Andanar bullish on PH-Japan ‘continued’ deepening ties

Saddened by Abe’s resignation, Andanar prayed for the speedy recovery of the Japanese prime minister. (File Photo: Martin Andanar/Facebook)

– Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday expressed optimism that the Philippines will continue to have “deepening” ties with Japan despite the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

“We remain optimistic that our relations with Japan will continue to flourish and deepen, even though Prime Minister Abe has decided to vacate his post,” Andanar said in a press statement.

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, announced Friday his decision to give up his post due to health reasons.

In a press conference, Abe admitted that he is not feeling well since the middle of July, the reason why he decided to step down from office because he could no longer fulfill his mandate “with confidence”.

Saddened by Abe’s resignation, Andanar prayed for the speedy recovery of the Japanese prime minister.

Andanar was grateful that Abe became a “close friend” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He also thanked Abe for letting the Philippines have “holistic” relations with Japan.

“With that, Japan has continued to maintain itself as an important and trusted ally of the Philippines not only in our mutual socio-economic prosperity, but also towards the promotion of a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

Andanar also took note of Japan’s unwavering commitment to help the Philippines despite the fact that Tokyo has also weathered challenges in the past such as a “devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident”.

He likewise hailed Abe for supporting Duterte’s several policies and programs, and for extending assistance to the Philippines amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covod-19) pandemic.

“Japan’s support to our country, under Prime Minister Abe, has been truly apparent in the assistance it provides for the Duterte administration’s campaigns on poverty alleviation, peace and security, infrastructure, and, more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic,” Andanar said.