Inter-agency group formed to address controversial comfort women memorial — Cayetano

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said a government inter-agency group has been formed to look into the controversial monument honoring Filipino women who were forced to work in brothels for Japanese occupation troops during World War II.

The erection of a bronze statue along a public promenade in Roxas Boulevard drew concern and opposition from Japan, a major source of development aid for the Philippines.

Cayetano said he cannot disclose the DFA’s recommendation as the fact-finding process is ongoing, but hinted that the construction of the statue “will really affect certain feelings and relationships.”

“I don’t think it will be good,” Cayetano said, but noted that the DFA’s position is “always based on Filipino interest.”

Although such interests would sometimes “diverge” in the interest of maintaining good relations with another country, the government also “have to deal with the feelings of our people with regard to certain issues.”

“That’s the context of the DFA’s comments. There’s no final findings yet from the inter-agency group and I think they are still in the stage of fact-finding – who put it up, why did they put it up, where do they put it up, who got the permits,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano said the DFA was never consulted when the statue, which featured a blindfolded woman in traditional Filipino dress, was erected.

“We were surprised,” he said. “I believe anything that affects international relationships, there should have been consultations.”

“We are talking about public space. If it’s a private space, you can do what you want.”

Aside from the DFA, the other members of the government group are from the Department of Public Works and Highways, the city government of Manila and the National Historical Commission. 

A women's group on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte, who has nurtured ties with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, not to yield to Japan’s request to take down the statue.

In a meeting with Duterte last Tuesday, Cayetano said Seiko Noda, Japanese Minister for internal affairs and communications, expressed concern over the statue’s erection.

The so-called "comfort women" who were forced to have sex with Japanese soldiers during the war has been an emotional issue for the Philippines and other countries in Asia, which also include China and Korea. The Philippines has demanded from Japan a public apology and full compensation for its few remaining survivors.

A National Historical Commission marker says the Philippine memorial symbolizes Filipino women who suffered abuses during the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945.

Cayetano said he is not aware of any diplomatic protest filed by Japan, but said Manila is in touch with Japanese representatives in Manila and with its government in Tokyo. — RSJ, GMA News