HUSTISYA PARA KAY KA SABENG ARIOLA AT ADELAIDA CALOSA

Mariing kinukundena ng GABRIELA Timog Katagalugan at Gabriela Women’s Party ang pagpaslang kay Sabina “Ka Sabeng” Ariola kahapon, ika-23 ng Marso, alas-8:25 ng umaga sa tapat ng Metroville subd., Bgy. Pooc, bayan ng Sta Rosa Laguna.

Si Ka Sabeng, 51 taong gulang, isang lider kababaihan, ang kasalukuyang tagapangulo ng MSRK3 o Mamamayan ng Santa Rosa para sa Kagalingan, Kaunlaran at Kapayapaan. Isang di pa nakikilalang lalaki ang sumalubong at bumaril kay Ka Sabeng sa tiyan habang pinangungunahan ang isang kilos protesta kahapon. Siya ay lulan ng isang elf kasama ang iba pang miyembro ng MSRK3 patungo sa Sta Rosa City Hall upang dumalo sa sesyon ng Sangguniang Bayan ng naturang lungsod.

Ang bala na tumagos sa tiyan ni Ka Sabeng ay tumama sa pisngi at kasalukuyan pang nakabaon sa may bahagi ng leeg ni Adelaida Calosa, 48 taong gulang at miyembro ng MSRK3.

Nakatakdang operahan si Adelaida habang si Ka Sabeng ay binawian na ng buhay kaninang umaga.

Ang pamamaslang kina Ka Sabeng at Adelaida sa gitna ng kanilang paglahok sa isang kilos protesta ay isang muling pagpapakita ng madugo at brutal na kamay ng estado laban sa mga bumabatikos dito. Ito ay patunay na nagpapatuloy ang pampulitikang pamamaslang, pagtugis at panunupil sa mga lider kababaihan, mga aktibista at miyembro ng mga progresibong organisasyon.

Sariwa pa sa aming alaala ang pagpaslang noon kay Melita “Tita Mely” Carvajal. dati ring tagapangulo ng MSRK3 at coordinator ng Gabriela Women’s Party sa Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“The impunity of the Arroyo regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya continues to claim the lives of martyrs in Southern Tagalog. We demand justice as well as an independent investigation on the incident that will bring perpetrators to justice.”

Kasabay ng aming pagkundena ay ang aming panawagan para sa independyenteng imbestigasyon sa insidente at ang pagpapanagot sa mga nasa likod ng pamamaslang.

For Reference:
LEONA ENTENA (Gabriela Women’s Party Vice Chairperson for Luzon) 09074951189

MARSO 8: PROTESTA NG KABABAIHAN PARA SA TRABAHO, LUPA, SAHOD, KARAPATAN AT HUSTISYANG PANLIPUNAN

Mahigit 1,000 kababaihan at kanilang mga pamilya ang nagtipon sa Crossing, Calamba sa paggunita ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kababaihan.

chained women youth depict the current situation of Filipino women as they march to Crossing, Calamba

Job security and wages top women workers' demands as they join the women's day rally in Crossing Calamba

Binigyang diin sa pagkilos ang panawagan para sa kasiguruhan sa trabaho at nakabubuhay na sahod, lupa at mga batayang serbisyo tulad ng edukasyon, kalusugan at pabahay.

Denouncing the continued threats of demolition and demanding basic services, urban poor women join international women's day protest in Southern Tagalog

Ayon kay Leona Entena, tagapangulo ng GABRIELA Laguna at kasalukuyang Gabriela Women’s Party Vice Chairperson for Luzon, dapat ay higit pang isabuhay ng mga kababaihan ang militanteng tradisyon at diwa ng Marso 8 na naitatag sa pagkilos ng mga kababaihang manggagawa lalupa’t kinakaharap ngayon ang papatinding pandaigdigang krisis.

Retrenched women workers uphold the militant March 8 tradition and lead the march to Crossing Calamba

Binigyang diin naman ni Helen Asdolo, Pangkalahatang Kalihim ng GABRIELA Timog Katagalugan ang papatinding panunupil at karahasan laban sa mga kababaihang nakikibaka. Aniya’y hindi titigil ang rehimeng Arroyo sa pandarahas sa kababaihan at sa progresibong kilusan para tiyakin lamang na makatakas ito sa pananagutan at manatili sa estado poder.

