MANILA, Philippines – Elderly Filipino women raped by Japanese troops during World War II are calling for compensation from Japan after Tokyo pledged $8.3 million for South Korean women forced into Japanese military-run brothels during the war.
Their lawyers said Wednesday that they are also exploring the possibility of filing cases with United Nations bodies and holding Philippine President Benigno Aquino III liable for allegedly failing to support the case of the women against Japan.
Isabelita Vinuya, the 84-year-old president of a group of Filipinos forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers, appealed to the Philippine government to support them in demanding justice from Japan.
Japan and South Korea announced last week that they have settled their decades-long standoff over wartime sex slaves.