RESPOND TO CRISIS WITH REGULATION, NATIONALIZATION OF OIL INDUSTRY NOT FUEL RATIONING - ILAGAN

“Fuel rationing is not an action plan.”

This is according to Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan as she called for concrete and immediate action for the Aquino government to address head-on a potential oil crisis that would inevitably further push oil prices to unimaginable heights, as an offshoot of intensifying crisis in Iran and the Middle East.

“The government cannot feign helplessness in this situation and limit its role to oil price projection and monitoring while leaving the purchase and importation of petroleum products to big oil companies ready to pounce on the opportunity to make huge profits in crisis situations,” said Ilagan.

Earlier today, Petron and Chevron increased retail prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene products by P1 per liter. Eastern Petroleum also imposed a P1.75 per liter increase in the prices of gasoline while diesel prices will go up by P1.50 per liter. The Department of Energy had projected a P1.30 per liter increase on diesel and P1.75 per liter increase on unleaded gasoline.

The Gabriela solon said, “it is high time that Congress tackles the repeal of the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act (RA 8479) that not only allows oil companies to indiscriminately increase prices of petroleum products, it also creates a toothless government that is tolerant of overpricing despite appeals from a poor population forced to endure price increases not just in oil products, but in basic commodities as well.”

“Because we have allowed oil multinationals to dominate for decades, we are now extremely vulnerable. This is a situation that should immediately be rectified. Steps must be taken towards the dismantling of the oil cartel and the nationalization of the oil industry.”

In January 2011, Ilagan and fellow Gabriela representative Emmi De Jesus filed House Resolution 880 directing the Committee on Energy to investigate the price monitoring and regulatory system instituted by the Department of Energy in the light of allegations of overpricing by oil companies. They also called for the creation of mechanisms to protect consumers against the ill effects of oil price increases and the immediate repeal of the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act (RA 8479). Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, REP. LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN

GABRIELA SOLON CONDEMNS THE VIOLENT DEMOLITION OF SAN JUAN RESIDENTS

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan condemned today the violent demolition of homes in Bgy. Corazon de Jesus in San Juan injuring several residents are resisting eviction and transfer to Rodriguez, Rizal.

“This heartless and violent demolition clearly illustrates how the San Juan local government and the Aquino administration view informal settlers like rats. This betrays its inhumanity and lack of sincerity in pursuing a comprehensive program that will provide decent housing and social services to the poor,” said Ilagan.

The Gabriela solon stressed residents’ appeals and proposals for in-city relocation in lieu of their transfer to Rodriguez, Rizal were ignored.

“Residents are being forced to relocate where jobs, electricity and water are scarce. Demolitions and forced evictions automatically translate to workers having to leave their sources of income and children having to stop going to school. The violent demolition of homes and forced eviction of urban poor residents amid worsening poverty, unemployment and the depravation of basic social services is the height of social injustice.” Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, REP. LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN

NO SPECIAL TREATMENT! JAIL GMA!

Over a hundred women holding prison placards created a chain of jail bars around the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. They decried the special treatment given the former President and demanded Mrs. Arroyo’s transfer to an ordinary detention center.


“Tulad ng marami pang ibang akusado, ang isang pinagbibintangang magnanakaw, mandaraya at human rights violator katulad ni Gloria Arroyo ay hindi dapat nagtatamasa ng ganito karangyang kulungan. Sa regular na kulungan dapat manatili si Arroyo. Ito ang hiling ng milyon-milyong kababaihang naghirap at nilapastangan sa loob ng 9 na taon niyang panunungkulan,” said KJ Catequista, Gabriela Women’s Party spokesperson.


Catequista likewise said that the special treatment being given Mrs. Arroyo is by itself scandalous considering that a growing majority of poor women are deprived of health services. “Malinaw na kung may kaya at kapangyarihan ang isang kriminal na nagtatago sa likod ng kanyang sakit, ispesyal na serbisyong medikal ang matatamasa niya mula sa Administrasyong Aquino. Samantalang Maraming mga nanay sa komunidad ang hindi man lang madala ang kanilang mga anak na maysakit sa ospital dahil sa kahirapan at panggigipit ng pamahalaan sa badyet sa kalusugan!”


Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan who joined the women protesters, stressed, “Hospital detention for a notorious human rights violator and plunderer is a stark contrast to the situation of political prisoners who continue to languish in jails across the country.”


