House to summon Okada on questionable casino project

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on games and amusements is set to summon Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada as lawmakers continue the inquiry into allegations that the businessman and his associates violated anti-dummy laws in putting up their multibillion dollar casino venture in the country.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga of Dasmariñas City in Cavite, chairman of the committee, was informed by an official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) during yesterday’s hearing that the agency had difficulty in serving a subpoena to the Japanese billionaire since law enforcers could not find a local address of the businessman despite the billions of pesos his company invested in a casino project at the Entertainment City in Parañaque City.

The DOJ earlier recommended the filing of charges against 16 Filipino lawyers and businessmen and eight Japanese casino executives for alleged violations of the anti-dummy law that requires a 60-40 ownership in favor of Filipino investors when the firm acquired land in the entertainment complex to put up the $2-billion Manila Bay Resorts project.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Deana Perez of the DOJ told the committee that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) managed to get hold of the address of a local firm linked to Okada in Laguna.

Perez did not disclose the name of the company or its address.

“We will look for his (Okada) addresses in the Philippines but that is enough compliance under the law and we will also send a subpoena there,” Barzaga said, referring to the address found by the NBI.

The lawmaker said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has suspended the temporary casino license issued to Okada’s firm.

PAGCOR officials told the panel that the Okada firm’s license was put on hold until the cases are resolved.

Despite the suspension of the license it previously granted to Okada, the firm has continued its construction of the casino-entertainment complex, PAGCOR officials said.

Barzaga said he wants the matter resolved as soon as possible and the Japanese government could move to protect its nationals if the situation worsens.