Gabriela Women’s Party Representatives Luz Ilagan and Emmi De Jesus are calling on the Department of Foreign Affairs to ban Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto from entering the Philippines for defending Japan’s use of “comfort women” during World War II.
Hashimoto has been reported as saying the use of sex slaves was necessary to maintain discipline and morale among Imperial Japanese soldiers during the war.
“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 into sex slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army have been demanding official recognition, apology and compensation from the Japanese government to no avail,” Ilagan said on Gabriela’s Facebook page.
De Jesus meanwhile criticized the government for its perceived inaction on pursuing justice for Filipinos used as “comfort women” in World War II. “It is high time that the Aquino government, at the very least, rushes to their defense amid such insulting, abusive remarks,” she said.
Last year, members of the House of Representatives pushed to have pop star Justin Bieber declared “persona non grata” in the Philippines over a much less important issue. Bieber had insulted Manny Pacquiao on Instagram, an act that some members of Congress considered an insult to a colleague and to the country.
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Photo: Gabriela Facebook page