“It was under Mrs. Arroyo’s term that 60 year old Angie Ipong was illegally arrested, tortured and molested, and eventually proven innocent of the charges filed against her. It was under her term that Juvilyn Oliveros and Mercy Castro of the Morong 43 endured difficult pregnancies,” said Ilagan.


“At least 43 of the 365 political prisoners, mostly accused of trumped-up charges of rebellion are sick with various ailments, yet they are forced to make do with ordinary inhospitable prison cells. Considering the magnitude of the crimes that Mrs. Arroyo is being accused of, why should she be accorded such extra-special treatment?”


“We demand the immediate prosecution of Gloria Arroyo for the cases of plunder and human rights violations hurled against her.

We demand that President Aquino exercise his political will to the fullest in order to expedite the handling of these cases. His failure to do so will make him an accessory to impunity and violence perpetrated by the Arroyo regime. Arroyo has to answer for 1,208 cases of extra-judicial killings, 206, enforced disappearances, and 1,099 tortures committed during her term,” Ilagan concluded. PIO-Office of Representative Emmi De Jesus, Gabriela Women's Party

Continued Labor Export Policy Spells More OFWs in Death Row --- GWP Rep. Emmi De

“As the list of distressed OFWs continue to lengthen by the day, it is high time that the Philippine government reconsiders the lethal labor export policy. In death row or in jail, Filipino migrants are in very dangerous and vulnerable situations,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus as she joins hundreds of women who mourn with the family of a Filipino who is to be executed today, December 8, in China.


Based on Migrante’s monitoring, there are currently 125 OFWs in death row. Of the 125, 85 are drug-related and 79 of them are in China jails. The rest are in the Middle East, Malaysia and Thailand.


“Owing to budget cuts and missing OWWA funds, very minimal budget is left for our OFWs who sacrifice their lives to keep the country’s economy afloat. Direct services for OFWs also suffered cuts in the 2012 national budget, getting only a share of less than one percent of the P1.8 trillion 2012 national budget,” Rep. De Jesus added.


“We cannot stand by and wait for more OFWs to die under varying conditions in foreign soil. The women will continue to raise their united voices to call on the Aquino administration to eradicate joblessness and poverty that needlessly push Filipinos to leave their families in order to ensure that their children survive,” ended the Gabriela solon. Rowena Festin, Public Information Officer, Office of Representative Emmi De Jesus

Oil Price Hike Means Bleak Christmas for the Poor - GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus

“The cartel-like simultaneous price hikes of gasoline and kerosene by Pilipinas Shell, Petroleum Corp. and Chevron Philippines is definitely not a welcome Christmas gift as far as our poor women and their families are concerned,” Gabriela solon Rep. Emmi De Jesus remarked in the face of today’s increase by P0.80 per liter for unleaded gasoline and P0.85 per liter for regular gasoline.


“In the face of ongoing political bickering, the continuously deteriorating economic situation faced by more than three quarters of the Filipino population seems to be in the least priority of the Aquino administration,” Rep. De Jesus added.


“The Aquino administration failed to act on the increasing demands from our workers for an across-the-board nationwide wage hike, and instead offered a ‘consuelo-de-bobo’ emergency COLA of P22 per day. It failed to control runaway increases in the prices of oil and petroleum products as well as those of basic commodities and prime necessities,” The Gabriela solon pointed out.


“We know very well that such unchecked increases in prices of goods and products hurt poor families the most, yet it seems that the current administration remains unsympathetic to their plight,” the Gabriela solon further added.


“Gabriela Women’s Party, for its part, filed House Bill 4704 seeking to exempt basic necessities, prime commodities, and oil and petroleum products from the imposition of the value-added tax (VAT). The least the Aquino administration can do is to call on its allies in Congress to push for the early approval of this bill. Surely, our poor women and their families will welcome this as perhaps the best Christmas gift the government can offer,” Rep. De Jesus ended. Rowena Festin, Office of Representative Emmi De Jesus, Gabriela Women's Party

ONA’S ANTI-LGBT STATEMENT UNDERSCORES NEED FOR ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS

“Secretary Ona’s statement calling on parents to rein in their homosexual children is discriminatory and dangerous. It promotes bigotry and could bring about a surge of hate crimes against homosexuals. We urge the health secretary to recant his statement and issue an apology to the LGBT community.”

