Palace defends Estrada trip to Tokyo on June 6

Malacañang defended yesterday President Estrada's decision to leave the country anew amid the conflict in Mindanao, this time, to attend the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

The President will leave on June 6 and return after three days.

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said Mr. Estrada felt it was his obligation to go pay his last respects to Obuchi and demonstrate the Filipino people's gratitude to him and the Japanese people.

Zamora said Mr. Estrada and Obuchi became close friends after Obuchi paid a courtesy call on then Vice President Estrada.

"This (friendship) was reflected in the Obuchi Fund, the special financial package given by the Japanese government when he was the Prime Minister. We got more than 50 percent of that fund," Zamora said.

As in the past, a "caretaker" committee co-chaired by Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Zamora will oversee the country during Mr. Estrada's absence.

Mr. Estrada was supposed to leave tomorrow on a week-long state visit to Britain and France but postponed it due to the fighting in Mindanao and the bombing spree in the South and in Metro Manila.