Protesters denounce the criminalization of women human rights defenders

Para naman kay Ivy Tanedo, tagapangulo ng GABRIELA Timog Katagalugan, higit na panganib ang kakaharapin ng mga kababaihan, lalupa’t kasabay ng matinding krisis ang ibayo pang panghihimasok ng Estados Unidos sa bansa upang protektahan ang kanilang pangekonomiya at pampulitikang interes sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng Visiting Forces Agreeement.

Women youth performs "Babae Ka!" to open the IWD protest

Ang mahigit dalawang oras na pagkilos ay kinatampukan rin ng mga pangkulturang bilang na nagbibigay diin sa kasalukuyang kalagayan at pakikibaka ng kababaihan.

RETRENCH ROQUE, FIRE GMA! SOUTHERN TAGALOG WOMEN WORKERS PROTEST TO STOP LAY-OFFS AND RETRENCHMENT

RETRENCH ROQUE, FIRE GMA!
SOUTHERN TAGALOG WOMEN WORKERS PROTEST TO STOP LAY-OFFS AND RETRENCHMENT

Women workers led by Gabriela ST and the Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan marched to the Department of Labor and Employment today calling on the Arroyo government to take immediate action against the spate of retrenchments especially n the Southern Tagalog region.

Data collated by the Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan Southern Tagalog and PAMANTIK reveal that in Laguna and Cavite, at least 35,000 workers have lost their jobs beginning in January of 2009 alone while some 40,000 more are being subjected to flexible labor schemes and practices like reduced work hours, forced leaves and early retirement, all resulting to massive joblessness in the region. It is estimated that for every 100 workers that are laid off, 70 to 80 among them are women.

“What we need are jobs in the face of this worsening economic and financial crisis. We do not need a government that connives with manufacturers, capitalists and foreign investors in passing on the burden of this crisis to the workers. By allowing these flexible labor practices, the DOLE and the Arroyo government is revealing its anti-worker character,” said Leona Entena Gabriela Women’s Party Vice Chairperson for Luzon and GABRIELA Laguna chairperson.

‘More than the workers, it is Mrs. Arroyo and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque who should be laid off and retrenched! They have not done their job to protect and uphold the interests of workers. Their continued stay in their offices is a waste of people’s money.”

For Reference:     Leona Entena (09106660574)
Gabriela Women’s Party Vice Chairperson for Luzon
GABRIELA Laguna chairperson

SOUTHERN TAGALOG WOMEN TROOP TO US EMBASSY; CALL FOR IMMEDIATE EXIT OF US TROOPS

“Hindi kami titigil. There will be no stopping us from making our protest against the Visiting Forces Agreement and the presence of US troops in our country known.”

This was according to Leona Entena Gabriela Women’s Party Vice Chairperson for Luzon and GABRIELA Laguna chairperson as women from the Southern Tagalog region trooped to the US embassy today.

“The VFA has brought much violence and abuse to women, children and communities where US troops hold their military exercises, rest and recreation activities as well as their so-called socio-civic activities. Their continued presence in our country, from Mindanao to Bicol and even in Cavite in the Southern Tagalog region is a threat to women and children” said Entena.

Protesters from Southern Tagalog said they do not want to experience the threat and violence of the presence of US troops in their communities. “The way that they have meddled with and interfered with political economic and social affairs, as well as the delivery of services in communities in Mindanao. This outright interference and trampling of our sovereignty is slowly spreading to other regions and we must not allow this to happen.”

Balikatan military exercises are slated to be conducted not just in Bicol but in Sangley Point and Ternate in Cavite as well.

“The presence of US troops is a testament of the Arroyo government’s subservience to US interests and her inutility to the pleas of women, children and communities. We demand that this outright offensive on our sovereignty, national security be stopped immediately.”

For Reference:     Leona Entena (09106660574)
Gabriela Women’s Party Vice Chairperson for Luzon
GABRIELA Laguna chairperson

PAHAYAG MULA KAY HELEN ASDOLO SA PAGGUNITA NG MARSO 8: ARAW NG KABABAIHAN

Para sa lahat ng aking mga kabaro!

Isang mapagpalayang hapon sa ating lahat!

Muli ay ginugunita natin ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Kababaihan. Narito tayo at nagtitipon upang muli ay iparinig natin ang ating tinig sa malawak na hanay ng mamamayan. Saan mang panig, may mga pagkilos na isinasagawa ang kababaihan sa pangunguna ng GABRIELA at ng iba pang militanteng kilusan ng kababaihan.