This was according to Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan following reports of Health Secretary Enrique Ona’s remarks at an AIDS conference suggesting for “parents to rein in their homosexual children and get them tested”.

“Testing for HIV-AIDS should be voluntary and the call for testing and responsibility should not zero-in on a specific sector of Philippine society. Ona’s statement practically makes homosexuality synonymous to HIV-AIDS. It is such a shame that this should come no less from the country’s health secretary,” said Ilagan.

The Gabriela solon further said that Ona’s statement only reveals how deeply-rooted discrimination against the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community is to this day and should prompt the immediate passage of anti-discrimination bills pending in Congress.

Rep. Ilagan is co-author of HB 1483 or the LGBT Anti-Discrimination Act and HB 4653 Creating the National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and has filed HR 1460 to look into the prevalence of LGBT killings and hate crimes. “It is our mandate to put in place policies that will help protect those most vulnerable to the violence brought about by bigotry. Let us work to expedite the passage of measure to address discrimination against LGBTs.” Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, Office of Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan

Gabriela Solon Highlights Value of International Solidarity Among Women to End Violence Against Women

“Any woman or child who is battered, raped, tortured or incarcerated anywhere in the world, no matter what her skin color, belief or race, should be decried by the whole of humanity. As Filipino women stand up to fight violence against fellow Filipino women and children, including human rights violations and state repression, we should also stand up in solidarity with women across all continents who are victims of VAW,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the occasion of the commemoration of November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW).


The UN declaration for the elimination of violence against women calls for the elimination of all forms of violence, including those perpetuated by the state. The UN General Assembly designated November 25 as the international day for the elimination of violence against women, in memory also of the brutal assassination of the three Mirabal sisters on orders of the dictator Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic.


“We stand in solidarity with all the women of the world who face violence. We will continue fighting for the day when violence against women anywhere in this planet will no longer be tolerated. As our collective voices gather volume and the women's movement increases in momentum, we seek justice for all victims of state violence under the Oplan Bantay Laya of the Arroyo Regime, as well as the Aquino government's Oplan Bayanihan, and will work harder to end impunity in the Philippines and elsewhere,” ended De Jesus. Rowena Festin, Media Relations Staff, Office of Representative Emmi De Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party

FREE DISTRIBUTION OF HLI LANDS IS TRUE ESSENCE OF GENUINE LAND REFORM – GWP REP. EMMI DE JESUS

“The Luisita farmers have already paid for the land with their own blood and life. They have made the land productive for years and have made the Cojuanco family rich and powerful. Asking for compensation for the land is another injustice for the farmers,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the statement of President Aquino that the landowners should be justly compensated for giving up their land.


“Free land distribution is just the first step towards genuine land reform. Instead of asking for land compensation, President Aquino must direct proper government agencies to give the farmers all the much needed support to make the land as productive, if not more productive than ever,” explained De Jesus.


“The Cojuanco family in fact, should reimburse the farmers for billions of pesos they received for the sale of some parts of Hacienda Luisita, such as P750 million for the 300 hectares sold to Centennary Holdings; and P80.5 million for the 80.5-hectares sold to the Bases Conversion Development Authority for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway,” ended the Gabriela solon. Rowena Festin, Media Relations Staff, Office of Representative Emmi De Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party

Gabriela Solon Chides DOLE Secretary for Insensitivity to Extreme Poverty Among Workers

"DOLE Secretary Baldoz's statement today that there is no valid reason to grant another round of salary increase for minimum wage earners smacks of insensitivity, and even callousness. I challenge Baldoz to make her family survive on P404 a day for a month, so that she herself will find in practice this valid reason that she seems to be looking for elsewhere," chided Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Emmi De Jesus.


"There is no more valid reason than the fact that a family of six people needs at least P900 a day to live decently. Workers are barely able to make ends meet with the level of mnimum wage offered them. They are forced to seek loans with very high interests, such that each payday is not a day to rejoice as far as they are concerned. Their pay money does not even get warm enough in their hands before it has to be given out to pay for all their loans and overdue rent and bills. The working mother or a worker's wife is hardly able to balance the budget to ensure there is food on the table, children have money for baon or school project expenses," further explained the Gabriela solon.


