MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE)  - Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. on Friday denied any involvement in the bribery case against Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada in the US, saying the allegations against him are politically motivated.

Naguiat and former PAGCOR chair Ephraim Genuino were identified in a lawsuit filed by Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts Ltd. against Okada as the two PAGCOR heads for whom the Japanese tycoon spent $110,000 so his business venture in the Philippines went ahead.

"This is a business dispute into which I have been dragged," Naguiat said in a statement. "The recent allegations against me are outrageous, politically motivated and untrue."

Naguiat did not deny receiving perks from Wynn Resorts during a five-day visit to Macau in 2010, but he stressed these were limited to hotel accommodations.

He said he did not receive $20,000 cash advance for shopping and gaming, and knew nothing of the $110,000 alleged cash gifts made to PAGCOR.

“The facts are that I and a group of PAGCOR officials, with approval of PAGCOR’S board, visited Macau in September 2010 to meet with key gaming industry players and examine their operations. The then vice chairman of Wynn Resorts, Mr. Okada, invited the group to meet with executives of Wynn Macau and stay at their resort in VIP quarters, compliments of Wynn Macau.

“I only learned of the supposed $20,000 cash advance from Wynn Macau from media reports. Subsequent inquiries by PAGCOR revealed that the advance was drawn by Mr. Masato Araki, a business associate of Mr. Okada’s at the time.

"I know nothing about the reported $110,000 in ’payments’ supposedly made to Philippine regulators since 2008 and certainly did not receive any such payments," he explained.

US lawsuit

Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn sued his partner Okada for violating the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act when he allegedly bribed PAGCOR officials into approving his business venture.

Okada has a $2-billion investment in the PAGCOR-initiated Entertainment City on the Manila Bay reclamation area.

But Naguiat said Okada's gaming license in the country had already been approved prior their visit in Macau.

"Any insinuation that the complimentary accommodations extended to me and my family, who subsequently joined me for the weekend, were a bribe is untrue and just plain wrong," he noted.

Naguiat's wife received a Chanel bag from Wynn Resorts in Macau, but the PAGCOR chief said they returned it.

“The much commented upon Chanel bag was left in my room as a gift and on seeing it, I had it immediately returned," he clarified.

President Aquino on Friday asked Naguiat to explain in writing his involvement in the bribery case.

The President also ordered the creation of a committee, to be headed by Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa, that will look into the matter.

Earlier, Malacañang defended Naguiat on the accusations against him, saying that the freebies and accommodations granted the PAGCOR chief were "industry practice." It said same accommodations are given executives of gambling firms abroad when they visit the Philippines.

Focus on the job

Insisting he has not violated any laws, Naguiat vowed to remain focused on his job to turn PAGCOR into a major revenue contributor to government.

"I will not be distracted by this issue. I have done nothing wrong. My focus is on doing my job," he said.

Since assuming PAGCOR chairmanship, Naguiat said the agency has had a number of achievements, including record-breaking monthly earnings and up to P1 billion dividends remitted to the national government.

He emphasized his commitment to transparency as he engaged the services of a third-party auditor to check all of PAGCOR's existing contracts.

"I am what I have always been since the start of my chairmanship–a public servant, nothing more and nothing less," he said.