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Manila – A group of elderly Filipino women raped by Japanese troops during World War II called for compensation from Japan yesterday, following Tokyo’s pledge of $8.3 million for South Korean women forced into Japanese military-run brothels during the war.

The women’s lawyers said they were also exploring the possibility of filing cases with United Nations bodies and holding Philippine President Benigno Aquino III liable for allegedly failing to support the case of the women against Japan.

Isabelita Vinuya, the 84-year-old president of Malaya Lolas – a group of Filipino women abducted and raped by Japanese troops in their village – urged the Philippine government to support their demand for justice from Japan.

“We’ve appealed more than once or twice to our government to help us, support us before Japan so that we can be given justice for the sufferings we went through during World War II,” Vinuya said, adding that many of the women have died without seeing justice.

Japan and South Korea announced last week that they had settled their decades-long standoff over wartime sex slaves, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologising and agreeing to contribute $8.3m to a foundation to help support the victims. — AFP