By Neil A Alcober/Manila Times


Militant women’s group Gabriela party-list yesterday called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to declare Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto persona non grata for his recent statement rationalising Japan’s use of comfort women or sex slaves during World War II as “necessary.”
“How can you justify rape, molestation and sexual abuse as a necessary act? Rape and sexual slavery are heinous crimes. Hashimoto’s statement is like rubbing salt to the wounds left by the Second World War on women, not just in the Philippines but in Korea, China, Taiwan and Indonesia. For years women made sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army have been demanding official recognition, apology and compensation from the Japanese government to no avail,” Rep Luz Ilagan of the Gabriela party-list said in a statement.
Gabriela party-list has been supporting the calls of Filipina comfort women led by the organisation Lila Pilipina, for recognition, apology and compensation from the Japanese government.
The group has filed various resolutions in previous congresses to bolster the demands of Filipinas abused, molested and systematically made sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
Emmi de Jesus, another representative of the party-list group, also said the Philippine government has also been remiss in its duties in pursuing justice for Filipino sex slaves during World War II.
“It is high time that the Aquino government at the very least, rush to their defence amid such insulting, abusive remarks,” de Jesus added.