Japanese ambassador in hot water after saying RP dangerous<\/p>\n
Mynardo Macaraig, Agence France-Presse, Manila<\/p>\n
Japan's straight-talking ambassador to Manila was caught in a
\ndiplomatic storm on Friday caused by stinging comments on
\nsecurity in the Philippines ahead of President Gloria Arroyo's
\nvisit to Tokyo next week.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Kojiro Takano was summoned by the foreign
\ndepartment on Friday on Arroyo's direct orders after the veteran
\ndiplomat described the Philippines as dangerous and frightening,
\nangering several top officials.<\/p>\n
Takano was tightlipped after a mid-afternoon meeting with
\nPhilippine Foreign Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin, who handed a
\ndiplomatic note over the envoy's prepared remarks to the Foreign
\nCorrespondents Association of the Philippines the previous day.<\/p>\n
Ebdalin, who is acting foreign department chief while
\nSecretary Blas Ople is out of the country, said \"we reminded him
\nthat he is an ambassador and he has no business criticizing the
\ncountry.\"<\/p>\n
\"We told him that in the future, he should refrain from making
\nsimilar comments,\" Ebdalin told reporters.<\/p>\n
Takano apologized and admitted he was airing a personal
\nopinion, clarifying that he was not trying to hurt the
\nPhilippines, Ebdalin said.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, President Gloria Arroyo told reporters that
\nTakano's remarks were \"exaggerated and unfair,\" adding: \"It is
\nregrettable that the gains we have achieved so far have not been
\nacknowledged.\"<\/p>\n
\"We cannot blame the Japanese envoy for stating an opinion,\"
\nthe president said. \"We take such criticism as a challenge for us
\nto do better.\"<\/p>\n
She said there should have been a more \"balanced view,\" that
\ntakes into account recent arrests of suspected terrorists and
\ncriminals.<\/p>\n
Takano told the foreign correspondents on Thursday that
\nJapanese in the Philippines were fearful for their safety and
\nwere \"under constant danger.\"<\/p>\n
He also said Japanese investors were confounded by changes in
\nrules, confusing implementation of policies and lack of
\ncoordination in government.<\/p>\n
\"Many Japanese get the impression that the peace and order
\nsituation in the Philippines is very bad,\" the ambassador said,
\nadding he often lost sleep due to security concerns.<\/p>\n
Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye joked that Takano's \"lack of
\nsleep probably caused him to be disoriented,\" and offered to
\nsupply the envoy with decaffeinated coffee.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Foreign Department spokesman Victoriano Lecaros said
\nTakano's remarks were \"unusual.\"<\/p>\n
\"In diplomacy, especially among our fellow Asians, you should
\nnot do these things in public,\" Lecaros said over local radio.
\nSenator Manuel Villar said he would seek to have Takano declared
\npersona non grata, charging that the ambassador's remarks were
\n\"insulting\" and undiplomatic.<\/p>\n
However Senate President Franklin Drilon said he would not
\nsupport Villar's move.<\/p>\n
\"The ambassador's comment may be a shocker to many of us, but
\nmaybe this is a wake-up call for the president,\" he said.
\nTourism Secretary Richard Gordon said Takano should specify
\nexactly what threats the Japanese are allegedly facing.<\/p>\n
Takano said on Thursday that the dangers were not from any
\norganized group but were due to the threat of kidnappings and
\npossible bomb attacks against the general population.<\/p>",
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