Gabriela Hits Military Raid of Partylist Conference in Cagayan Valley

Gabriela Women’s Party Secretary General Cristina Palabay today strongly denounced the raid of a conference of progressive partylists in Cagayan allegedly by elements of the 17th IBPA and 5th ID of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last June 10, 2009 as “renewed spate of attacks and harassment of partylist groups critical of the administration.”

In a press conference with partylist leaders from Cagayan Valley and human rights organization Karapatan, they recounted the raid conducted by about 30 fully-armed men wearing ski masks, camouflage pants and combat boots in Brgy. Masisit, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, where partylist leaders of Gabriela Women’s Party, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, and Kabataan held a consultation regarding the 2010 elections. The armed men took their laptops, cellphones, bags and cash.

 “It appears that, at the height of the anti-ConAss protests, the systematic and violent attacks against members and leaders of progressive partylists are also escalating. Again and again, this government has resorted to draconian measures in order to gag the militant groups critical of this administration. This has to stop,” Palabay added.

Palabay also noted that there were seven women among the leaders who suffered from the physical assault, threats, and illegal seizure of properties, among them Gretchen Valdez, Gabriela Women's Party coordinator in Cagayan Valley.

“They are among those who were traumatized in the said incident. An investigation should be immediately conducted, as well as the retrieval of the belongings of the victims,” Palabay said.