PCCI hits Wynn’s portrayal of Philippines as ‘corrupt’

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ biggest umbrella organization of small- and medium-sized businesses took umbrage Tuesday at a US-based casino giant’s portrayal of the country as corrupt, saying the country was being made a pawn in a corporate squabble.

In a statement, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) “denounced in the strongest possible terms” what it called the “irresponsible and unwarranted” dragging of the government in the private fight between casino operators Stephen Wynn and Kazuo Okada.

“The sweeping characterization of the Philippines as a corrupt nation on the sole basis of the allegation that a gaming license was granted to Kazuo Okada for a period of 25 years for the Entertainment City project in exchange for favors supposedly received by Pagcor officials does not depict a fair and accurate picture of the country and how the project was actually processed,” the group said.

“The basis of such claims should be validated across the country and should reflect the real and actual conditions at the local level,” added the group, which counts as members some 20,000 SMEs and businessmen nationwide.

PCCI’s statement echoes the explanation of embattled Pagcor chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr., who said that his name was dragged into the issue because of the boardroom battle between the two gaming tycoons.

Naguiat—a classmate of President Aquino at the Ateneo de Manila University and a staunch supporter during the 2010 presidential campaign–described himself as “collateral damage” in the business rivalry between Wynn and Okada.

PCCI cited ongoing reforms being implemented by the Aquino administration to ensure greater transparency and accountability and eliminate or reduce red tape and corruption.

Among these are the implementation of the Philippine Business Registry by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); streamlining business process and licensing system by the DTI and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, of which PCCI is also a part through its local chambers; greater transparency in bids and awards processes by the Department of Budget and Management; and various other reforms implemented by government line agencies.

The business group further noted the improving perception of the country as a place to do business, including positive feedback from various credit-rating agencies such as Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings.

In the statement, PCCI president Miguel B. Varela appealed to the parties involved in the Wynn casino dispute “to exercise utmost prudence, caution and good judgment in making further damaging statements as all these negatively impact on the Philippines in general and the gaming industry in particular.”