"The workers' dire conditions of questionable survivability should be everyone's concerns, including Secretary Baldoz's and the members of the House Committee on Labor. I call on my colleagues to heed our workers' plea for alleviation of their living conditions by hastening the process of deliberations on House Bill 375 calling for a nationwide, across-the-board legislated wage hike. A nod of approval on third reading from Congress on this bill before December 15 is the best Christmas gift we can offer our workers amidst this period of darkness and crisis for them," the Gabriela solon ended. Rowena Festin, Media Relations Staff, Office of Representative Emmi De Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party

INCREASE IN POVERTY INCIDENCE PROMPTS JUNKING OF CCT, LEGISLATION OF POVERTY RELIEF MEASURES -ILAGAN

The increase in poverty incidence and hunger should prompt President Aquino to abandon the Conditional Cash Transfer program and instead, support the immediate legislation of poverty relief measures pending in Congress.

This was according to Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan following the release of survey reports conducted by the Social Weather Stations which indicate that 52 percent or some 10.4 million Filipino households considered themselves "mahirap" or poor. This is a 3 percent increase from survey results conducted in June when the self- rated poverty was only at 49 percent or equivalent to 9.8 million households.

“This clearly indicates that the Aquino government’s anti-poverty flagship programs, including the Conditional Cash Transfer, are proving to be dismal failures in addressing poverty and hunger. The government is wasting billions in government funds for a dole-out program when it can in fact legislate measures that can concretely uplift the conditions of the majority of our population.”

Ilagan said that for example, legislating an increase in the minimum wage as well as removing the 12 percent Expanded Value Added Tax on basic commodities, especially on oil and petroleum products would concretely translate to poverty and hunger relief.

Ilagan, along with Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Emmi De Jesus have filed HR 880 which calls for a probe into the Price Monitoring And Regulatory System Instituted By The Department of Energy In The Light Of Allegations Of Overpricing By Oil Companies and the consequent repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and House Bill 4704 which urges Congress to exempt oil and petroleum products, prime commodities and other basic necessities from the imposition of EVAT.

The Gabriela solons are also supporting HB 375 granting workers in the private sector a P125 Across the Board Wage Hike. Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, Office of Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan

INCREASE IN POVERTY INCIDENCE PROMPTS JUNKING OF CCT, LEGISLATION OF POVERTY RELIEF MEASURES -ILAGAN

The increase in poverty incidence and hunger should prompt President Aquino to abandon the Conditional Cash Transfer program and instead, support the immediate legislation of poverty relief measures pending in Congress.

This was according to Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan following the release of survey reports conducted by the Social Weather Stations which indicate that 52 percent or some 10.4 million Filipino households considered themselves "mahirap" or poor. This is a 3 percent increase from survey results conducted in June when the self- rated poverty was only at 49 percent or equivalent to 9.8 million households.

“This clearly indicates that the Aquino government’s anti-poverty flagship programs, including the Conditional Cash Transfer, are proving to be dismal failures in addressing poverty and hunger. The government is wasting billions in government funds for a dole-out program when it can in fact legislate measures that can concretely uplift the conditions of the majority of our population.”

Ilagan said that for example, legislating an increase in the minimum wage as well as removing the 12 percent Expanded Value Added Tax on basic commodities, especially on oil and petroleum products would concretely translate to poverty and hunger relief.

Ilagan, along with Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Emmi De Jesus have filed HR 880 which calls for a probe into the Price Monitoring And Regulatory System Instituted By The Department of Energy In The Light Of Allegations Of Overpricing By Oil Companies and the consequent repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and House Bill 4704 which urges Congress to exempt oil and petroleum products, prime commodities and other basic necessities from the imposition of EVAT.

The Gabriela solons are also supporting HB 375 granting workers in the private sector a P125 Across the Board Wage Hike. Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, Office of Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan

Delayed Filing of Plunder Cases Against Arroyo Is Justice Denied to Filipinos

The last minute move of the Aquino Administration to stop Gloria Arroyo from leaving the country is insignificant because it could easily be overruled. The Aquino regime wasted its past 500 days in office by failing to file a single case against Gloria Arroyo for the high crimes of plunder and electoral fraud during her nine-year rule,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the Bureau of Immigration's move to stop former President Arroyo from boarding the airplane to Singapore.


