Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla during a press conference at the DOJ office in Manila on October 18, 2022.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said the department would have to reach out to Congress to pass a law that will provide reparations for the “comfort women” or the victims of sexual abuse during World War II.
“We will have to talk to Congress–to [the House] Speaker and the Senate President about the legislation necessary to act on this matter,” Remulla told reporters.
Coinciding with the International Women’s Day celebration, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) ruled that the Philippine government failed to provide reparations to Filipina victims of sexual slavery during World War II.
“We never want justice to be too late kasi kaunti na lang ang nabubuhay sa kanila [because only a few of them are still alive],” Remulla said.
He added that they also formed a study group by Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez.
The group will do “a comprehensive study on the policy that we have to adopt regarding the comfort women,” said Remulla.
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