A women's rights group in the Philippines has asked President Benigno Aquino III to bring up the "comfort women" issue with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when the two leaders meet Saturday in Manila.
In an interview Thursday, Richilda Extremadura, president of Lila Pilipina (League for Filipino Grandmothers), expressed hope that Aquino, when he meets with Abe, will not forget the Filipino females who were sexually abused by Japanese soldiers during World War II.
"If it will not be on the agenda, it would show that President Aquino does not have any concern about the comfort women issue, particularly, for the grandmothers who are nearing the end of their lives but have yet to receive justice," Extremadura said, noting 73 of nearly 200 members, former sex slaves for the Imperial forces, have already died. The latest death occurred July 12.