“The Supreme Court decision to allow Congresswoman Arroyo to leave the country for medical check-up is also very disappointing because the decision opened the door for Arroyo to evade the law. We are all aware that her condition is not a matter of life and death and it is treatable locally. The Supreme Court reason that the former President Arroyo complied with court conditions for travel by posting a 2 million pesos bond ($46,000) and appointing legal representatives to receive any court summons reveals that the law in this country leans towards the moneyed and influential,” added the Gabriela solon.


“Once again, this situation points to a President who continues to err from inaction instead of actively working to seek justice for the millions of Filipinos, amid his Daang Matuwid rhetorics. The President’s anti-Arroyo air-puffing is trivial as long as his regime does not prosecute and punish Arroyo and her cohorts for their anti-people crimes,” ended De Jesus. Rowena Festin, Information Officer, Office of Representative EMMI DE JESUS, Gabriela Women's Party

SC decision hit; GMA lied before she can lie again on plans to return PNOY WILL BE HELD LIABLE IF ARROYOS ESCAPE JUSTICE

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan assailed today what she dubbed as an anomalous and fishy Supreme Court decision allowing former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to leave the country.

“There is no urgent and compelling reason for the Arroyos to leave. The former President’s medical condition hardly qualifies as an emergency and is far from being a situation of life and death. The extent of the crimes that they have to answer for in the interest of justice and accountability far outweighs the supposed personal health risks that Filipino doctors and facilities can adequately address.”

The Gabriela solon also said that it is not enough for DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima to file a motion for reconsideration on the Supreme Court decision. “It is high time for President Aquino to show political will and immediately direct the Department of Justice to initiate the filing of charges against the Arroyos.”

“More than the filing of a motion for reconsideration, it has now become imperative for the Department of Justice to expedite the filing of charges against the former President. Otherwise, this legal fiasco provides an opportunity for one of Philippine history’s biggest plunderer to escape accountability, and no less than the Aquino administration will be held liable for this injustice.”

Ilagan likewise expressed her doubts on the Arroyos’ intent to return and face charges once they have been allowed to leave the country. “They can always say they will return, but we all know they have lied so many times.” Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, Office of Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan

GABRIELA SOLON WANTS VFA REVIEW, US TROOP PULL OUT IN HILARY AGENDA

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Luz Ilagan today said President Benigno Aquino III should raise the issue of making US troops accountable for crimes, subjecting the Visiting Forces Agreement to an intensive review and the possible pullout of US troops as part of the agenda when US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton arrives in Manila.

"The VFA and the presence of US troops have long proven disadvantageous to our country. These have resulted to various human rights violations and worsened prostitution. Secretary Clinton's visit is an opportune time for President Aquino to ensure that agreements like the VFA do not transgress our sovereignty and violate our people especially our women."

The Gabriela solon cites the Subic rape case and the noted increase in the number of prostituted women especially in Mindanao areas where US troops have been stationed. "Women's groups like Gabriela and Talikala have observed an increase in prostitution in Davao and Zamboanga, and even documents prostituted children as young as 9 years old."

Ilagan further said that not much has been done to make US soldiers involved in military operations accountable for their violations. "We have seen their involvement in the closure of the Panamao district hospital and the shooting of Buyong-buyong Isnijal. There have been countless violations and no one have been made to answer for all of these."

Ilagan who also hails from Mindanao also expressed fears that continues US troop deployment especially in Mindanao areas will serve to intensify ongoing conflicts and jeopardize peace talks.

"US geopolitical interests in Mindanao are clear and Sec. Clinton will definitely ensure that these are adequately protected with the continued presence of US troops in the region. The US government and the US military have no business meddling in Philippine affairs. We challenge President Aquino to assert Philippine sovereignty and to keep the US out of Philippine concerns." Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, Office of Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan

GABRIELA SOLON WANTS VFA REVIEW, US TROOP PULL OUT IN HILARY AGENDA

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Luz Ilagan today said President Benigno Aquino III should raise the issue of making US troops accountable for crimes, subjecting the Visiting Forces Agreement to an intensive review and the possible pullout of US troops as part of the agenda when US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton arrives in Manila.

"The VFA and the presence of US troops have long proven disadvantageous to our country. These have resulted to various human rights violations and worsened prostitution. Secretary Clinton's visit is an opportune time for President Aquino to ensure that agreements like the VFA do not transgress our sovereignty and violate our people especially our women."

