Colonization and Postcolonial Justice: US and Philippine War Crimes Trials in Manila After the Second World War

Abstract

The USA developed and structured guidelines for the implementation of charging Japanese war crimes on Philippine territory. The Philippine government adapted not only the legal basis, but also consistently oriented itself on the sentencing of the former colonial power. In many respects the US and Philippine trials in Manila are comparable regarding the severity of sentencing, types of sentences and, in part, victim groups. The same applies to the fact that sexual violence against women was only prosecuted under the charge of rape—although both jurisdictions had the possibility to prosecute forced prostitution.