Japan's pachinko king and a director of Wynn Resorts Ltd., provided travel and hotel accommodations to PAGCOR officials. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Las Vegas district court, said Okada spent more than $110,000 to curry favor with two Philippines officials in apparent violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, jeopardizing Wynn's own reputation in the process. The suit said that Okada had sought a gaming license in the Philippines and made the payments despite Wynn's telling him not to do so. Malacañang has already denied the bribery allegation on Naguiat, with presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda saying they see nothing wrong with PAGCOR officials receiving complimentary hotel accommodations from a casino investor. - Rouchelle Dinglasan with AFP/KBK, GMA News