MANILA, Philippines - Ambassador Manuel Lopez yesterday sought approval for the evacuation of the entire diplomatic staff in Japan amid the threat of nuclear fallout but was flatly rejected by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
DFA sources said Lopez was reminded of his duty to help the Filipinos there as the country’s envoy in Japan, particularly during this time of crisis.
“Ambassador Lopez was told by the DFA, ‘you’re there to help Filipinos,’ ” the source said.
Lopez said during an interview with ABS-CBN that non-essential embassy staff, including the dependents of employees, have been allowed to leave Japan.
He said he would stay put in Tokyo and await orders from the DFA.
“He (Lopez) was asking the DFA for a withdrawal plan but the (DFA) official told him na hindi pwede (not now) and was also told ‘you’re there to provide assistance to Filipino nationals,’” another source revealed.
DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis confirmed the Philippine embassy’s offer in Japan for voluntary repatriation for non-essential embassy staff and their families.
But Seguis said the DFA and acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario have not decided on the embassy’s voluntary repatriation offer.
“We’ve not decided yet on whether we will allow employees and their dependents to come home. We’re still in consultation with the Philippine embassy in Tokyo,” Seguis said.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan yesterday admitted before national television the risk of a significant radiation leak from the Fukushima nuclear facility.
“There’s no decision yet from Secretary Del Rosario to allow the recall of even non-essential staff and their dependents at this time,” Seguis added.
He said there might be some changes in the situation in Japan and the DFA is trying to look at the possibility of the embassy encouraging their own staff to send their dependents and families back to Manila voluntarily.
The Philippine embassy in Tokyo has reported 30 Filipino seafarers, who were trapped in Fukushima and Sendai when the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on Friday, are already safe.
The Filipino seafarers were on board the MV Coral Ring at the Onahama Port in Fukushima when the earthquake and tsunami struck.
“Their Japanese shipping company is making arrangements for their flights to Manila,” Lopez added.
The seafarers were identified as Rodolfo Ador Lanutan, Nelson Victoria, Robert Pastoriza, Mark Guiritan, Arnulfo Alcantara, Alan Delantar, Rafael Macalindog, Hope Benedicto, Niceta Matalines, Dennis Chan, Efren Nervida, Gilbert Maramag, Dennis Biscocho, Michael Aspa, Roberto Ochia, Joemel Dasmariñas, Cesar Lili, Paulino Tinoy Jr., Alexander Coronel and Nemie Simera.
The embassy is also coordinating with concerned authorities on the repatriation of 10 other Filipinos in Sendai. Six of them were stranded at Sendai Airport that was inundated with floodwater. Four other Filipino seafarers on shore leave in Sendai are in an evacuation center.
The embassy team dispatched to Sendai has confirmed the safety of the following persons: Rochelle Coronel, Eli Christopher Enobio, Lea Apostol, Rolando Bantaculo, Genaro Pique Jr., Lope Ben Porques, Sara Maria Porques, Nanally Suico, Cecilia Villa, Marie Embrada, Carmelita Joy Mogami, Helen Ono, Lucy Kanagawa, Mary Jane Kodate, Charity Sato, Mara Lumen, Luis Canete, Emily Owaki, Ronald Astillero, Janet Ababon, Lorlene Lucero, and Analiza Aizawa.
Japanese employers also reported the Filipino nurses and caregivers under the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) are all safe.
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Carlos Cao Jr. said he received a text message from the Japanese employers confirming the safety of all the Filipino nurses working in the Tohuku area.
The Philippine government deployed about 400 Filipino nurses and caregivers to Japan for the past years although a number of them have already returned home.
As of noon yesterday, there are no reports of Filipino casualties so far.
The embassy however reported 42 Filipinos are still missing.
Missing were:
