Okada Manila Founder Kazuo Okada 'Not Going Anywhere,' Hits Back at 'Lies and Deceit' of Rival Management Group

Kazuo Okada, the embattled founder of the multi-billion-dollar Okada Manila, wants to make one thing clear: he’s not going anywhere and he’s out to retake what’s his. 

After weeks of statements and updates from the rival company claiming ownership and control of the casino-resort property, Kazuo Okada and his associates hit back, claiming the other group’s strategy of filing numerous trumped-up charges against the founder “follows a pattern of lies and deceit.”

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In early October, the Department of Justice recommended the filing of grave coercion charges against Kazuo Okada and his associates, which include co-founder Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco Jr., Dindo Espeleta, and Florentino “Binky” Herrera III. The charge was filed by officers of Universal Entertainment Corp and Tiger Resort Asia Limited, the Hong Kong-based companies that own a majority of Okada Manila, as well as subsidiary Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc (TRLEI), which had been running the property since Kazuo Okada’s ouster from the company’s board in 2017. The indictment was related to the Kazuo Okada group’s forcible takeover of the property last May.

But according to the spokesperson of the Kazuo Okada group, the charge lacks merit and “deviates” from the DOJ’s dismissal of six other criminal complaints against Kazuo Okada and his associates.

“To save face, Universal Entertainment Corp. director and authorized representative Hajime Tokuda, lawyers from the DivinaLaw and their cohorts made such a big noise about one case for grave coercion, but conveniently left behind and deliberately omitted the fact that the six other criminal cases they filed against the Kazuo Okada group have been dismissed,” said Atty. Rico Paolo Quicho, who has been appointed the spokesperson of the Kazuo Okada group, during a presscon on Monday (October 10). 

The six other cases that have been dismissed include a falsification case filed with the city prosecutor of Parañaque, a falsification case filed with the city prosecutor of Makati, kidnapping / serious illegal detention case filed with the DOJ, direct assault case filed with the DOJ, unjust vexation case filed with the DOJ, and slight physical injuries case filed with the DOJ. 

Quicho said the Kazuo Okada group is confident that the lone grave coercion case will also be dismissed “for lack of evidence and lack of merit.”

In September, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) ordered the Kazuo Group to vacate the premises of Okada Manila, which effectively handed control of the property back to the officials of the parent company, TRLEI and TRAL. 

When Esquire Philippines asked Quicho whether PAGCOR overstepped its bounds with the order, the spokesman said it was actually the Court of Appeals that issued the order for agencies not to interfere with the exercise of its mandate. 

“The Court of Appeals issued a stern warning to the parties not to do any acts that would interfere or muddle (the proceedings),” Quicho said. “The Supreme Court made it clear that only the CA has the mandate to receive and issue orders related to (the case).”

As for Kazuo Okada himself, Quicho said that he will see the entire process through.

“Chairman Kazuo Okada has always firmly believed that the justice system in the Philippines works,” Quicho added. “Time and again he has said that ‘Justice will be served to those who always work within the bounds of the country’s legal system.’

“He’s not going anywhere,” Quicho added about Kazuo Okada. “He’ll be back and will make sure that he will finish what he started and he will be able to grow it further. As of now we remain committed to wait and ensure that legal process in our country will proceed and there will be no interference from regulatory bodies.”

Meanwhile, it's business as usual at Okada Manila, which is now under the control of officers of TRAL/TRLEI.