PH, Japan Sign Memorandum of Cooperation for the Recovery and Repatriation of the Remains of Japanese Soldiers

09 May 2018 — The Philippines and Japan have officially concluded an agreement to cooperate in the humanitarian repatriation of the remains of World War II Japanese soldiers in the Philippines. This agreement will facilitate the proper collection, handling, storage and shipment of these remains.

An estimated 518,000 Japanese soldiers perished in the Philippines during World War II. The Philippines, under President Carlos P. Garcia, allowed Japan to undertake recovery missions in the country for humanitarian reasons beginning in 1958. Since then, the remains of roughly 100,000 soldiers have been returned to Japan. END