Philomena Bijlhout

Philomena Bijlhout (born 13 November 1957) is a Dutch former politician and television presenter.

She was a member of the House of Representatives for the Pim Fortuyn List from 23 May 2002 until 22 July 2002, when she became State Secretary for Social Affairs and Work Opportunity in the first Balkenende cabinet. The same day she resigned after television channel RTL 4 reported that she had been a member of a militia of Surinamese military dictator Dési Bouterse in 1982 and 1983. This was during the period when the militia had committed the political murders known as the "December murders". Bijlhout, who was born in Suriname, had never denied being part of the militia, but claimed she'd left prior to the December murders. She was succeeded by Khee Liang Phoa.