Japanese national faces kidnap charges

A Japanese national is now facing kidnapping charges after he tried to take his nine-month-old daughter to Japan without the consent of his Filipina wife last Monday.

The suspect, identified as Hiroshi Shirakata, a commercial music composer from Tokyo, was arrested by officers of the Airport Police Department at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I last Monday as he was about to board a Japan Airlines flight for Tokyo at around 2:20 p.m.

The APD policemen, led by Cpl. Roberto Bagaoisan, were purposefully looking for Shirakata as they were alerted by the suspect’s wife, Cristina Tan, about her husband’s departure for Tokyo with their daughter.

It was learned that Hiroshi had arrived from Japan last Sept. 2 to visit his daughter. He had been staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Pasay City when Tan brought her daughter to visit him.

The mother told police that her estranged husband suddenly left the hotel room with their daughter while she was in the bathroom.

Fearing her daughter would be taken to Japan, Tan immediately called the airport police.

At the airport, Hiroshi was arrested while checking in for his flight. He was arrested after he failed to present a Department of Social Welfare and Development travel permit for his daughter, a requirement of the government for minors traveling without both parents.

Cpl. Angelito Ramos said kidnapping charges were filed against Hiroshi upon the request of his wife before the Pasay Prosecutor’s Office.

However, due to the intercession of emissaries from the Japanese Embassy and with the express permission of his wife, Hiroshi, was spared from detention at the crowded Pasay City Jail.

He was put under the custody of the APD while an out-of-court settlement is being arranged.

No bail was recommended upon the filing of the kidnap charges. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe