Palace: US envoy's sex tour remarks closed case

With US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. having apologized for his claim that 40 percent of male tourists come to the Philippines for sex tourism, Malacañang considers the issue closed. But presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Philippine government will continue its fight against human trafficking, especially involving children. “We were informed the ambassador issued through text his regret over the statement he made. We consider the issue a closed case," he said on government-run dzRB radio. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had said Thomas sent his apologies through a text message. Thomas, who made the claim at a forum last month, said he should not have issued such statements without supporting data. “I am sending you a response expressing regret for my comments. I should not have used the 40 percent statistics without the ability to back it up... I regret any harm that I may have caused," Thomas was quoted as saying in the text message. Earlier reports said Del Rosario received the message in Hanoi while attending the 7th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam. Thomas’ claims had prompted Malacañang and lawmakers to challenge the data on sex tourism cited by Thomas. They said he should back up his statement with solid proof. But the American envoy initially said he would not apologize over his remark about prostitution in the country. — LBG, GMA News