GMA trip to Japan nearly aborted

Stunned by the terrorist attacks on the US on Tuesday, President Arroyo almost canceled her four-day working visit to Japan because of local security concerns.

But realizing that canceling the trip may be interpreted as conceding defeat to international terrorism, Mrs. Arroyo left for Tokyo on board a commercial flight yesterday afternoon accompanied by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and daughter Evangeline Lourdes.

"If we allow terror to paralyze us, to disrupt our work and disturb our lives, we shall have yielded to the intents of its perpetrators," she said in her pre-departure statement.

"I must continue with this scheduled working visit to Japan upon the invitation of the Japanese government. Every act of normalcy will help defeat the dark forces of evil that threaten our civilization," the Chief Executive said.

"The senseless violence that we saw in the US intends to hinder dialogues and international cooperation. We repudiate that by maintaining the course of international solidarity toward building prosperity and fostering mutual support," she added.

But the President assured the country that every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of all Filipinos and foreigners in the country.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Tokyo has also informed Manila, through Ambassador Domingo Siazon Jr., that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi "has canceled practically all his appointments except his meeting with President Arroyo."

In Tokyo, Siazon said it is natural for Malacañang to consider postponing the trip as there are reports that Japan might be the next target of terrorist attacks as it hosts US military bases.

"When you assess a situation like this, you have to assess the totality and of course it’s normal to analyze what possible impact it might have on you," the ambassador said.

Koizumi is also busy monitoring developments because many Japanese nationals reportedly died in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, he said.

Tokyo has also placed the entire nation on "high alert" because of the presence of several US military facilities, Siazon added.

The President, who proceeded to the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo upon arrival, is set to meet over breakfast today a group of Japanese aid agencies and organizations, led by Japanese Ambassador Yoshihisa Ara.

She is also set to be received by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace at 10 a.m, followed by bilateral talks with Koizumi at the Prime Minister’s residence at 2:15 p.m.

Tomorrow, Mrs. Arroyo will have a breakfast meeting with Japanese international advisors and will also witness the launching of the Internet Learning Kiosk Project, a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Ayala Corp.

After that, she will be interviewed by members of the Japan National Press Club and more meetings with Japanese investors.

However, Tiglao said the President can shorten the working visit if developments warrant.

He said the Cabinet oversight committee on internal security (COCIS) convened late Tuesday night to assess the local situation and determined the President could push through with her working visit.

The COCIS is headed by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Vice President and Foreign Secretary Teofisto Guingona, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, military chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza.

COCIS and the Vice President will conduct daily meetings at Malacañang to monitor the national situation and respond to developments, Tiglao added.

"If there is any real danger or major development in the world arena, she would have to cut short her trip. But we feel she could complete her schedule," he said.

"She (the President) feels, in consultation with the Japanese government, that this is a small expression of our two countries’ resolve not to be victims of terrorism," Tiglao said.

In her pre-departure statement, Mrs. Arroyo echoed the emerging international consensus against terrorism.

"Acts of terror are designed to distract. We will never yield to that. In the face of destructive hatred, we will continue with our work of constructive friendship. In the face of terrorist attacks and threats, we will continue in our peace and nation-building efforts," she said.

"Terrorists might shatter edifices but we must continue building bridges of cooperation," she added.

"This trip to Japan is very important," she said. "When I became president, I said the Philippines faces several realities that characterized its international and regional environments to which we have to respond in order to achieve our goals."

Mrs. Arroyo said her visit to Japan, her first as president, would highlight the importance of that country in determining "the security situation and economic evolution of East Asia."

She and Koizumi are expected to discuss a loan for a major infrastructure project and ensure that Japanese aid will continue to flow despite an economic crunch there.

Before the President’s departure, government economic managers, including Bangko Sentral Governor Rafael Buenaventura, flew to Japan to forge a $3-billion bilateral currency swap agreement.

The currency swap agreement was in line with a similar accord forged with fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to boost currency stability in the region.