Senate probe sought in casino deal in Philippines

The Government of the Philippines slammed the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) for publishing an advertisement in two newspapers as an open letter written by its former head, asserting the legality of the foundation’s lease contract with a Hong Kong firm that intends to build a casino in Manila.

The open letter is in “open defiance” of the country’s president, Rodrigo Duterte, who previously declared that the contract was flawed, noting that he was opposed to building further casinos in the country.

Landing International is to build a USD1.5-billion integrated resort and theme park to be called Nayon Landing in Pagcor’s Entertainment City, which is set to be completed in 2022.

As cited in Philippine media outlets, Malacañang Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr said that the NPF leadership blatantly disobeyed Duterte’s decision.

“I read the ad and I’m quite disturbed. This seems to be a defiance of the president’s decision. […] After the president declared the contract was flawed and he was opposed to casinos, the Nayong Pilipino leadership should have followed his decision,” Roque said in an interview with radio station dzMM.

Former NPF chairman Patricia Ocampo argued that the lease of its property is legal and that it did not require public bidding under the law, noting that the group is “innocent of the utterly baseless charge of corruption.”

Duterte earlier sacked the entire board of NPF over a 70-year lease deal, which he found disadvantageous to the government.
Meanwhile, one of the country’s senators, Francis Escudero, is seeking a senate probe into the corruption allegations against NPF.

The senator reportedly wishes to investigate other business interests Landing International has in the country to verify that they are not participating in the alleged corruption.