DAVAO CITY – Members of the International League of People’s Struggle protested outside the Japanese embassy and called for the abrogation of military treaties of the Philippine government with the United States and Japan.
ILPS-Philippines chair Elmer Labog said the “Philippines is at losing end” with the on-going military exercises of US and Japan.
“It’s clear as (US Marine Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton’s) fingerprint on a condom. Filipinos do not stand to benefit from militarism. There were comfort women forced to have sex with Japanese in World War II. And there are killings now of Filipinos with continued US military presence,” Labog said.
The ILPS in a press release said the Japanese government has yet to give restitution to Philippine comfort women “just as with their other Asian counterparts.”
Militant groups also dismissed the apologies offered by Prime Minister Abe during President Benigno Aquino’s state visit early this month. They demand an official apology from the Japanese government.
“If Japan is truly remorseful about its World War II atrocities, why is it rearming and intruding into the South China Sea where it has no dispute whatsoever? Their navy should stay in Japan and the East China Sea,” Labog said.
Meanwhile, the fingerprints of Pemberton were found by forensic experts on one of three condoms and a wrapper on the scene of the killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude.
Pemberton is charged for the Oct. 11 murder of Laude. He stands trial at a local court in Olongapo City but remains in US custody inside the Philippine military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.
“The people would not stand to suffer another inter-imperialist war. The US, Japan, China and all foreign powers should keep their hands off the Philippines,” the group said.
