DOJ eyes ‘potential’ local witnesses in Pagcor probe

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) is pursuing its probe into the alleged $40-million bribery committed by a firm led by Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada involving officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

Despite some setbacks due to lack of cooperation from three key Japanese witnesses, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the fact-finding team continues to gather evidence as the probe was not terminated after the filing of charges of anti-dummy violation against Okada and others involved in the project last month.

“My instruction to the panel is to continue with case buildup on the bribery because there were documentary evidence gathered during the initial probe indicating there was indeed bribery,” she said in an interview.

She said that the panel is now “eyeing potential witnesses who have implicated Pagcor officials” in the controversy.

She said they are still vetting on the local witnesses, but admitted that some of them linked former Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino to the controversy.

“Former Pagcor chairman Genuino is among the names floating in the fact-finding, but as to the extent of his involvement in the anomaly, that we are still validating,” she explained.

“We can’t say categorically yet that he’s involved. But he is among those being investigated since the alleged payments were done during his time,” she clarified.

The DOJ chief said she did not impose a deadline on the probe so as not to jeopardize results.