Sleepless in Manila

“I have so far spent one year in the Philippines, but I did not have even one night I could sleep well. Almost every day is a daily threat.”

So says Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kojiro Takano at a press conference a few weeks back with the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines. While it may be true that envoys are supposed to mince words, this diplomatic faux pas by the good ambassador proved he was telling the truth: that indeed, he lacked sleep.

The following day, Sen. Manuel Villar offered this unsolicited advice: “Takano has two options. If he can't sleep here, he should take sleeping pills, or he can return to Japan so he can sleep there.” Malacañang spokesperson Ignacio Bunye joked that Takano's “lack of sleep probably caused him to be disoriented,” and offered to supply the envoy with decaffeinated coffee.

As the uproar from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Malacañang and Congress filled the broadsheets and airwaves, it was reported that Ambassador Takano had to slip through the Japanese Embassy’s fire exit just to escape the hounding press. This was after he was summoned to the DFA in Manila and handed a note verbale; clearly a case of finding-your-foot-in-your-mouth screw-up.

In this meeting, Ambassador Takano reportedly apologized for making stingy comments on security in the Philippines and claimed he was airing a personal opinion. Foreign Affairs undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin said, “We reminded him that he is an ambassador and he has no business criticizing the country. We told him that in the future, he should refrain from making similar comments.”

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reportedly told reporters that Takano's remarks were “exaggerated and unfair,” adding: “It is regrettable that the gains we have achieved so far have not been acknowledged.” She later added, “We hope the Japanese ambassador will be able to catch up on his sleep.”

Ambassador Takano reportedly told the foreign press that Japanese in the Philippines are fearful for their safety, and potential investors are confounded by conflicting policies and a growing budget deficit. (So what’s new?) “Almost everyday, we are under constant danger,” he said. He added that the dangers were not from any organized group but were due to the general threat of kidnappings and possible bomb attacks against the general population. Probably referring to the situation in Mindanao, he said: “Many Japanese get the impression that the peace and order situation in the Philippines is very bad.”

While the Japanese ambassador’s sleeplessness has become the butt of coffee shop jokes, many from the Filipino-Chinese community are not laughing. They claim that kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) gangs have been victimizing much of their community so far this year, virtually turning kidnapping into a cottage industry in Binondo. A quick look at the headlines proves that KFR gangs are on the loose, some of them allegedly composed of men in uniform.

Ambassador Takano likewise said that Japanese investors were confounded by changes in rules, confusing implementation of policies and lack of coordination in government. While Japan has become a major investor in the Philippines with almost 2,000 Japanese companies, many of these investors are worried by certain government policies. The envoy cited as problems the sudden shifts in the tax system for automotive imports, an “unreasonable system of customs duties,” as well as “hastily conducted environmental inspections,” which are used merely to impose vague fines. “Japanese companies who decided to invest here upon the active invitation of the Philippine government now share that general feeling of having been taken advantage of,” the ambassador said.

While it may be true that the envoy blundered in front of the local and international press by blurting out his so-called “personal observations and impressions,” the joke is really on the Philippine government itself. Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon added to the hilarity by suggesting that the ambassador provide specifics of what he is saying, “by elaborating on the actual threats allegedly faced by the Japanese.” Gordon is probably living in outer space and has not read the newspapers or listened to the radio these past few days.

Government officials were quick to fault the Japanese envoy for his tactlessness, attributing it to his lack of sleep. On the other hand, it probably just shows that he is awake while the government, particularly the law enforcement agencies, is in perpetual stupor. Nowhere in the world except in the Philippines can you probably find the imprisoned godfather of a notorious KFR gang slip out of the national police headquarters. Just recently, I heard over DZBB radio (oh, the joys of broadband internet!) that the getaway car of a “carnapping” syndicate is owned by the son of a police inspector.

It is a pity how government can quickly find a scapegoat for its own ineptitude. It is pathetic to see officials point their dirty, accusing finger at someone else not realizing that the other four point back at them.

Senate President Franklin Drilon considered the envoy’s comments as a “wake-up call.” For a government in constant slumber, it is about time. *

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