Locsin turns down Hontiveros’ plea to ask other Asian nations to join Japan in looking for missing Filipino crewmen

September 18, 2020

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said he will not ask other Asian nations to join Japan in the search for the missing 36 Filipino crewmen of a freighter that sunk off Japan two weeks ago.

''I refuse to ask other Asian powers to join in the search because that is an attack in the sovreignity of Japan,'' said Locsin In his Twittter post Friday.

Senator Risa Hontiveros wrote Locsin on Thursday saying that the ''government should sustain the fight  by persuading the Japanese government to not only continue and expand search and rescue operations but also, is possible, to allow other countries such as the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand to join the search as well.''

''The Japanese government and ambassador and I are on this and Japan did not cease its search that Saturday but continued it against protocol,'' said Locsin.

The Gulf Livestock I sunk amidst a typhoon on Sept 2, with 43 crew members, of which are Filipinos.

Two Filipinos were rescued by Japanese Coast Guard while a third one, a deceased Filipino, was recovered. The body of the crewman was due to arrive late Thursday.

Familes of the missing Filipino crewmen asked Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to ask the Philippine Coast Guard to join the search.

Bello spoke to  PCG Commandant Admiral George Ursabia, who declined.

"He was candid about it (in saying), logistically, it will be difficult. Also, we are not familiar with the environment and the conditions there, so it might not be (a good idea)," said Bello in a virtual press conference on Thursday.

Bello said Ursabia offered to have better coordination with their Japanese counterparts.

"Me and Admiral Ursabia agreed that whatever information they got from the Japanese Coast Guard, he will relay to me, which, in turn, I will relate to the family of the seafarers. So far, there are no positive developments," said Bello. DMS