If some local Japanese enterpriser in Japan in General Santos City now says "I cut a deal with the MILF and paid them off, so can you guys (Japan) also kick in to the kitty a bit? I'll bring Nakauchi and Yamakawa down on from the mountain top.", then I as a Japanese foreign ministry official in from Manila would say, "Makoto ni arigato gozaimasu. Well, many thanks for the request sir. We appreciate your great kindness and impressive duty here in Mindanao as a Japanese citizen to help those other poor Japanese men home to Nippon after so very very long. For your reward, we have just heard from Tokyo that not only does Prime Minister Koizumi intend to meet Nakauchi and Yamakawa upon their return to Tokyo, but the Prime Minister would also be most pleased by your attendance as well and wishes to thank you in person and with decoration for your duty."
And leave it at THAT.
I'd see if this Japanese local 'broker' in Mindanao that I am hearing about now would have much else to say, or turn down the offer perhaps. That would say a lot to me.
That is at least my thoughts at this point at 5:45 p.m. Eastern as we continue to follow the story.