By Gabriela Baron
Another Filipino comfort woman seeking justice died, according to Liga Para sa mga Lolang (Lila) Pilipina.
Lila Pilipina, a non-profit organization of World War II comfort women, said lola Hilaria Viray Bustamante passed away on March 18. Bustamante was 97.
“Lola Hilaria was one of several plaintiffs who sued the Japanese government in 1993 at a Tokyo District Court,” Lila Pilipina wrote.
“The Japanese Supreme Court dismissed the case several years after but Lola Hilaria continued in the fight for justice until her very old age,” it added.
On March 8, the United Nations (UN) Women’s Rights Committee said the Philippines failed to provide reparations to Filipino comfort women.
However, in a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) pointed out that “some reparations have been made and the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter.”
PCO assured the government will study the views of the UN Women’s Rights Committee. -ag
