Gabriela readies women protest vs Aquino policies

GABRIELA-Davao is celebrating the National Day of Protest of Filipino Women on October 28 with rallies against the anti-women policies of the Aquino administration.

With the theme "Women, fight for our rights! Fight repression and oppression of the US-Aquino Regime! Expose and Oppose Oplan Bantay Laya!", Lyda Canson, chair emeritus of Gabriela-Davao, during the media briefing on Saturday, said that the call for an end to repressive policies that victimize women is as strong today as it was on October 28, 1983, when 10,000 women dared to march the streets of Makati amid the strong-arm tactics of the Marcos administration.

"Nakikita namin walang pagbabago simula noong nagprotesta kami kay Marcos hanggang ngayon for US-Aquino regime act," Canson said, adding that women until now are still poor and lack social protection and services.

According to Canson, during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 153 political activist women were arrested.

"Ikinabahala namin yun, lalo na ngayon na nakikita pa rin namin sa
panahon ni PNoy ang dami-dami pa ring hindi nareresolba na human rights violations," Canson said.

Canson said that the stance of the administration on women's rights and protection could lead to more overseas Filipino workers who will be exposed to abuses and an increasing number of prostituted women.

Luz Ilagan, a representative of Gabriela women's party-list, also pointed out that Aquino seems deaf to the demand to release political prisoners, especially the so-called Morong 43, the medical workers who were rounded up and detained under the Arroyo administration and are still detained under the new administration.

"Sa human rights, kahit talaga yung Morong 43 hindi n'ya rin i-release, plus may dalawang babaeng nanganak. At the time they were arrested, buntis na sila," Ilagan said.

"Unlike kay Cory, first day pa lang ni-release na n'ya lahat ng political prisoners and it happened that my husband was one of them that time," she added.

Mercy Castro bore a child in September last year while Judilyn Oliveros, a first-time mother, gave birth in July this year.

"I have submitted a resolution to release the mothers. May baby, eh, tapos doon lang sa masikip na lugar patitirahin. But then, the Aquino government has not released them, at the very least, on the basis of humanitarian consideration," Ilagan said.

"Never din s'ya nag-come-up ng policy on human rights situation. What he did, on his first day dinalaw na n'ya yung campo ng mga armed forces. Makikita mo talaga yung bias noh, probably dahil takot s'ya na merong pag-alsa during his administration or perhaps dahil hilig n'ya ang firing range," Ilagan said.

The Gabriela-Davao is inviting everyone, especially women, to join their activities. On October 27, there will be an All-Women Forum, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the University of the Philippines, Teraza Milesa Building.

On October 28, the Gabriela will hold a Moving Picket, 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Centennial Park. After the picket there will be a Forum on Reproductive Health Bill 1 p.m. at Ateneo De Davao University, Jacinto Street.

"Yung napag-usapan natin ngayon, iilan lang po yun. Marami pa po tayong pag-uusapan this coming October 27 and 28. May inihanda rin po kaming proposal for RH Bill at ito po ay napakaganda at napaka-comprehensive," Ilagan said. (Ivy C. Tejano)