Malacañang said today that the Philippine government will no longer ask US ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas to explain his remark that 40 percent of foreign men visit the country for sex.
"We were informed that the ambassador issued already, through text, an apology. So we consider that this is a close case," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda announced over state-run radio, Radyo ng Bayan.
Asked if Malacañang would push through with its plan to ask for an explanation from Thomas, Lacierda said that the apology, even though it was sent through text only to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, would be enough as it is already an admission that the US ambassador cannot back up his claim with statistics.
"The statement of Ambassador Thomas clearly shows that he was not able to back up [his claim] with statistics. Hence, he apologized to Secretary Del Rosario and to our government," the official said.
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