Universal Entertainment, which is battling ousted founder Kazuo Okada for control of the Okada Manila casino resort, released a press release accusing his son Tomohiro Okada of making a "disrespectful and perverse" interpretation of the court ruling to apply the "cruel force to illegally occupy the site" of Philippine properties.
"I disagreed with my father's management and ethics for a long time because he always acts like he is above the law," the release on Wednesday quoted his son as saying.
"He has lost all legitimacy and a sense of good governance. He uses his companies as his personal piggy bank, which has led to numerous incidents that he now faces. I refuse to be associated with my father and his fake bulletin board and refuse to tolerate such behavior," Tomohiro Okada was quoted as further stating.
As GGRAsia previously reported, his son backed current management after Okada's alleged fraudulent senior was ousted from the Universal Entertainment board and the board of directors of Okada Manila's public relations agency Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment Inc. in 2017.
The comments cited by Tomohiro Okada on Wednesday were the latest in a complicated story that spanned at least five years, spanning family dynamics as well as the management of public and private companies, and returned to the headlines on May 31.
That day, Kazuo Okada physically occupied the Okada Manila complex, and has been there ever since.
Kazuo Okada claims that the board of directors of Tiger Resorts Leisure Entertainment (TRLEI) was restored to the state before being ousted from TRLEI by order of the Philippine Supreme Court in late April.
Universal Entertainment claims Kazuo Okada's move to occupy Okada Manila is not only a misinterpretation of the court order, but also a skate. The Japanese conglomerate says it is because Universal Entertainment's ultimate and true ruler, furthermore, TRLEI, is a privately owned Hong Kong company called Okada Inc., which Universal Entertainment says Okada Tomohiro owns a 53.27 percent stake.
Universal Entertainment says the latter scenario was upheld by a Japanese court. The Japan-based group also says it owns Hong Kong-based Tiger Resorts Asia Ltd entirely and controls 99.99% of TLEI companies.
"I do not accept allegations that the illegal occupation of Okada Manila or that their [Kazuo Okada and supporters] now manage and control Okada Manila. I only recognise the legitimate board of directors of TRLEI, led by Byron Yip, who was duly elected by shareholders," Tomohiro Okada was quoted as saying in a statement on Wednesday.
"Since my father holds minority voting rights in Okada Holdings Inc., no matter who is appointed as a member of the board, we have no right to control Okada Manila," Tomohiro Okada added.