Sell Japan assets? Trade health execs in ‘slave markets’ instead – Locsin

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. stood pat on his opposition against the sale of Philippine properties in Japan, saying the government should instead sell “corrupt and incompetent” health officials in slave markets to raise funds to fight COVID-19.

In separate tweets on Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) chief also suggested selling the properties of several departments, including the Department of Health (DOH).

“To raise funds to fight [COVID-19] don’t sell Japan properties. Sell corrupt and incompetent health officials in the slave markets of North Africa. Although nearly worthless if we sell them all we’ll raise [is] a bit,” Locsin said in a tweet.

To raise funds to fight Covid don’t sell Japan properties. Sell corrupt and incompetent health officials in the slave markets of North Africa. Although nearly worthless if we sell them all we’ll raise a bit. I think. Sell the authors of the bill. https://t.co/9aHdCQWhdy

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) September 29, 2020

“I will never agree to the sale of our properties in Japan for any reason. Sell the properties of the departments of budget, treasury, health above all for its lousy response to [COVID-19],” he said in another tweet.

I will never agree to the sale of our properties in Japan for any reason. Sell the properties of the departments of budget, treasury, health above all for its lousy response to Covid.

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) September 29, 2020

Locsin’s remarks come after President Rodrigo Duterte brought up the sale of Philippine real estate properties in Japan to augment the government’s COVID-19 response fund.

The Philippine government acquired four properties in Tokyo and Kobe under the war reparation agreement with Japan on May 9, 1956.

These include a 3,179 square-meter property on 306 Roppongi St. 5-Chome Minato-ku, Tokyo; a 2,489.96 sq.m.-Nampeidai property at 11-24 Nampeidai-machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; a 764.72 sq.m.-Kobe commercial property at 63 Naniwa-cho, Kobe; and a residential property at 1-980-2 Obanoyama-cho, Shinohara, Nada-ku, Kobe.

“Sell the properties of our line departments. Many idle ones…I don’t mean the secretaries. The properties are idle,” Locsin said.

I don’t mean the secretaries. The properties are idle. Imagine selling our Japan properties to fund the programs of DOH? Rob PhilHealth some more instead. They’re good at that. Sell San Lazaro. Sell RITM. https://t.co/QCxBdSxpm6

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) September 29, 2020

“Imagine selling our Japan properties to fund the programs of DOH? Rob PhilHealth some more instead. They’re good at that. Sell San Lazaro. Sell RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine),” he added.

The DFA Secretary earlier rejected all proposals for the sale of government properties abroad during the pandemic.

KGA

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