Philippines to help in repatriation of Japanese soldiers’ remains

MANILA, Philippines — The government is ready to assist in the repatriation efforts for the remains of Japanese soldiers who died in the Philippines during World War II, according to Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

Abalos met with officials of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan headed by Minister for Economic Affairs Nihei Daisuke and assured them that the Departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will be working closely with them to ensure that the recovery and repatriation of the Japanese war dead will be done smoothly.

“Japan remains one of the closest partners and allies of the Philippine government and we are ready to assist them in the recovery of the remains of their fallen soldiers,” Abalos said.

Abalos said that as the lead of the repatriation effort, the DILG is in a strategic position to ensure that the repatriation process will be well-coordinated at the local government level where some of the remains lie.

Over 300,000 remains of Japanese soldiers who died during World War II are still in the country.

According to Abalos, the DILG is ready to use its manpower to assist the Japanese government in consonance with a memorandum of cooperation signed in May 2018 between the two governments to facilitate the proper collection, handling, storage and shipment of the remains of Japanese soldiers.

Also in attendance during the meeting were Japan embassy Counselor and health attaché Hori Kazuichiro and Second Secretary Matsushige Tomoaki; Director Sato Hiroshi and Deputy Director Furukawa Kazuchika from MHLW of Japan, and DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Raphael Hermoso and principal assistant Mahgie Lacaba.