Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Onishi Yohei, who also headed Japan’s election observer mission for the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election, has concluded his three-day Philippine visit this week.
In Cotabato City, Onishi visited three polling stations, namely Sero Central School, Rojas Elementary School, and Notre Dame Village Elementary School.
He also visited the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Command Center at Al Nor Hotel, including the COMELEC Canvassing Center in Awang.
In his meeting with Joint Peace Security Committee (JPSC) GPH Co-Chair Major-General (Ret.) Francisco Ariel A. Felicidario III, Onishi commended the efforts of Joint Peace Security Team (JPST) as a flagship initiative for the Mindanao peace process and reaffirmed Japan’s continuing commitment to this initiative.
In another meeting, Onishi exchanged views with Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) Executive Director Attorney Lona Anne V. Caritos on LENTE’s activities as a nationwide election monitoring network and the situation surrounding election observation.
He also confirmed outcomes of voter education for the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election provided by LENTE, with support from the Government of Japan.
Furthermore, Onishi paid a courtesy call on Presidential Advisor on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Mel Senen Sarmiento, citing Japan’s consistent support to the Mindanao peace process for more than 30 years through various initiatives, such as decommissioning of combatants and weapons, and vocational training.
Toward the end of his Philippine trip, Onishi said during a meeting in Manila with Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim that Japan hopes the process towards the formal establishment of the Bangsamoro Government will be steadily implemented.
He also expressed Japan’s desire to continue to strengthen bilateral relations in a wide range of areas such as security, maritime cooperation, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
