MANILA, Philippines - US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. has apologized for his remarks that 40 percent of male tourists visiting the Philippines come only for sex tourism, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday.

Del Rosario said he received a text message from Thomas who expressed regret over his statement at a forum last month that should not have been made without supporting data.

“I am sending you a response expressing regret for my comments. I should not have used the 40 percent statistics without the ability to back it up,” Thomas said. “I regret any harm that I may have caused.”

Del Rosario received the message in Hanoi while attending the 7th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam.

He said Thomas has been working closely with the Philippine government in addressing the challenge of human trafficking in the country.

Lawmakers challenged the data on sex tourism cited by Thomas and said the American envoy should back up his statement with solid proof.

Thomas’ statements were challenged by various sectors that included Malacañang and the Department of Tourism.

Thomas, however, earlier said he would not apologize over his remark about prostitution in the country and stressed he was only telling the truth when he cited the statistics.

Thomas challenged critics to show what they should have done and their efforts in stopping child prostitution and human trafficking in the country.

US embassy Press Attaché Bettina Malone on Sept. 28 said Thomas’ statements reflected US government estimates, based on the work of US officials working with Philippine authorities to close clubs that cater to pedophiles.

Sources told The STAR that Thomas indicated the Philippine government was well aware of the estimates and report but was “turning a blind eye.”

Thomas said on Sept. 22 during a roundtable discussion on human trafficking organized by the Supreme Court, the Philippine Judicial Academy in partnership with the Court of Appeals and US Department of Justice Criminal Division, that an estimated 40 percent of foreign men, including American nationals, visit the country for sexual tourism.

Thomas said the US request is for the Philippines to refine and strengthen the anti-trafficking law for more convictions and prosecute foreigners, including Americans, involved.

Thomas said he asked President Aquino and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to prosecute foreigners and Americans engaged in the illicit activity and cybersex to the fullest extent of the law.

Although the US acknowledged an increased rate to 25 convictions in human trafficking cases, Thomas said “I hope the law will be refined and strengthened.”

According to Thomas, the US provided over $6.6 million to the Philippines for training in anti-human trafficking programs.

Thomas noted corruption allows those involved in human trafficking to continue with impunity.

The Philippines welcomed the country’s removal from the Tier 2 Watchlist in the 2011 State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report released by the US government last June.

The report released by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Philippines moved to Tier Two status, indicating progress has been made by the Philippine government.

A Tier Two status removes the immediate threat of sanctions but does indicate work needs to continue on this global challenge.

The report recognized the significant efforts taken by the Philippine government to combat trafficking in persons, such as the almost 200-percent increase in convictions of traffickers, including convictions for labor trafficking.

The measures that the Philippines has implemented this year include increasing efforts to identify trafficking victims in destination countries and pursuing criminal investigation and prosecution of their traffickers, increasing victim shelter resources to be able to assist more victims of human trafficking, and continued assessment and improving methods to address domestic and international labor trafficking.

The report also cited the notable efforts by the Philippine government to address trafficking-related corruption, and the numerous measures and policies to improve institutional responses to human trafficking.