Hindi na maitatanggi, ang patuloy na paglakas ng kilusan ng kababaihan, dahil naniniwala tayo na ang kababaihan ay may malaking bahagi sa lipunang ating ginagalawan, at bilang kalahati ng populasyon, malinaw na hindi na lamang sa mga tahanan ibinubuhos ng mga kababaihan ang kanilang talino at lakas.

Sa kasalukuyan, batbat ng kahirapan ang dinaranas ng mayorya ng mamamayang Pilipino, habang ang pamilya nitong si Gng. Gloria Arroyo kasama ng kanyang mga alipores ay nagpapasasa sa kabang yaman ng ating bansa. Sa araw na ito ay ililitanya natin sa malawak na hanay ng mamamayang Pilipino ang kataksilan at kapalaluan ng Gubyernong US Arroyo sa hanay nating mga kababaihan. Mula sa krisis na ating kinakaharap, ang paglobo o pagtaas ng lahat ng pangunahing bilihin, ang walang patumanggang ng mga bayarin sa kuryente at tubig na pasan-pasan nating mga kababaihan, kasalukuyang dumadagdag pa dito ang paglobo ng bilang ng mga walang hanapbuhay at patuloy na tanggalan ng mga manggagawa sa mga pagawaan, kawalan ng lupa para sa mga magsasaka, ang patuloy na pagpapalayas sa mga maralita at kawalan ng tunay na  serbisyong panlipunan. Saan man sumuling pawang karahasan sa iba’t ibang anyo nito ang nakikita’t pangunahing biktima ang kababaihan.

Patuloy ang pakikipagkutsabahan ng gubyernong ito para sa mga kontramamamayang patakaran, katulad ng, Liberalisasyon, Deregulasyon, Pribatisasyon at Globalisasyon na tuwirang nagpapahirap sa sambayanang Pilipino.

Ang Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) na isa pangunahin nating  titnututulan ay nananatili pa ring kasunduan sa pagitan ng ating gobyerno at ng Imperyalistang US. Malinaw ang pagsasamantala sa pambansang soberanya dahil sa pananatili nito. Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, bagamat, nalitis, at hinatulan na ang GI na si Danile Smith subalit batid nating lahat na hindi pa rin nakakamtan ng biktimang si Nicole ang tunay na katarungan dahil sa pananatili ng kostudiya ni Smith sa US Embassy.

Gayundin ay wala pa ring katarungan sa biktimang si Hazel na isa rin sa mga Pilipinang biktima ng sundalong Amerikano sa Okinawa kaya’t malinaw na kinasusuklaman ng kababaihan ang Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) dahil habang nanatili ang kasunduang ito marami pang kababaihan ang mapapahamak sa kamay ng mga hayok na mga sundalong ito ng America.

Ang karahasan sa kamay ng estado ay nanatiling nararanasan ng mga kababaihan. Mula sa pang-ekonomiya, Pulitika at kultura, nanatili ang mababang pagtingin sa ating mga kababaihan. Ang pampulitikang panunupil ng estado sa mga progresibong organisasyon, ang pag-iimbento ng mga gawaw-gawang kaso laban sa mga lider aktibista ay ilan lamang sa mga ipinapakitang karahasan ng estadong ito.

Pinatunayan ng track record ng papet na rehimen ang kanyang pagiging berdugo sa kanyang mamamayan mula sa pamamaslang, pagdukot, pagtorture at iba pang krimeng isinasagwa nito. Ito ay upang busalan ang umaalsang galit ng mamamayan sa estadong nagpapabaya at dumudurog sa kanyang mamamayan.

Muli, iguguhit natin sa araw na ito ang dumadagundong nating sigaw na kahit magtatapos na ang kanyang termino ay patuloy pa rin nating ipananawagan ang pagpapatalsik sa pekeng pangulong ito. Patuloy tayong mag-oorganisa sa malawak na hanay ng mga kababaihan upang ipakita natin ang ating lakas para sa mga susunod pang hamon.

Kaya’t lubhang napapanahon ang panawagan ng ating pagkilos na ito Kababaihan, Kumilos, Magkaisa, Patalsikin ang Papet, Pahirap sa Masang si Gloria!  Tama na! Sobra na!

Maraming salamat sa patuloy nating pakikiisa at pagsasama-sama.

