Activists defending Philippines war statue

MANILA, The Philippines - Philippine activists supporting victims of wartime sex slavery slammed Japan on Tuesday for protesting against the erection of a comfort woman statue in Laguna province, south of Manila.

"Comfort women" is a euphemism for those who were forced into sexual slavery for Japanese military brothels during World War II.

The one-meter tall bronze statue of a girl seated on a chair with a vacant chair on her right was unveiled in San Pedro City on Dec 28. The statue stands inside a private compound for elderly women abandoned by family in San Antonio village.