Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko hailed a decision by the late President Elpidio Quirino to pardon 105 Japanese war criminals as ”a major impetus to the normalization of Philippine-Japan relations in July 1956.

The ambassador spoke before the 70th anniversary gathering of the Quirino decision on Thursday in Muntinlupa.

”No words can describe how conflicted he must have felt as came to his decision, considering that several of his family members tragically lost their lives to the Japanese during the war,” said Koshikawa in his speech.

Aleli Angela Quirino, niece of Quirino, and head of the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation, were among those who attended.

Koshikawa also cited Alfredo Bunye, who as superintendent in the Bureau of Prisons in Muntinlupa where the Japanese war criminals were jailed.

”He treated the Japanese prisoners with humanity and respect, despite the fact that his own father was executed by the Japanese ,” said Koshikawa.

”Indeed, he (Bunye) and President Quirino are true exemplars of the humanity of Filipinos,” the ambassador said.

In June 2016, a monument honoring Quirino was unveiled in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park at a ceremony attended by officials from the Philippines and Japan.

This was built ”at the initiative and support” of former Foreign Minister Komura Masahiko, the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians’ Friendship League, the Philippine Society of Japan, the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee, the Kano Public Interest Incorporated Foundation in Shimane Prefecture and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan. DMS