Full compensation and other forms of reparation for surviving Filipino “comfort women” who were abused by Japanese soldiers during World War II have been proposed in the House of Representatives.
Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima filed House Resolution 912 urging the Executive Department and other government agencies to provide prompt and effective reparations to surviving members of the Malaya Lolas, as well as to the families of those who have already died.
“Hustisya para sa Malaya Lolas! These concrete steps should be implemented swiftly and seriously, as they are consistent with the country’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women,” De Lima said.
The lawmaker said the most notorious incident involving Filipino comfort women occurred in November 1944, when members of the Imperial Japanese Army allegedly took the Malaya Lolas to Bahay na Pula, a former hacienda in San Ildefonso that had been converted into a military headquarters.
According to De Lima, the women were detained at the site and repeatedly subjected to rape, torture, and other forms of sexual violence.
“Consistent with its constitutional duty to uphold human dignity, human rights, equality, and the rule of law, the State must act decisively to address this longstanding injustice to Malaya Lolas,” she said.
De Lima, a former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, noted that only a few members of the Malaya Lolas are still alive, with several already bedridden and in poor health.
“Ano pang hinihintay ng gobyerno, bakit hindi pa rin maipagkaloob sa kanila ang nararapat na pagkilala at sapat na danyos perwisyo sa mga karahasan at pagdurusang dinanas nila?” she said.
Under House Resolution 912, the government is being urged to comply with recommendations issued by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in March 2023.
The committee found that the Philippine government failed to provide adequate redress to the survivors under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and recommended full reparations, including compensation, an official apology, and measures to preserve historical memory.
Among the measures sought by De Lima are financial compensation for survivors, medical and psychosocial assistance, and memorialization efforts, including the preservation of Bahay na Pula as a historical site.
The resolution also calls for the inclusion of the history of Filipino comfort women in basic and secondary school curricula, as well as policies to prevent future conflict-related sexual violence.
“Walang dahilan para ibinbin at ipagkait pa ang makatwirang mga serbisyong ito para sa Malaya Lolas. Ang pagkakaloob nito ay hindi lamang hustisya para sa kanila, kundi pagbibigay din ng proteksyon at paggalang sa karapatan at dignidad ng kababaihan sa bawat henerasyon ng ating kasaysayan,” De Lima said.
