Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Davao City, Philippines,
clarifying the issue of having burned Reog Ponorogo related to efforts
exorcism of idols or spirits.

The objection was conveyed through a press release on its website which was updated this afternoon, Saturday, October 31, 2015.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City admitted that they had destroyed the reog ponorogo on October 20, 2015.
Reog ponorogo is an asset they have had since 1988.

"The extermination by burning had to be done because the Ponorogo reog was already deep
damaged condition and eaten by termites," wrote the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao.

The Consulate General affirmed that the burning was not at all an attempt by the Consulate General in Davao City
to destroy or eliminate reog Ponorogo as a cultural asset. Destruction of the asset
has been carried out carefully and with full respect for reog Ponorogo as a cultural asset.

"The Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City would also like to emphasize that the arson was completely unrelated
with efforts to exorcise idols or spirits."

The Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City is currently communicating with parties in Indonesia
to try to find a new replacement Ponorogo reog.

Previously, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno LP Marsudi, said that the news
Reog Ponorogo who deliberately burned at the office of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Davao, Philippines, is not entirely true.

"Reog and gamelan decorations in the form of dragon heads were burned because they were damaged and infested with termites," said Retno via text message.