The Gabriela solon cites the Subic rape case and the noted increase in the number of prostituted women especially in Mindanao areas where US troops have been stationed. "Women's groups like Gabriela and Talikala have observed an increase in prostitution in Davao and Zamboanga, and even documents prostituted children as young as 9 years old."

Ilagan further said that not much has been done to make US soldiers involved in military operations accountable for their violations. "We have seen their involvement in the closure of the Panamao district hospital and the shooting of Buyong-buyong Isnijal. There have been countless violations and no one have been made to answer for all of these."

Ilagan who also hails from Mindanao also expressed fears that continues US troop deployment especially in Mindanao areas will serve to intensify ongoing conflicts and jeopardize peace talks.

"US geopolitical interests in Mindanao are clear and Sec. Clinton will definitely ensure that these are adequately protected with the continued presence of US troops in the region. The US government and the US military have no business meddling in Philippine affairs. We challenge President Aquino to assert Philippine sovereignty and to keep the US out of Philippine concerns." Jang Monte, Public Information Officer, Office of Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan

WOMEN DANCE TO STOP CHACHA MOVES IN CONGRESS

dance the chacha. Dubbed as “Women Dance to Stop Chacha”, participants danced the chacha while chanting: “Pilipinas not for sale! Stop, stop Charter Change! Itigil na ang Charter Change!”

Gabriela Women’s Party-Marikina coordinator Jessica Buligan said this was but one way for women to express their opposition to moves in Congress to amend the economic provisions in the Constitution. Congress resumes session today.

“Sa pamamagitan nito, gusto naming iparating sa mga taga-Kongreso ang paninindigan ng kababaihan laban sa Charter Change. Ang pagbibigay ng malalawak na lupain at pagbibigay pabor sa dayuhan habang kami at ang aming mga pamilya ay nanantiling nakikipaglaban para sa karapatan sa paninirahan ay isang malaking inhustisya na dapat hadlangan.”

Joining the protesters was Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan who said that it was indeed high time for Congress to listen to what women from the grassroots have to say.

“Pushing through with committee deliberations and inter-parliamentary maneuverings for Charter Change and its potentials to open our economy and our resources to the wanton destruction and exploitation of foreign investors is an act of treason. It is a tremendous blow against our people. I urge my colleagues to immediately abandon all initiatives to amend the Constitution,” said Ilagan.

Meanwhile, Rep. Emmi De Jesus, also of Gabriela Women’s Party stressed that it is an injustice to allow foreigners to own land while millions of Filipino families do not own the land they till or are being threatened with demolitions.

“Charter Change will spell displacement for many Filipino women and their families.” Jang Monte, Office of Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, Gabriela

PALIHIM NA PAG-USAD NG CHA-CHA, PINANGANGAMBAHAN NG GABRIELA

NAGLUNSAD ng kilos protesta ang grupo ng Gabriela sa pamamagitan ng sayaw ng 100 kababaihan sa harap ng Kongreso sa Lungsod ng Quezon kaugnay sa palihim na pag-usad umano ng Charter Change dahil sa pagkategorya nito bilang 4th mode o ang ibig sabihin ay tulad lamang ito ng mga ordinaryong batas gayong sangkot dito ang soberenya ng bansa.

Ayon kay KJ Abad, Secretary General ng Gabriela na tinututulan umano nila ang Cha-Cha dahil pagbibigay laya sa lahat ng mga dayuhang imbestor na magmay-ari ng mga lugar na pampubliko, negosyong pribado at kahit pag-aari ng pamahalaan dahil sa pagtutulak ng administrasyong Aquino ng programang ‘public-private partnership’.

Nangangamba umano ang grupo ng Gabriela dahil walang pag-iisip ang Pangulong Aquino sa kapakanan ng taumbayan at sa katotohanan ay tila ibenebenta ang ating bayan nang hindi natin namamamalayan.

