Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said he will meet with the Senate and House of Representatives for the passage of a proposed law to indemnify victims of sexual slavery committed by the Japanese Army during World War II.
“We will have to talk to Congress, to the House Speaker, and to the Senate President about the legislation necessary to act on this matter about comfort women kasi hindi tayo nakapag-pass ng (because we have yet to pass a) legislation,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.
“Hindi natapos ‘yung trabaho before so we have to continue doing the job. Kasi that’s part of the international obligations that we have,” he added.
This came following observations by a United Nations committee that the Philippines violated the rights of comfort women by “failing to provide reparation, social support and recognition commensurate with the harm suffered.”
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) recommended that the complainants receive from “full reparation, including recognition and redress, an official apology and material and moral damages.”
Remulla also hoped they could address the issue soon, saying he does not want justice to be late.
“That’s history and something that is common, most known to us. And ang sense naman diyan syempre, you never want justice to be too late kasi ilan na lang ang nabubuhay sa kanila. Kaya sana mahabol pa natin,” he said.
Remulla said he has a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday when asked if he has talked to the president about this.