2 suspected Yakuzas nabbed

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested recently two Japanese nationals, suspected to be members of the Yakuza criminal syndicate, who were reportedly terrorizing the owner and customers of a restaurant in Malate, Manila.

In a statement, NBI Director Nestor Mantaring identified the suspects as Toro Fujita and Tomohiro Fujiwara, currently residing at Park Avenue Mansion in Pasay City.

A report submitted by NBI-National Capital Region director Edward Villarta showed that on July 15, the bureau received a call about two Japanese nationals harassing people at a restaurant in Malate.

When the NBI agents arrived at the restaurant, the owner pointed to Fujita and Fujiwara as the ones who were harassing her and her customers.

The NBI agents approached the suspects, frisked Fujita and found an Astra 9mm pistol tucked into his waistband, a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver in his bag, and a Jenning .22 caliber pistol strapped to his ankle. Fujiwara yielded a Smith and Wesson (SW) .38 caliber revolver.

The two men failed to show any license or permit to possess the guns. The two Japanese were arrested and brought to the NBI.

A credit card in the name of Masayoshi Nakayama was also recovered from Fujita, along with machine copies of passports and calling cards under the same name but with pictures of Fujita and Fujiwara.

The two were charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, use of falsified documents and violating the access device law.

The NBI is conducting a follow-up investigation as several other questionable documents were recovered from the two Japanese nationals.