March, 2009

"Despite two years of inaction of the Arroyo government on the death of Grecil Buya, we should never lose hope. We should continue to seek justice for Grecil and for all other children who were unjustly labeled as “child soldiers” but who were actually victims of brutal  militarization in remote areas especially in Mindanao",said  Gabriela Women's Party Representative Luzviminda Ilagan  during the interfaith prayer and candle lighting in commemoration of the death of Grecil Buya at Centennial Park, Davao City on March 31, 2009.
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“No time should be wasted in putting the butchers of Rebelyn behind bars. What are at stake are the lives of our women and children while the criminals are still at large ready to prey upon their next victim.”
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As a response to the call of the indigenous people to stop the mining operations in ancestral domains, Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luzviminda Ilagan demanded the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995, and for indigenous people to intensify their campaign and mass actions to add pressure to the government in a forum initiated by ALARM, Ancestral Land At Risk in Mining.  read more »

Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza today condemned the killing of Sabina “Ka Sabeng” Ariola, a woman leader from Sta.Rosa City, Laguna and the attempted murder of Adelaida Calosa.  read more »

“Juana Tejada is the embodiment of the term ‘modern-day hero’. Her courage and persistence in fighting for the better treatment of her fellow Filipino caregivers in Canada deserve the highest praise, admiration and gratitude,” Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Party said after the filing of House Resolution No. 1062, expressing the profound condolences of the House of Representatives on the demise of Juana Tejada and seeking recognition for her heroic deeds.  read more »

Gabriela Women's Party today joined concerned citizens and representatives of women's and people's organizations as they filed a special petition for the Supreme Court to investigate the circumstances of the alleged execution of the sworn statement by Nicole on March 12, 2009 and the disclosure of a draft Court of Appeals (CA) decision on Smith's acquittal.  read more »

“The US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement is the very blueprint of a warmonger that is the United States in the Philippines. The Arroyo administration is hell-bent in embracing this lopsided agreement, putting the lives of Filipino women and children in constant peril.”  read more »

Gabriela Women's Party-list Representative Luzviminda Ilagan called to stop putting the blame on Nicole with her recantation on the rape case against Daniel Smith who was convicted in December 2006, saying that Nicole-bashing could not conceal the loopholes of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the failure of the Philippine justice system to carry out the terms of the conviction.
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“Is Gen. Jovito Palparan involved in the latest extrajudicial killing in South Cotabato?” thus queried by Gabriela Women's Partylist Representative Luzviminda Ilagan regarding the summary execution of  the anti-mining activist, Eliezer Billanes, who was shot by two unidentified men in Koronadal district, South Cotabato last March 9, 2009.  read more »

“The termination of Atty. Ursua’s services as Nicole’s counsel is immaterial to this criminal case. Nicole has done her part in filing the case and testifying versus Smith. The burden now in seeing to it that full justice is served lies in the hands of President Arroyo.   She should assert Philippine custody of Smith and she is the one who should be blamed not Nicole if and when Smith continues to get away with the crime.”  read more »

“Malacañang’s pact with the US government reeks of renewed subservience, docility and sell-out to US interests by its so called ‘compromise pact’ on the custody of Daniel smith. As long as the US-RP VFA is in force, the compromise of our rights as a sovereign nation is wont to be duplicated over and over again”.  read more »