U.S. ambassador apologizes for sex tourism remark
“I am sending you a response expressing regret for my comments. I should not have used the 40 percent statistic without the ability to back it up. I regret any harm that I may have caused.”
Del Rosario said Thomas was clearly “looking for closure” to the controversy and that the US envoy was working closely with the Philippine government on the problem of human trafficking.
Almost two weeks ago, Thomas drew flak for his comment at a roundtable discussion on human trafficking. It was a departure from his prepared remarks posted in the Embassy website. us ambassor apologizes for sex tourism remark, United States ambassador harry thomas jr. biography, 40% of male foreigners go to philippines, +US envoy to philippines won't apologize,
Palace, through presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, said they are not offended but are curious as to the basis of Thomas’ statement. Lacierda said that once they receive the explanation, they’ll let the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) act on the matter.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima found the statement demeaning and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago found it “undiplomatic.”
But Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani said the government should focus on the problem of prostitution in the country instead of wasting time on diplomatic actions against the US ambassador.
According to ABS-CBN News Online, even before Thomas’ statement, based on a released US diplomatic cable from Wikileaks, child sex tourism is deemed a serious problem for the country.
Cable 10MANILA293 read, "Sex tourists reportedly came from Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia to engage in sexual activity with minors.” It was dated Feb. 17, 2010 and was sent to Washington supposedly by Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie A. Bassett.
"In 2009, the Bureau of Immigration deported two foreign sex offenders and pedophiles, and in a joint program with the Australian Federal Police denied entry to 19 Australian sex offenders upon their arrival in the Philippines. The government also cooperated with the US in prosecuting American nationals under the terms of the U.S. PROTECT Act of 2003, which criminalized the commission of child abuse by American nationals overseas, including child pornography and other sexual offenses against a minor," it added.
Several other memos also contained information on the sex tourism industry in the country.
However, none mentioned the 40% data that Thomas mentioned.
The US embassy declines to comment on the statement but said that "We have responded to queries about the basis for the Ambassador's statements during his speech to appellate court judges last week, by clarifying that they reflect US government estimates based on the work of US officials working with the Philippine authorities to close clubs that cater to pedophiles.”
Source:thepoc
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