Japanese envoy apologizes

Japanese Ambassador Kojiro Takano apologized yesterday for his candor in describing the Philippines as dangerous and frightening, but did not retract his statements.

Takano was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to receive a note verbale protesting the critical statements he made before the foreign media last Thursday regarding the country’s peace and order situation and inconsistent economic policies.

Takano, who received a tongue-lashing from acting DFA secretary Franklin Ebdalin, apologized for the statements he made before a forum of the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati City.

Ebdalin summoned Takano to the DFA after consultations with President Arroyo at Malacañang.

Takano avoided journalists after meeting with Ebdalin, exiting the DFA building on Roxas Boulevard through a fire escape.

Takano told Ebdalin and other DFA officials he would not disown his statements. "He further stated that (it was) his personal opinion and he said he had no intention of inflicting damage and harm to the country," Ebdalin said.

Ebdalin, the acting DFA head while Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople is out of the country, said in a press briefing that the DFA "called (Takano’s) attention (to) the statement and the reply he made during the question and answer (session of the FOCAP forum) and the exaggeration with respect to the situation in the Philippines. We gave him the note verbale indicating our protest and displeasure."

"We reminded him of the fact that he is an envoy and ambassador of his country. As an ambassador, we appreciate his candor. But he has no business criticizing his host country," Ebdalin said. "He will remember what he has been told by the DFA and refrain from making similar statements in the future," he said.

The DFA has accepted Takano’s apology to the Philippine government, Ebdalin said.

Takano told the FOCAP forum Japanese in the Philippines are fearful of their safety and are in "constant danger."

He also said Japanese investors were confounded by changes in rules, confusing implementation of policies and lack of coordination in government.

Takano also said that in the year he has been the Japanese envoy to Manila, "I did not have even one night I could sleep well" because of the "constant danger" from the general threat of kidnappings and possible bomb attacks against the general population.

His comments came less than a week before Mrs. Arroyo is due to go to Japan for a two-day working visit.

Despite the critical comments from Takano, the President’s working visit to Japan will push through, Ebdalin said.

Takano’s expulsion sought

Senate foreign relations committee chairman Sen. Manuel Villar said Takano "has only two options: He should take sleeping pills or go back to Japan. Let us ask the Japanese government to send a diplomat who is not timid."

Villar urged the DFA to declare Takano persona non grata. He said in a statement that Takano’s damaging comments about the Philippines would drive away potential investors and tourists.

"He really did an obnoxious thing and we should not sanction that," he said in Filipino. "Ambassador Takano should be expelled for lack of respect to the Filipinos and the Philippines as a nation."

House foreign relations committee chairman Negros Occidental Rep. Apolinario Lozada also sought Takano’s expulsion. "The Japanese ambassador violated the golden rule in the diplomatic community when he publicly spoke ill of his host country. He has no business staying here any longer as his country’s man of goodwill," he said.

"We need a Japanese ambassador who would not crucify us, but help us address the concerns of Japanese businessmen and nationals; an ambassador who would help us inform the Japanese citizens and businessmen of positive efforts being done," Lozada said.

Takano also earned the ire of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines. ECOP president Donald Dee said Takano "has no right to make such a sweeping accusation. It’s unfair and unbecoming of a chief of missions."

Asked if Takano might be expelled, DFA spokesman Victorino Lecaros said, "that can happen," but added he would leave the matter to Ople.

Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon said Takano "should give specifics of what he is saying," by elaborating on the actual threats allegedly faced by the Japanese.

Wake-up call

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senators Aquilino Pimentel, Rodolfo Biazon and Ramon Magsaysay said the President should take Takano’s statement as a "wake-up call."

"The ambassador’s comment may be a shocker to many of us, but maybe this is a wake-up call for the President… Maybe there is some valid basis to take exception to the forum he chose… But, nevertheless, that does not take away the fact that the President may want to look at the areas where the ambassador expressed concern," Drilon said.

He said there is not enough basis for the DFA to declare Takano persona non grata.

Pimentel said Takano’s statement showed that rich nations like Japan are using the Philippines as a "punching bag" for valid frustrations over the poor state of law and order in the country.

House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla said Takano echoed the concerns of the opposition. However, each time the opposition calls the administration’s attention to the situation, it is seen as politicking, Padilla said.

Adequate security

Meanwhile, Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez Jr. said adequate security measures are in place at the Japanese embassy.

Gutierrez said close-in security was assigned to Takano, besides the security detail guarding the envoy’s Makati City residence.

He will visit the Japanese embassy next week to ask Takano about his security concerns. "I am in constant communication with the first secretary (of the Japanese embassy). If (Takano) needs more security, then we will provide this," Gutierrez said.

He added that there have been no major incidents, such as bombings or kidnappings, in his area of jurisdiction — where both the Japanese embassy and Takano’s residence are located.

He also said the negative perceptions of Japanese people about the Philippines were spawned by sensational media reports. — With Jose Rodel Clapano, Perseus Echeminada, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Mayen Jaymalin, AFP