on women's day, gabriela solon decries aquino's surrended to US dictates as a presidential invitation to rape

“Allowing increased US military presence, the continuing Balikatan and so-called US humanitarian missions in the Philippines all constitute a surefire formula for unpeace, the proliferation of social ills and prostitution. Women strongly condemn this presidential invitation for US military intervention and the resulting abuse and rape of women and the nation.”

Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today as she joined thousands of women in protest actions commemorating International Working Women’s Day.

In “Ipagtanggol ang Inang Bayan” a gathering of women community leaders at the Quezon Memorial Circle, women stressed the call for women to rise up in arms in defense of the motherland, of children and of Filipino families. “Today, Women’s Day, women declare their commitment against US intervention.”

“For several years women have witnessed how US soldiers violated, raped and killed women and children in the course of their stay, whether in the military bases in Subic or Clark, or in the so-called temporary bases in Sulu and Zamboanga. Worse, we all witnessed how despite the abuses, they always managed to get away with it, practically free of accountability.”

Ilagan recalls that no US soldier was ever punished for crimes committed against Filipinos. This was true in the case of “Nicole” who was raped by L/CplDaniel Smith, of Buyong-buyong Isnijal who was shot in Sulu by Pvt. Reggie Lane, and in the arbitrary closure of the Panamao district hospital ordered by US MSgt Ron Berg.

The Gabriela solon also said, “No different from the scene in Subic and Clark several decades ago, urban centers in Mindanao are also seeing a noticeable increase in the number of prostituted women and children especially where US soldiers are stationed.”

“Filipino women call for an end to US intervention, and an end to the rape of women and our nation.” #