Hajime Tokuda, a Japanese director of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI) which operates Okada Manila, has sued billionaire Kazuo Okada and bilyonaryo Tonyboy Cojuangco for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
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“I witnessed how the Kazuo Group took the law into their hands and employed brute force and intimidation to compel us, key officers of TRLEI, to yield control over Okada Manila,” said Tokuda in his complaint where he recalled his terrifying experience during the “illegal and violent” ouster of TRLEI officers and takeover of Okada Manila by the Kazuo-Tonyboy group on May 31.
“Not only did they harm and cause serious injuries against us – officers of TRLEI and our lawyers – the Kazuo Group likewise targeted me by tormenting and depriving me of my liberty. I was forcefully carried out of the Golden Ballroom of Okada Manila and brought to an unknown vehicle,” said Tokuda in his petition.
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Tokuda filed the case of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, grave coercion, and unjust vexation against Kazuo and Cojuangco with the Department of Justice on Monday, June 6.
The other respondents in the case are Dindo Espeleta, Maximo Modesto Jocel Flores, Tetsuya Yokota, Hiroshi Kawamura, Florentino Binky Herrera III, Jose Nicolas and several bodyguards from A9 Security and Investigation Services.
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On the morning of May 31, Tokuda said the alleged goons (“in white polo barong with no name tag”) employed by Kazuo-Cojuangco barged into his office in Okada Manila where he and his fellow TRLEI officers were forcibly evicted.
A self-described lawyer, who did not identify himself, announced that Tokuda and other Japanese nationals had no more role in Okada Manila following the takeover of the Kazuo-Cojuangco management.
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“In fact, right now, even you, wala kayong personality to enter the premises. We can now take you out per the instructions of the new management,” the alleged lawyer of the Kazuo-Tonyboy group said.
Tokuda said his group initially fled to the hotel’s Cigar Lounge to regroup and later moved to the Golden Ballroom at the hotel’s third floor where they met TRLEI’s lawyers from DivinaLaw.
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At 1:15 p.m., the “hoodlums” of Kazuo-Tonyboy made their first attempt to storm the ballroom and force them out of the hotel.
But Tokuda’s group fended them off and proceeded with the emergency board meeting of TRLEI via online.
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After more than two hours, the Kazuo-Cojuangco group cut off the electricity and air-conditioning in the ballroom and made another attempt to evict the TRLEI board.
“Upon realizing that I am the immediate target of the security personnel of the Kazuo Group, I feared for my life. Due to old age, I was certain that I am matchless against these strong security personnel,” said Tokuda.
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He claimed that there were 35 bodyguards “acting like hoodlums under the command of a sham board” who broke into the ballroom, and pushed off the female lawyers protecting him.
“I was gripped by terror and fear of what was about to transpire. Amidst the darkness, an intense, violent, and tumultuous commotion ensued,” said Tokuda.
He said a group of at least five security personnel hauled him down to the basement parking where another group of five bodyguards met them to make sure he wouldn’t escape.
“I begged for my life and freedom. I stuttered as I tried to construct a coherent English in order to appeal to these security personnel to let me call my personal driver so that I could leave the premises of Okada Manila in peace,” said Tokuda.
Tokuda said his abductors threw him inside an unknown car which, surprisingly, was being driven by his former driver and two other occupants who happened to be ex-guards of his wife and daughter.
“While on the road, I noticed that they were traversing a route different from my usual route when I go home from Okada Manila. I felt really scared and anxious thinking that I would be brought in a far and secluded area by people whom I have shown kindness to in the past. It is at this point that I appealed to their hearts and begged them to bring me home,” said Tokuda.
Fortunately, his captors heeded his plea and brought him home while apologizing and saying they were only following orders of “top management.”
“Perhaps, I was meant to regain my freedom so I could tell before this Honorable Office the story of how a Japanese national in a foreign soil struggled to beg for it,” said Tokuda.

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