Casino and junket operator Jack Lam has denied attempting to bribe high-ranking Philippine officials to protect his gaming interests, but the nation’s top law enforcement official is sticking to his story.

Earlier this week, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II accused Lam of offering bribes to both Aguirre and the head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) to protect Lam’s gaming operations and to secure the release of the 1,316 Chinese nationals arrested last week for illegally working at an online gambling operation at Lam’s Fontana Casino in the Clark Freeport.

On Friday, Lam (pictured) issued a statement through his attorney Raymond Fortun, which said Lam “has no reason to bribe anyone” since his gaming operations have obtained all “necessary permits and licenses.” Lam also “categorically denies” offering bribes for the release of the arrested Chinese nationals.

Aguirre had earlier claimed that former police superintendent Wally Sombrero attended a meeting between Aguirre and Lam at which Sombrero suggested Aguirre would be an ideal ‘godfather’ to protect Lam’s gambling operations.