SENATE PANEL ASKED TO PROBE PLAN TO DEMOLISH RP
ENVOY'S RESIDENCE IN TOKYO

Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) is asking the Senate committee on foreign relations to look into the planned demolition of the Philippine ambassador's residence in Fujimi-Chiyoda-Ku (Kudan), Tokyo, Japan - acknowledged as the crown jewel of the country's foreign service.

Pimentel said the plan to tear down the historic edifice was drawn up in 2008 to give way to a 21-storey building, the penthouse of which will serve as the ambassadorial residence.

He said the plan to tear down the building, considered as "the most beautiful Philippine ambassador's residence in the world," drew strong protest from the Philippine Ambassador's Foundation Inc. (PAJI) because it would be contrary to the policy to preserve the nation's cultural heritage.

The property was purchased for the Philippines by then President Jose P. Laurel from Baron Zenjiro Yasuda while the Philippines was under Japanese occupation during World War II.

On March 9, l952 the Philippine Historical Committee inaugurated the official residence of the Philippine ambassador to Japan and installed a historical marker which reads: "The building, dating back from the Tokugawa Shogunte, was purchased for the Philippines on 21 March 1944 by President Jose P. Laurel of the Second Philippine Republic."

In a letter to the PAJI, through chairman Alfonso Yuchengco, Francis Laurel reported that "there is a plan to materially alter the original features of the edifice by subjecting it to a public bidding regarding land lease development by a Japanese real estate developer."

The Philippine-Japan Society Inc. asked the National Historical Institute the following questions: (a) "by placing marker on the said property, has the edifice been effectively declared a national landmark or historic edifice, declared and classified as such by the National Historical Institute?" (b) "If so, has the prior written consent of the NHI Chairman to modify, alter, repair or destroy the original features of the edifice been secured pursuant to Section 5 of Presidential Decree 260, as amended?"

Pimentel, in Senate Resolution l4l4, pointed out that that PD 1505 amended PD 260 by prohibiting the unauthorized modification, alteration, repair and destruction of all original features of all national shrines, monuments, landmarks and other important edifices.

The PAJI, through Chairman Yuchengco and President Macario Laurel IV, in a letter dated June 6, 2008, addressed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called her attention to the planned demolition.

Likewise, the foundation also raised the issue of the propriety of transferring the ambassadorial residence to the penthouse of the proposed 21-storey building.

"The foundation believes that the question concerning the availment of diplomatic immunity and provision of security to the premises of the said building would arise, thereby making the Philippines the only ASEAN country in Tokyo that would not be occupying a free standing structure," Pimentel said.

In a letter dated May 6, 2009 addressed to Ambassador Yuchengco, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita informed the foundation that the proposed demolition of the embassy residence has been put on hold by order of the President.

Noting that the demolition plan is only suspended and the possibility that it will push through is still there, Pimentel stressed that "there is an imperative need to look into this serious matter in order to preserve our culture, heritage and national patrimony."