DFA urged to take action vs US envoy for sex tourism comment

Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to take action against United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. for claiming that 40 percent of the male foreign tourists in the country come for sex. "I don't think we should let it go just because he's the ambassador of the United States," Escudero said during Tuesday's Senate finance committee hearing on the budget of the DFA for 2012. "Okay na ho para sa akin na apihin tayo ng mga banyaga at dayuhan sa ibang bansa pero apihin tayo dito mismo ng bisita lamang natin dito, hindi ho yata katanggap-tanggap yun not only as a senator, an official of government, but as a Filipino," Escudero said. "I don't think we should take it sitting down. I don't think we should take it calmly, I don't think we should take his word for it and let him get away with it," he added. Thomas had earlier said during a roundtable discussion among Court of Appeals magistrates in Manila that it was unacceptable but "we know that 40 percent of foreign men who come to the Philippines, including from the US, come for sexual tourism." Escudero asked whether the DFA demanded the basis for the figure given by Thomas. "The mere fact that US is even grading us, to say the least, is insulting. Still I think we are in our rights to demand. What is the basis for such a grade?" Escudero said. During the same hearing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Thomas told them that he had basis for his statement. "(He said) this basis that we have can be substantiated by the DOJ who weve worked with very closely in terms of dealing with the human trafficking problem," he said. Escudero, however, said the ambassador's response was unacceptable. "He simply passed the ball to the DOJ, now the DOJ has simply stated that they themselves did not know where that figure that Ambassador Thomas issued came from," he said. "I hope the DFA would act more strongly against such statements made either by this or any other ambassador in the future that tends to embarrass not only our country but our people as a whole," Escudero said. Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate foreign relations committee, agreed that Thomas should properly substantiate his claim. "I think it would be irresponsible for a memebr of the diplomatic corps that he cannot substantiate (such a statement)," she said during the hearing. Del Rosario, for his part, said he will ask Thomas again to present proof of his claim. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Franklin Drilon had also earlier doubted whether the figures stated by Thomas were correct. GMA News Online is still trying to reach the US Embassy for comment as of posting time. The Senate hearing was also still going on as of posting time. - VVP, GMA News