Ang-See on comfort woman statue's removal: Where's our moral dignity?

The Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) on Sunday condemned the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) removal of the comfort woman statue along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

MRPO founding chairperson Teresita Ang-See said the removal of the statue was a betrayal of the Philippines and its history considering that the statue was in remembrance of the Filipinas conscripted into sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation.

"Ang gandang gesture sana na nang gagaling sa ating pamahalaan pero traydor ang nangyari kasi kung wala silang dapat itago bakit ginamit nila ang kadiliman para gawin ang kabuhungan na yan,” she said.

The statue, installed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), was removed on Friday night, supposedly to make way for the DPWH's flood control project.

“Nakakatawa, nasa tabing-dagat iyong estatwa eh ang flood papunta sa dagat ano iko-control mo?... Napakaganda ng estatwa, nakapiring, hindi siya nakaluhod tulad ng mga nasa Korea, dahil nakatayo siya may dignidad at lakas ng loob," Ang-See said.

Ang-See said the MRPO is now preparing a letter, which will be addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, the DPWH, and the NHCP to seek clarification on the matter.

"Nasaan ang moral dignity natin? Wala namang isang bansa ang lumuhod sa Hapon na tanggalin ang estatwa doon sa bansa nila. Mas mababa ba tayong mga Pilipino sa kanila?" Ang-See said.

Duterte earlier defended the removal of the statue, saying it could be relocated to another place so as not to insult Japan.

The seven-foot bronze statue was unveiled along Roxas Boulevard on December 8, 2017, in remembrance of Filipino women forced to go into sexual slavery in the Japanese-run "comfort stations" during the World War II.

Malacañang earlier claimed Duterte was not involved in the installation of the statue.

After complaints by Japanese officials, the government formed an inter-agency group that will look into the installation of the statue.

The Gabriela Women's Party said it will file a resolution at the House of Representatives seeking an inquiry into the "ninja" removal of the statue. —report from JP Soriano/Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/ALG, GMA News