Barely able to walk in their advanced age, Filipino comfort women of Lila Pilipina braved the sun to picket the Japanese Embassy and Mendiola in Manila in protest of the P8.8 Million, one-day trip of President Aquino to Japan.

The lolas of Lila Pilipina condemned Aquino’s support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s proposal to change their constitution, particularly the part which renounces war and threat of force to settle international disputes.

But Lila Filipina said it will fuel the resurgence of militarism in Asia-Pacific region, which the group is advocating against Japan. “Japan is a staunch ally of the US, whose Asia Pacific Pivot, will restore their military might in the region,” said Rechilda Extremadura, executive director of Lila Pilipina.

Extremadura said the Lolas were among the many victims of Japanese militarism during World War II. With Abe’s proposal, as well as the US military buildup in Asia-Pacific, abuse against women, children and ordinary civilians surely intensify.

In addition to condemning Japanese plans for renewed militarism, Lila Pilipina also demanded that the Japanese government recognize them as victims of sexual slavery by the Imperial Army during World War II.

Supporting Japanese militarism

The progressive alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that Aquino’s support would increase tension in the Asia-Pacific region and would only serve Japanese imperial interests.

Japan had long sought to circumvent the limits set forth in its Peace Constitution concerning the deployment of troops overseas. The move to reinterpret the Japanese constitution has long been contemplated even without the maritime tensions between Japan and China, according to Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary-general.

“Aquino has no business endorsing amendments to or the reinterpretation of the Japanese constitution. What is laughable is that Aquino thinks that the rise of Japanese militarism will aid the Philippines’ cause against China. Aquino thinks that our national interest is served by supporting the imperialist agenda of another country, like Japan or the United States,” said Reyes.

Reyes added that it is wrong to think that Japanese militarism will help Philippine claims to West Philippine Sea territories. “Japanese militarism only serves Japan’s economic and security interests, in the same way that the US pivot to Asia only serves US economic and security interests,” he said.

He said a Japanese version of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US may be in the drawing board.

Victims of sexual slavery

The women’s group Gabriela, meanwhile, said that Filipino comfort women continue to be living reminders of wars that lead to sexual abuses and rape of women and children.

“Our collective history as women of the world is replete with sexual abuses committed in the name of war and militarism. The resurgent militarism in Asia-Pacific, which militaristic governments of the Philippines, Japan and the US push in the pretext of containing China’s military and economic muscle-flexing in the region, is a clear and present danger that women will continue to oppose,” said Joms Salvador, Gabriela secretary-general.

Lila Pilipina deplored the Japanese government’s continued refusal to recognize Filipino comfort women as victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army.

“The use of force and violence of the Japanese Army during the war is undeniable,” said  Extremadura.

The Japanese government’s then chief secretary, Yohei Kono, acknowledged the Japanese military’s involvement in systematic sexual slavery during World War II after an investigation in 1993.

Extremadura added that Korean and Filipina women suffered the same fate as comfort women of Japanese soldiers. “Historical accounts would affirm these. Thus any recognition should be applicable to Korean or Filipino comfort women,” she said.

The group criticized Aquino for not mentioning the plight of Filipino comfort women in his one-day state visit in Japan last week.

“How many times did Aquino meet Prime Minister Abe? With this opportune moment, he chose to pursue warmongering and placed the conflict with China as his top priority agenda with Japan,” Extremadura said.