Women’s groups accuse Duterte of apathy toward upholding sovereignty

Women's rights groups gather at the site where the statue of a comfort woman once stood on Roxas Boulevard, Manila, to denounce the Duterte administration for its supposed inability to uphold the country's sovereignty, on Independence Day, June 12, 2018. Photo: Aya Tantiangco

Several women's rights groups on June 12 slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for what they say is his inability to uphold truth in Philippine history and fight for the country's sovereignty.

St. Scholastica College president Sister Mary John Mananzan declared that instead of celebrating Independence Day, Tuesday marks "Hindi-pendence Day" due to the administration's succumbing to the pressure from foreign nations, as seen in the government yielding to the request to remove the statue honoring Comfort Women from World War II along Manila Bay.

"[Kami] ay tutol sa pagkawala ng ating kalayaan dahil ang ating gobyerno ay yumuyuko pa rin sa mga dayuhang bansa," Mananzan said.

Mananzan took a swipe at the government's supposed inaction and apathy to the harassment and assault that women face on the street, more so in militarized zones across the country. She argued that there is no freedom where rights of women are not respected.

"Hindi lang po na nira-rape sila, sila ay inaaalipusta [at] nanggagaling mismo sa bibig ng pangulo ng Pilipinas. Siya ang nagpapaunlad ng seksimo, misogynismo, at pang-aalipusta sa kababaihan," Mananzan said.

Idineklera ni Sister Mary John Manansan na “Hindi-pendence Day” ang araw na ito dahil yumuyuko pa rin tayo sa kagustuhan ng ibang bansa at patuloy pa ring ginagahasa ang mga kababaihan dahil sa mababang pagtingin at pagtrato sa kanila ng mga nasa gobyerno | @gmanews pic.twitter.com/AEZjigX5Ns

— Aya Tantiangco Miura ?????‍???? (@ayaruim) June 12, 2018

Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas echoed Mananzan's sentiments, saying "Hindi-pendence Day" is clearly felt in the apathy of the government.

"Kung napaka-importante po ng soberanya sa ating bansa, hindi po dapat natanggal ang estatwa ng Comfort Women dito dahil ito ay sumisimbolo sa kasaysayan natin, sa dignidad ng kababaihan na matapang na nagbahagi ng kanilang naratibo sa panahon na mapanganib ito," Brosas said.

The statue, she said, is a symbol of freedom.

Gathered at the former site of the bronze monument, members of Lila Pilipina, Gariela, Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, MEMORARE Manila 1945, Whachi Veterans Descendant Association, Bataan Historical Legacy, WomanHealth Philippines, Philippine World War II Memories Foundation, University of the Philippines, LIKAS, Center Law, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, DIGNIDAD Coalition, KALAYAAN, Knights of Rizal, Education for Social Justice Foundation, and students from various universities reiterated the call to reinstate the statue and called on the government to stand up for the nation's dignity.

Teresita Ang See of KAISA said that if anything good came from the removal of the statue, it's that it drew attention to the plight of the Filipino women who fell victim to the atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army.

"Lalong kumalat ang galit ng tao," See said and explained that they intend to spread awareness through the #Flowers4LolasCampaign.

"Hindi natin dapat kalimutan ang ating kasaysayan dahil bahagi ito ng dignidad ng ating bayan," See added.

Gabriela Party-list Arlene Brosas: Ayaw po nating magkaroon ulit ng sexual slavery sa Pilipinas, ayaw po nating na mga base militar na hindi tayo ang nakikinabang, ayaw po nating magkaroon ulit ng mga comfort women | @gmanews pic.twitter.com/CosYzlrlAQ

— Aya Tantiangco Miura ?????‍???? (@ayaruim) June 12, 2018

In an interview with GMA News Online, Brosas stressed this point."Hindi puwedeng nire-revise ang history, binabaliwala, isinasantabi. Dapat talaga, ang kasaysayan, mahalaga sa atin [at] ingrained sa ating kultura. Dapat may respeto at dignidad tayong ibinibigay, lalung-lalo na doon sa mga kababaihan na lumaban sa panahon ng Hapon," she said.

Brosas added that other countries, South Korea for example, have faced similar pressures from the Japanese government to remove statues honoring the women who were turned into sex slaves by their soldiers during World War II. They, however, did not give in and Brosas said that the Philippines should also stand with our lolas.

"Dapat ang Pilipinas, nanindigan, kasi doon mo makikita kung gaano niya pinapahalagahan [ang kababaihan]. It’s not only about the physical thing; symbol nga siya e — ‘yong sensibilities ng tao, ‘yong kultura ng tao, ‘yong politika ng tao, nandoon ‘yon," Brosas said.

"Kung may puso talaga ‘yong gobyerno para sa hustisya at para sa karapatan ng ating kababaihan na pinagsamantalahan at ginahasa ng panahon ng Hapon at matapang na lumabas at ginagawa ang lahat ng paraan upang itaguyod ang kanilang dignidad at respeto sa kanila...dapat silang suportahan ng gobyerno," she asserted.

The statue along Roxas Boulevard was removed on the evening of April 27, supposedly for a drainage improvement project by the Department of Public Works and Highways. Duterte responding to criticism said he was not aware that the statue existed and was not aware of any motions for removal.

Duterte further said that the statue might simply cause friction with the Japanese government and said that the statue may be moved to a private property instead. — BM, GMA News