Aquino urged to demand formal apology from visiting Japan emperor

 

A lawmaker representing the women’s sector urged President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday to demand a formal apology from Japanese Emperor Akihito over the suffering endured by Filipino women who were forced into sexual slavery during the second World War.

 

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan said Aquino should also press Akihito for the payment of damages to the so-called Filipino comfort women given that all of the surviving ones are already very old.

 

”Out of the original 1,000 comfort women at the start ng ating investigation, 40 na lang ang naiiwan.  They are already in their late 80s and 90s kaya we would like the Philippine government, specifically President Aquino, to assert naman, to demand from the Japanese government a formal apology of the war crime, an acknowledgement that such crimes happened during World War II,” she said in a press conference.

 

Ilagan said damages should be paid to the surviving Filipino comfort women since sex slavery is a form of abuse against women and is a crime.

 

Since the 13th Congress, Ilagan said Gabriela has been filing measures seeking the payment of damages to Filipino comfort women but they failed to have it approved allegedly due to efforts of some lobby groups.

 

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said the Philippine government should not renege on demanding an apology and admission of brutal war-time policies from the Japanese government just because the two countries enjoy friendly relations with each other.

 

He urged the government to follow South Korea’s example and demand apology and compensation from Japan.

 

“Kailangan Japan will have to admit that the use of comfort women or sex slaves is its war-time policy of the Japanese Imperial Army because without the acknowledgment that it’s Japan’s state policy during that time, there will never be closure,” Zarate said.

 

The Supreme Court has already ruled with finality to deny a request of the Malaya Lolas to demand an apology and compensation from Japan for the sexual abuses they suffered during World War II.

 

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko’s visit to the Philippines from Jan. 26 to 30 marks a milestone in Japan-Philippine relations as the two countries celebrate 60 years since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations. It also illustrates a shift away from anti-Japanese sentiment left over from World War II.

 

Last December, Japan relayed its  “most sincere apologies and remorse” to South Korea for forcing thousands of its women to work in sex brothels during the wartime. Tokyo also offered a 1-billion yen payment to the 46 surviving South Korean comfort women. — APG, GMA News