Thur | 06.02.2022 | 8:00 PM

On May 4, 2022, PAGCOR received a letter from the Herrera Teehankee & Cabrera Law Offices informing PAGCOR of the Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO) issued by the Supreme Court in the case of Kazuo Okada vs. Tiger Resort, Leisure, & Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI) et al., G.R. No. 256470.

A copy of the SQAO was provided with the letter, which provides:

“ISSUE a STATUS QUO ANTE ORDER, effective immediately, and continuing until further orders from this Court, and ORDER respondents, their agents, representatives, or persons acting in their place or stead, to MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO prevailing prior to petitioner’s removal as stockholder, director, chairman and CEO of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI) in 2017.”

Being a legal matter, the same was referred to the Legal Group of PAGCOR for appropriate action.

Considering that the matter at hand involves an intra-corporate dispute pending before the Supreme Court, PAGCOR, as a Government regulatory body, is duty bound to observe due process and comply with the issuances and directives of the Supreme Court.

PAGCOR understands that the incident that occurred on May 31, 2022, in Okada Manila is a consequence of the implementation of the STATUS QUO ANTE ORDER issued by the Supreme Court.

The PAGCOR Monitoring Team assigned in Okada Manila monitored the situation with the purpose of protecting the interests of PAGCOR and the Government, and to ensure that operations are not disrupted and the welfare of the playing patrons is ensured.

Based on the report of the PAGCOR Monitoring Team, at around 9:45 AM on 31 May 2022, the team from the former management of TRLEI arrived at Okada Manila. They were headed by Mr. Antonio Cojuangco and Mr. Dindo Espeleta, accompanied by Atty. Herrera, members of the Philippine National Police and Sheriff from the Supreme Court.

They proceeded immediately to the Hotel’s office to meet Mr. Hajima Tokuda. The Sheriff served the Supreme Court Status Quo Ante Order to Mr. Tokuda. Atty. Herrera informed Mr. Tokuda that based on the SQAO, Mr. Kazuo Okada was restored as Chairman and CEO of TRLEI. He then formally introduced the group of Mr. Kazuo Okada (who was present at that time thru zoom conference). The video conference ended at around 12:10 PM.

The PAGCOR Monitoring Team on duty at that time reported that Mr. Tokuda was then escorted outside the premises without being bodily hurt. The whole incident was covered by Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.

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