Manila, Philippines (Reuters) - Filipino comfort women and their relatives on Thursday (August 14) protested outside the Japanese Embassy in Pasay, demanding apology and compensation from the Japanese government for the comfort women in World War II.

August 14 is the World Comfort Women's Memorial Day.

At 11:30 a.m., a group of surviving Filipino comfort women, ranging from 84 to 97 years old, rallied outside the Japanese Embassy, asking Japan to apologize for their anti-human crimes committed during World War II.

Some grandchildren of the late comfort women also held their grandmas' photos in the protest.

85-year-old Narcissa Claveia recounted Japanese soldiers' inhumane treatment to their family members during their invasion of the Philippines.

"The Japanese soldiers raped them [comfort women], stubbed cigarette ends and put hot sweet potatoes on their skin. They drove my sister crazy and killed my parents and two of my siblings. That is why I am full of indignation. Sadly, however, justice was deeply buried now," said Claveia, who was also forced to be a comfort woman during that time.

In the past ten years, the organizations of Filipino comfort women have asked their government to help them get Japan's apology and compensation. However, the Supreme Court of the Philippines rejected their appeal two days before the protest, making the Philippines the only country in the world who tolerated wartime rape crimes.

Recailda, leader of Lila Pilipina, an organization of comfort women, told China Central Television reporter that she has once strove to get funds from their government to help those surviving comfort women but the efforts turned out in vein.

"I have gone to the Congress to ask for a fund. But you will know fully well that that has been in his [Aquino] hands, but he never does anything for the comfort women in the Philippines. So he is an irresponsible president. The Philippines government, sad to say, is cold to this issue," said Recailda.

From 1942 to 1945 when the Philippines was occupied by Japan, the Japanese soldiers have forced Filipino women into sex slaves and committed inhumane crimes. With time went by, most of the comfort women died. Those survivors are also in their 80s and 90s now.

The protesters also marched outside the United States Embassy, opposing to the signing of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the US.

"We filed impeachment because for us we think that President Benigno Aquino is selling the country, the sovereign rights of this country and the people of this country. And especially to the lives of the comfort women, or women victims of worst of aggression. We do not need EDCA.," said Recailda.