P500,000 compensation for each ‘comfort woman’ proposed

The House of Representatives’ committee on foreign affairs yesterday proposed a P500,000 as "advance reparations" for each of the surviving 185 Filipinos who served as comfort women to Japanese soldiers during World War II.

"Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo (what good is the grass if the horse is already dead)?" This was the question posed by Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, who said that these women are "now mostly in their 80s and sick," and need all the support they can get.

"They have been seeking legal redress and an apology from the Japanese government for the indignities they suffered at the hands of (soldiers of) the Japanese Imperial Army and Navy during World War II for more than a decade now. Time is running out for them," he said.

Golez said Congress "should make a defining statement that must show that our government fully supports the cause of our comfort women — including all (other) Asian comfort women as well."

Golez’s proposal was "unanimously" approved by the House committee chaired by Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco. The payment of P500,000 for each Filipino comfort woman effectively means the Japanese government will have to spend P92 million.

"This is a duty we should not abnegate from," Cuenco said. "Once carried out effectively, this committee of the 13th Congress will surely be remembered for finally delivering the long overdue justice to our comfort women."

House Resolutions 32 and 160 authored by Reps. Del de Guzman of Marikina, Liza Maza and Cynthia Villar of Las Piñas have sought the support of Congress for the approval of a compensation bill to be filed in the Japanese Diet (parliament).

Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, a brother-in-law of President Arroyo, promised to muster support from his colleagues to ensure that the House sends a select team to China, Korea and Japan to discuss the issue of compensation for women forced to perform sexual services for Japanese troops during the Second World War.

The departments of justice and foreign affairs and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have opposed the legislators’ move, warning that the country’s trade and bilateral relations with Japan may be adversely affected, especially since Japan is the "biggest donor" of funds to the Philippines.

DFA Undersecretary Jose Brillantes urged the House committee to "go slow" on the issue and reminded lawmakers that the Philippine government must be "sensitive with the sensitivities" of Japan.