Solons seek probe of ‘comfort woman’ statue removal, DFA ‘role’

The controversial statue was removed by the DPWH in the dead of night on April 27. —RICHARD A. REYES

The Gabriela Women’s Party has called on the House of Representatives to investigate the recent removal of the controversial “comfort woman” statue in Manila, denouncing the act as a result of the Duterte administration’s acquiescence to Japanese government pressure.

In House Resolution 1859, Gabriela partylist representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas said the removal of the statue “violates existing laws and blackens the memory of abused comfort women who died without even getting a formal apology from the Japanese government for the historical injustice which they suffered.”

“We will never allow our dignity and our collective quest for justice to be traded merely for Japanese loans and investments. We will never let this incident be swept under the rug,” De Jesus added.

PH quick to ‘cave in’

The two lawmakers maintained that the issue of the comfort women—who were forced into sexual slavery by invading Japanese troops during World War II—was a “historical truth” and an “unresolved war crime.”

The removal of the monument just five months after it was unveiled on Roxas Boulevard made the Philippines “the only country which immediately caved in to the pressure of the Japanese to remove a memorial honoring the comfort women.”

Joining the Gabriela lawmakers in the call were Estelita Dy, who had gone public about her ordeal as a comfort woman; incoming Lila Pilipina executive director Sharon Cabusao; Teresita Ang-See of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran Inc.; and Gert Libang of Gabriela National Alliance of Women.

De Jesus said the monument bore an official government marker, hence any modification or destruction of the statue should be considered illegal under Presidential Decree No. 1505. The 7-foot-tall statue has been returned to the Antipolo City studio of the sculptor, Jonas Roces.

Brosas said the House committee on foreign affairs should summon Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his subordinates to explain their “role” in the removal of the statue.

‘Extremely urgent’ letter

She noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) once sent an “extremely urgent” letter to the Manila city government and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) asking for an explanation regarding the inauguration of the statue on Dec. 8 last year.

“Why should the local government and the NHCP explain to the DFA the unveiling of a comfort woman statue in Manila? What is the role of DFA in the removal of the statue? Secretary Cayetano should answer this in a congressional inquiry,” Brosas said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earlier said the statue was removed—in the middle of the night on April 27—to give way to a flood-control project on Roxas Boulevard’s Baywalk area.

But President Duterte, who had disavowed knowledge of the DPWH action, said the statue was removed to avoid offending Japan since ‘’it was not the policy of the country to insult other nations.”

Besides, he added, Japan had already apologized and made reparations.

President Duterte also said he would not have objected to the statue had it been placed in a private spot.