(UPDATE) JAPANESE gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada and his associates entered a not guilty plea during their arraignment before a Parañaque city court for the grave coercion charge filed by officials of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI), operator of Okada Manila, in connection with the May 31, 2022, takeover of the integrated casino hotel.

Aside from Kazuo, those who also pleaded not guilty before Parañaque Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 91 Judge Placido Garcia 3rd on Friday were Filipino businessman Antonio 'Tonyboy' Cojuangco, Dindo Espeleta, and lawyer Florentino Herrera 3rd.