Maraming salamat,

Helen Asdolo

Si Helen Asdolo ang Pangkalahatang Kalihim ng GABRIELA Southern Tagalog at kabilang sa tinaguriang Southern Tagalog 72 — ang 72 lider aktibista na tinutugis ng pamahalaang Arroyo sa batayan ng gawa-gawang kaso ng murder at multiple frustrated murder bunga ng isang ambush sa isang detachment ng pulis sa Mindoro.

GABRIELA ST HOLDS SECOND REGIONAL CONGRESS

GABRIELA Southern Tagalog held its second regional congress last February 28 to March 01 at Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Attended by women leaders and representatives from eight of the ten provinces in Southern Tagalog, as well as women from the peasant, workers and urban poor sectors, they vowed to consolidate and strengthen their ranks in the midst of a worsening global financial and economic crisis.

Highlights of the Congress included an input from Gabriela Women’s Party Representative and GABRIELA National Vice Chairperson Liza Maza on the current national situation as well as the input from GABRIELA National Secretary General Emmi De Jesus on GABRIELA’s 25 years of militant struggle in the Philippines.

Newly elected officers of GABRIELA Southern Tagalog are: Ivy Tanedo (Chairperson), Imelda Lacandazo (Vice Chairperson for Internal Affairs), Icel Rocafort (Vice Chairperson for External Affairs), Helen Asdolo (Secretary General), Norma Heling (Deputy Secretary General), Shirly Quelisa (Treasurer), Nimfa Lanzanas (Auditor).

SOUTHERN TAGALOG WOMEN WORKERS STORM SSS OFFICE IN CALAMBASTEALING WORKERS FUNDS AMID RETRENCHMENTS A DEATH BLOW TO WORKERS – GABRIELA

Members of Gabriela Women’s Party Southern Tagalog and the Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU) held protest today at the Social Security Office in Bgy. Parian, Calamba City, Laguna. They demanded the immediate retraction of SSS’ P12.5B commitment to President Arroyo’s “economic stimulus package” and called for the resignation of SSS head Romulo Neri.

“Ang pera ng SSS ay pera ng manggagawa. Walang karapatan si Gng. Arroyo at mga kasapakat nito tulad ni Romulo Neri na paki-alaman, waladasin at kurakutin ang pondo ng manggagawa. SSS funds are for the workers and not for this corrupt government to meddle with. Hands off SSS funds now!” said Leona Entena, Gabriela Women’s Party Vice Chairperson for Luzon.

“Meddling with the workers’ funds in the SSS is a most inappropriate action for this government to take in the midst of a worsening global financial crisis. Manggagawa na nga ang tinatanggal sa trabaho, tinatanggalan ng benepisyo tapos ngayon, manggagawa pa rin ang pupuntiryahin ng gubyernong Arroyo para lalo pa papasanin ng krisis! Pinapatay nila ang mga manggagawa,” said Entena who likened the scheme to a death blow to workers.

Entena said that in the Southern Tagalog provinces of Cavite and Laguna alone some 34,000 workers have been laid off and retrenched in semi-conductors and electronics factories while over 40,000 workers are made to suffer various schemes of labor flexibilization such as reduced work days, forced leaves and voluntary resignation which are al tantamount to joblessness and the loss of livelihood for many workers. Entena further said that 75-80% of these retrenched workers in Cavite and Laguna are women as most electronics, semi conductors ad garments factories employ mostly women. “Excess or reserve funds of the SSS are best allocated for workers who are in dire need of assistance and benefits to tide them over the global financial crisis”

GABRIELA Women’s Party Southern Tagalog and PAMANTIK-KMU gathered signatures in a petition to protect workers’ funds and vow to gather more in protest.

FOR REFERENCE:Leona Entena (GWP Vice Chairperson for Luzon) 09106660574

Southern Tagalog Women Seek Congress Intervention for Spate of Illegal Legal Attacks on Activists

Gabriela Southern Tagalog today joined families and human rights advocates in trooping to the House of Representatives to seek the support of members of the House of Representatives on the legal offensives that have been launched by the PNP, AFP, DOJ and the IALAG against Southern Tagalog progressive leaders and activists. They wore black shirts printed with “ACTIVISTS: GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT -DOJ”

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Maza has taken cudgels for the beleaguered activists and has delivered her privilege speech on the issue, dubbing it as a clear case of political persecution launched by the Inter Agency Legal Action Group.