Panawagan ng Gabriela sa sambayan na bantayan ang pagpupumilit ng pagtutulak ng Cha-Cha sa Kongreso at patuloy na tutulan ito at sa halip obligahin ang gobyerno na gumawa ng hakbangin para sa pagpapaunlad ng bansa upang makalikha ng trabaho at walang magugutom na Pilipino. Cathy Cruz

Ban on Deployment of OFWs to Non-Compliant Host Countries Must Level Up to Creating Decent Jobs At Home

“The government decision to ban the deployment of OFWs to non-compliant host countries is only a half-step forward in protecting overseas Filipino workers. Critical to the protection of our workers is to ensure that enough jobs with decent wages are generated right here at home,” reminded Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Emmi De Jesus.

The POEA listed 41 countries that violate the requirements set forth in Republic Act No. 10022. The law states that OFW host countries must have adequate laws to protect migrant workers. The host countries should also have “existing labor and social laws that protect the rights of migrant workers; a signatory to multilateral conventions and declarations or resolutions relating to the protection of workers; and have concluded a bilateral agreement with the government on the protection of the rights of OFWs.

“I am wary of the possible increase in human trafficking and illegal recruitment, especially among our unemployed women, as their way of ensuring their family’s survival amid massive unemployment locally. People who have no hope for just living wages from decent jobs at home may resort to illegal alternatives to go abroad out of desperation,” Rep. Emmi De Jesus ended. Representative EMMI DE JESUS, Gabriela Women's Party

Filipino Private Specialists Can Treat Arroyo’s Disease While Public Health System Cannot Address Maternal and Child Deaths -- GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus

The increasingly hot debate on whether former President Arroyo should be allowed by the DOJ to leave the country for medical treatment abroad comes primarily from the fear of many that Arroyo has no intention of returning amidst the nearing resolution of graft charges against her. Amidst all this, Filipino medical specialists are affronted because they claim that the technology and skills to address her medical condition is currently available locally.


“This issue glaringly exposes the bipolar situation of the Philippine health system. The private health system boasts of highly skilled specialists who can treat most health conditions, so long as the patient has unlimited resources to pay for it, let alone a former President accused of amassing so much wealth from the national coffers. Behind this picture is the starkly contrasting public health system that is gasping for breath, leaving poor women and children dying from preventable diseases,” Gabriela Women’s Party representative Emmi De Jesus pointed out.


“The dying Philippine public health sector is a result of government’s repeated budget cuts and continued privatization policy, resulting to very high out-of-pocket costs for poor patients. This reflects a government that has reneged on its responsibility to give ‘priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children’ and ‘provide free medical care for the poor,’ as mandated by the Philippine Constitution,” added Rep. Emmi De Jesus.


“In the next week, the Senate is up for reviewing the General Appropriations Act for 2012 as approved by the House of Representatives. I urge women, especially from marginalized sectors, to take an active part in claiming for their right to quality health services. Let us strengthen our collective voice in demanding for an increase in the meager budget for health so that the public health system can respond to the health needs of poor women and children,” ended De Jesus. Rowena Festin, Media Relations Staff, Gabriela Women's Party

AQUINO'S OUTRIGHT REJECTION OF PETRON BUY-BACK OFFER IS UNDEMOCRATIC

“President Aquino’s unthinking rejection of the offer to buy back Petron without consulting all the major stakeholders, including majority of the Filipino citizens whose household budgets are greatly affected by the continuing increase in oil prices, smacks of autocratic leadership,” declared Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the President’s rejection of Petron’s offer to sell its refinery in Limay, Bataan.

“Refusing to buy back Petron is also an obvious rejection of the call to nationalize the oil industry. That the government has no money to buy back Petron and is inefficient to run something that has a purely business application are lame excuses. The Commission on Audit and the Department of Energy reported that the total Malampaya funds collected since 2002 up to June 30, 2011 and was placed in Fund 151, has amounted to around P115 billion. The government could use this fund to buy back Petron,” added the Gabriela solon.

“Buying back Petron is a significant step towards the nationalization of the oil industry. By doing so, it can influence the pump price of oil to make it affordable to the transport sector,” De Jesus further explained.

“These big oil companies are prime examples of corporate greed that has driven hundreds of thousands of citizens globally to join the “occupy movement.” President Aquino should take heed of the people’s demand to take back management of vital industries that greatly affect people’s lives, and not leave these in the hands of the “Wall Street” people. Aquino should also act on the public clamor to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law and seriously implement programs towards the nationalization of the oil industry,” ended De Jesus. Representative EMMI DE JESUS, Gabriela Women's Party