1. Baby Capuyan Calope, Tokyo
2. Virginia Calamba, 42, Miyagi Ken Ingunngun Marumori Tatteyama
3. Vilma Chiba, 38, Miyagi
4. Teresita Daikoku, 51, Rikuzentakata Shi Iwate
5. Ella Iseyama, 28, Tokyo
6. Michelle Ikeda, 42, 133-1 Aza Iwashita Oaza Odakura Nishi Gomura, Nishi Shirakawa Gun Fukushia Ken, Japan
7. Jacqueline Mendoza Endo, 47, Sendai
8. Violeta Kanno, 39, PHS 4 PKG 3 Blk. 22, Lot 33, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City
9. Masaru Katsamata, 11, Aoba Ku, Kikuta Machi, 10-23 Kopposhiki 102 Miyagi Ken, Sendai.
10. Maria Lara Kikuchi, 51, Sendai
11. Lilia Kikuchi, 60, Chiba
12. Cecile Komatsu, 50, Miyagi Ken
13. Lourdez Odeth Yomongihata, 53, Aomori-Ken
14. Kathy Reyes Maruyama, 33, Aoba Ku, Kikuta Machi, 10-23 Kopposhiki 102 Miyagi Ken, Sendai
15. Michiko Nakagami, 51, Tokyo
16. Elisa Adora Velasquez Nakamura, 45, Osaka
17. Karen Onodera, 29, Miyagi Kesennuma
18. Jenalyn Orbe, 28, Miyagi Ken
19. Susan Sato, 41, Ibaraki Ken
20. Darwin Alcantara, 36, Tokyo
21. Susan Kinno, Rizuken Takada Iwate
22. Maria Corazon Lozada Kiuchi, Miyagi Ken
23. Jennifer Jeanne Lozada, Oikawa Miyagi Ken
24. Adelaida Lozada, Saito Miyagi Ken
25. Natsuko (Richel) Chiba
26. Taneharu Chiba
27. Violeta B. Kunishima, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken
28. Ayumi Kunishima, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken
29. Nanae Kunishima, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken
30. Nika Kunishima – 5 months old, Ukagawa-shi Hinata-machi 107-2 Koto Village Hinata Fukushima-ken
31. Gracelyn Geraldino Mizuno, Contact no. 09028421478 Last location: Sendai ,Miyagi Ken
32. Ruby Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1, Contact no. 08016636249
33. Kai Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1
34. Yu Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1
35. Kazuhiro Mori, Iwate-ken, Ofunato-shi, Tomizawa Aza 38-1
36. Joy Sato, Miyagi-ken, Ishinomaki Izumicho, Sekichu Ishinomaki Elementary School .
37. Jennifer Suzuki, 09039804055988-0025, Miyagi-ken, Kessenuma, Shinainuwaki, 2-41-1 Haimu Itoku 103
38. Takeshi Higuchi Shiwa
39. Wilma Saito, 18 Nameri Aza Sasu Litatemura Suma Gun Fukushima
40. Chosei Saito, 18 Nameri Aza Sasu Litatemura Suma Gun Fukushima
41. Yukenare & Yukachan, 18 Nameri Aza Sasu Litatemura Suma Gun Fukushima
42. Valentin Kuniyoshi Buis Jr., 56 yrs. old, Contact No. 0906-492-3163, Matsumoto Gumi, Koizumi 977 Iwai-shi, Ibaraki-ken 306-0635
The embassy in Tokyo is requesting for any information regarding the 42 missing Filipinos. The individuals named were also requested to contact the embassy as soon as possible.
The DFA meanwhile urged Filipinos who are within the 30-kilometer radius of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to stay indoors and follow the safety procedures implemented by the Japanese authorities.
Those near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant should also observe the 10-kilometer exclusion zone imposed by Japanese authorities.
At a press briefing, DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said Filipinos who cannot get in touch with the Fukushima prefectural government could contact the Philippine embassy to inform Japanese authorities of their location.
In a briefing for the diplomatic corps, Japanese authorities said the people residing outside the exclusion zones could remain and continue with their normal activities. However, those who are concerned about ongoing developments may wish to voluntarily relocate to areas further away.
Japanese authorities said they have evacuated those within the exclusion zones, and are constantly monitoring radiation levels.
The Philippine government, through the DFA, the Philippine embassy in Tokyo, its consulate general in Osaka and the honorary consulates in Sapporo, Morioka, Nagoya and Naha, have reached out to Filipino community leaders and members, as well as quickly responding to requests for assistance or information.
The DFA said there are still no reports of Filipino injuries or fatalities.
Most of the Filipino nationals are in the Tokyo metropolitan region, and the capital city is about 250 kilometers away from the damaged nuclear power plants.
Two teams are now in the Sendai area assisting Filipinos, as well as providing relief goods such as food and water for the Filipino community. They have touched base with the Filipino communities in the area.
“We expect that we will get more information in the coming days, as Japanese authorities go to the affected areas, assess the damages caused by the earthquake and tsunami and do search and rescue missions.” Seguis said.
“Again, we ask our nationals to heed the advisories of the Japanese authorities and our embassy on evacuation and safety instructions,” he added. –With Mayen Jaymalin