Japan Apology Not Enough, Former Sex Slaves Say

MANILA —  The Philippines on Thursday applauded Japan’s belated admission that it had forced Asian women to be sex slaves during World War II, but Filipina victims said an apology was not enough.

“The Philippine government is happy that the Japanese government has apologized to the tens of thousands of women who were forced to serve as sex slaves to Japanese soldiers during World War II,” Press Secretary Jesus Sison said.

Filipino diplomats called it a welcome gesture, but victims of the crimes demonstrated outside the Japanese Embassy in the Philippine capital.

“(An apology) is not enough. They should give us the compensation we are seeking,” said 69-year-old Juanito Jamot, one of 18 plaintiffs in a class-action suit filed by the victims in Tokyo earlier this year.

Manila has avoided taking a strong position against Tokyo on the issue of wartime “comfort women,” fearing it might affect ties with its biggest aid donor.