Two sets of fabricated charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder and; arson and rebellion have been filed against a total of 72 spokespersons, leaders of progressive partylists and mass organizations as well as activists in Southern Tagalog.

“This illegal legal attack against us is a clear attempt to silence the dynamic protest movement in Southern Tagalog that has led protests against the anti-people policies of the Arroyo regime,” said Leona Entena, Gabriela Women’s Party regional coordinator and vice chairperson for Luzon.

Among those facing warrants for these charges are Gabriela Women’s Party 5th Nominee and Gabriela Southern Tagalog Secretary General Helen Asdolo, Gabriela coordinator for Cavite Amy Sto. Tomas, Kaparapatan-ST Secretary General Doris Cuario and PAMANTIK-KMU Secretary General Luz Baculo. Of those chareged, six have already been arrested and detained including KMU counsel Atty. Remigio Saladero.

For Reference: HELEN ASDOLO (GABRIELA-ST Secretary General) 0918-4698497
JANG MONTE (GABRIELA-ST Secretariat) 0917-4049119

URGENT APPEAL FOR THE DEFENSE OF WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN SOUTHERN TAGALOG

Dear sisters and fellow human rights advocates,

Political persecution is on the rise and human rights violations remain unabated in the Philippines. As extra judicial killings, abductions and disappearances continue, leaders and members of militant and progressive organizations in the Southern Tagalog region now face fabricated legal offensives in an attempt to immobilize those critical of the Arroyo administration.

Last September 26, 2008 seventy-two (72) leaders and spokespersons of progressive organizations, and political activists from Southern Tagalog were charged with murder and multiple frustrated murder for the alleged assault of a police detachment in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental. Since October 23, 2008, six of the 72 individuals have already been arrested and detained.

Among those charged and facing possible arrest are 20 women leaders, activists and women rights defenders including:

1.Helen Asdolo, Gabriela Southern Tagalog Secretary General and Gabriela Women’s Party 5th nominee and Regional Coordinator

2.Amelita Sto Tomas, Gabriela and Gabriela Women’s Party Provincial Coordinator for Cavite

3.Luz Baculo, Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (Pamantik-KMU) Secretary General

4.Doris Cuario, KARAPATAN Southern Tagalog Secretary General

5.Dina Capetillo. KARAPATAN Batangas Spokesperson

6.Sheryll Villegas, BAYAN-Cavite secretary general

7.Karen Ortiz, Cavite Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace Deputy Secretary General

We appeal for your support. Together let us bring due attention to the criminalization of activists, the political persecution, human rights violations and injustice that the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime has unleashed anew against women rights defenders in the Southern Tagalog region.

Please write letters of protest to the Philippine government:

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

Sec. Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.
Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
osnd@philonline.com

Sec. Raul M. Gonzalez
Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila, Philippines
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email sad@doj.gov.ph

Hon. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph

*Please send Gabriela Southern Tagalog a copy of your protest letter through  babae_tk@yahoo.com; You may also visit https://gabrielast.wordpress.com for updates.

ON THE IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT: IRONY AND INJUSTICE IN A PLUNDERER’S ESCAPE AND ACTIVISTS’ ARREST

The junking of the impeachment complaint is a glaring demonstration of injustice in this country. It is proof that big time plunderer and murderers in this country can go scot free while human rights defenders, advocates and activists like me are being persecuted.

Myself, along with 71 other leaders of progressive and militant organizations in Southern Tagalog are being charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder for the alleged NPA raid in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental last March 3, 2006.

What irony, what injustice. While we face threats of arrest and detention for baseless and fabricated charges, Congress simply just refused to hear and consider any evidence on the impeachment charges lodged against Mrs. Arroyo.

We in Southern Tagalog continue to hold Mrs. Arroyo responsible for the countless human rights violations, the slaughter of activists, militant leaders and women as well as the destruction of peasant and indigenous peoples communities and in our region.

That she was made to escape these charges by her allies in Congress, some of whom even came from the Southern Tagalog region, is an outrage.

Despite the persecution and the attempts to immobilize and silence our organizations, we shall continue to expose the injustices, the violations, the plunder, poverty and violence that the corrupt and tyrannical Arroyo regime has brought upon our people.

HELEN E. ASDOLO
Secretary General, Gabriela Southern Tagalog
5th Nominee, Gabriela Women’s Party