Philippines officials to be investigated over casino graft claims

From the Philippines, the Office of the Ombudsman is reportedly set to investigate a pair of councilors for the city of Paranaque over allegations that they may have accepted ‘grease money’ in order to help fast-track the approval of Entertainment City casino jobs.

Complaint names trio:

Based on a Friday report from The Philippine Star paper, a seven-page complaint-affidavit from Paranaque City Councilor Brillante Inciong titles compatriots Edwin Benzon and John Ryan Yllana as the topics of this inquiry. The action purportedly alleges that the group is supposed to have conspired with Paranaque City Council Executive Assistant Rick Villanueva so as to pay fellow government workers, which is a violation of this code of conduct for public officials as laid out in Republic Act 6713.

Three could be suspended:

While the analysis is taking place, Inciong has reportedly also asked the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend the trio in order to prevent them from ‘threatening or upsetting incumbent city officials and other people ’ which may have knowledge pertinent to the analysis.

The Philippine Star reported that Yllana functions as the vast majority floor leader for Paranaque City Council while additionally chairing its own Rules, Ethics and Oversight Committee. It’s been alleged that he added several ‘letters of no objection’ (LONO) to applications being made by gaming firms in April and offered bribes to fellow officials who objected to his activities.

The paper reported that LONO memorandums are a requirement before gaming operators could be issued with a town permit and licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation or the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office regulators. As such, Yllana’s alleged activities are believed to have contributed to many applications being fast-tracked including that for the recently-aborted $1.5 billion NayonLanding integrated casino hotel project from Landing International Development Limited.

Council currently alleged to be a ‘newspaper mill’:

Inciong’s complaint reportedly charges that the Paranaque City Council has been transformed to a ‘newspaper mill’ that promises to issue LONO notices ‘favoring companies that promise and provide grease money’.