Coronavirus: Philippines' plan to sell Japanese war reparations properties is 'crooked' Locsin says, contradicting Duterte

The Philippine foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr has denounced as "crooked" his own government's plan to sell its properties in Japan to fund the fight against the coronavirus.

Government officials, apparently backed by President Rodrigo Duterte, had floated a plan to sell five state-owned properties, four of which were given to the Philippines by Japan as part of reparations for the Second World War, during which an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 Filipinos died; while a fifth property was bought during the war.

But Locsin left no doubt as to his opposition to this when he addressed, via Zoom, a senate foreign relations committee hearing on February 4.

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"No, I will not sell the blood of our people," Locsin said. "[The buildings were] reparations and I will not sell them."

The Philippines' foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr. Photo: Reuters alt=The Philippines' foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr. Photo: Reuters

The five properties include a 3,179 square metre building that has been partly developed and now houses the chancery of the Philippine embassy. It is on Roppongi Street in Tokyo's Minato ward, southwest of the Imperial Palace. Minato is home to 84 other embassies and many of Japan's top corporations.

Another is the 2,489 square metre Nampeidai property in Shibuya ward, Tokyo. Two more are in Kobe.

The fifth - a 4,500 square metre property which now serves as the ambassador's residence - was bought by the government in 1944 for one million yen. It is a mansion on Fujimi Street in Chiyoda ward, Tokyo, adjacent to the Imperial Palace grounds and was the childhood home of Yoko Ono, widow of the late Beatles singer-songwriter John Lennon, according to historian Ambeth Ocampo who wrote a book on it.

The ambassador of the Philippines residence in Tokyo, from the book, History and Heritage of the Kudan: The Official Residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan. Photo by Wig Tysmans, reprinted with the permission of the author, historian Ambeth R. Ocampo alt=The ambassador of the Philippines residence in Tokyo, from the book, History and Heritage of the Kudan: The Official Residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan. Photo by Wig Tysmans, reprinted with the permission of the author, historian Ambeth R. Ocampo

Successive administrations have made attempts to sell the properties. The most recent attempt emerged in July last year when Congressman Antonio Sy-Alvarado filed House Bill 1921, which identified the properties as among assets to be sold to pay soldiers' pensions.

However, a couple of months later Duterte suggested the proceeds would be used to prevent the graft-ridden Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) from going bankrupt as it struggled to pay for coronavirus-related health claims.

"That is the reason why we are selling properties in Japan, because we have to raise money. There is no more money for PhilHealth," Duterte had said at the time.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: Reuters alt=Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: Reuters

The next day Locsin - who rarely contradicts his boss - tweeted strong objections.

"Don't sell our Japan properties, sell corrupt and incompetent health officials in the slave markets of North Africa instead," Locsin tweeted, before recommending that as another alternative the health and treasury departments sell their assets.

Locsin insinuated the move was really intended as "a retirement fund of last resort" by some government officials that he did not name.

"I will never agree to the sale of our properties in Japan for any reason," Locsin added.

Last week, Locsin indicated to the senate inquiry - triggered by opposition Senator Leila De Lima, who is in jail on what she claims are politically motivated drug charges - that the plan to sell the properties was very much alive.

"I was told there was a proposal and I'm not going to waste my time reading a crooked proposal. I immediately denounced it and I said this position is non-compromisable. I won't budge.

"I know some people like to think that they have influence [on the president]. Let them try. It's not going to happen."

Corazon Aquino, former president of the Philippines. File photo alt=Corazon Aquino, former president of the Philippines. File photo

He suggested it was political suicide to try to sell the properties, as previous governments had found to their cost.

"The first disgrace that almost hit the government [of President Corazon Aquino] when we took power was an attempt to sell the properties," said Locsin, who was Aquino's spokesman.

Philippine Studies specialist Helen Yu-Rivera said the Manila press had gone into overdrive when it learned the Aquino government - which wanted to raise funds for its agrarian programme - had set a floor bid price of US$220 million, when other embassy properties in the area were valued at US$650 million.

Salvador Laurel, who was vice-president at the time but estranged from Aquino, petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the sale of "part of the national heritage [which] serves as a strong reminder of the Filipinos who died during the Second World War under the hands of the Japanese".

The court ruled that the properties were part of the public domain and only Congress could approve their sale by enacting a law.

The court ruling has not deterred every president since from trying either to sell the properties or lease them out.

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

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