Japan Emperor can’t do much for comfort women —Palace exec

A Malacañang official on Saturday hinted that the visiting Japan Emperor may well be an "instrument of healing and reconciliation" but may not be able to do much to address the issue of World War II Filipino comfort women.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said on state-run dzRB radio, "Let’s understand the role of the Emperor of Japan ... It would surprise many of us ... but he is not a head of state ... he is a symbol of Japan."

Quezon was responding to the question whether there is a need for President Benigno Aquino III to raise the issue of comfort women during the Emperor's visit next week.

Also, Quezon stressed that "The Emperor has always made a point to be an instrument of healing and reconciliation between the Japanese and the Filipino people."

An earlier report quoted UP Third World Studies Center professor Ricardo Jose as saying “The issue of comfort women is a historical wrong that has not been righted.”

But Quezon said he would have to defer to the Department of Foreign Affairs on the issue, and that the agency and the President "will pursue what is the appropriate approach over this painful chapter in our history."

With the upcoming visit of Emperor Akihito and wife Empress Michiko to the country, comfort women group Lila Pilipina expressed hopes Aquino will bring up the issue in behalf of former sex slaves of Japanese soldiers.

Lila Filipina is asking from Japan just compensation, recognition that sex slavery occurred at the time, and a public apology.

When Japan recently struck a billion-Yen deal for South Korean WW II comfort women, Aquino said he would consider discussing the issue with Emperor Akihito.

“Wala namang mawawala na puwede nating imungkahi na tulungan din tayo sa pagpapasaayos dagdag doon sa mga ginawa na natin para sa ating mga comfort women,” Aquino said. — LBG, GMA News