1 March 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo  Albert today said that contrary to some news reports,  the Department of Foreign Affairs has not made a  recommendation to defer the plan to lease certain  Philippine properties in Japan.  “The recommendation  of the inter-agency team in charge of our properties  in Tokyo, which is headed by the Department of Finance  and where the DFA is a member, still stands.  That  recommendation is to enter into lease agreements that   will utilize and preserve the properties in a manner   that would benefit the Philippines and in a manner  that would preserve the ownership of the Philippines.   The Department stands by that recommendation,”  Secretary Albert explained.  The Secretary is  currently in Vietnam for an official visit and for an  ASEAN Ministerial Retreat.

The Secretary made this clarification after news  reports quoted statements allegedly made by a high  Department official to the effect that the Department  was against the inter-agency recommendation for the  President to lease the Japan properties.

“The fact is that I have not made any such  recommendation to the President.  I have been closely  coordinating this matter with Secretary Juanita  Amatong of the Department of Finance, and the last  time I saw her, which was just before I left for my  official visit to Vietnam, our common position was to  proceed with the lease.  We continue to believe that  our decision to maximize the use of our properties  will redound to the benefit of the Philippines,” the  Secretary said.  We stand by this decision as fully  complying with existing laws and regulations,” the  Secretary added.

“This might also be a good opportunity to emphasize  that the President has made it clear from the very  start that the properties shall not be sold but only  leased.  Regardless of what others might claim, the  Philippines will retain ownership of these  properties,” the Secretary said. END.