Philippines: Gabriela Bares Gov’t Plan Against Progressive Party List Groups
| 
Subscribe: Gabriela #1 Party List in Hong Kong, Warns Against AFP-instigated trending in Overseas voting
Philippines: Comelec Urged to Stop Dilly-Dallying on Fake Partylists
Philippines: Heightening its Campaign, Gabriela Goes on Air
Beltran Asks Help of Media, Watchdogs to Monitor Partylist Race
Young pollwatcher threatened by suspected military agents in Philippines
MANILA — “There is a grand scheme to prevent our party list from winning and/or adding more seats in Congress and Malacañang’s dirty hands are behind it. This is the biggest travesty of the partylist system.”
This was the statement of Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Party during a press conference this morning exposing an alleged campaign plan against Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Kabataan, Suara Bangsamoro and other partylists.
In a confidential official memorandum dated 16 October 2006 signed by Asst. Secretary Marcelo Fariñas II, the objectives of the said campaign were to ensure the winning of pro-administration party lists and to contribute in the over-all campaign to substantially reduce the number of “left-leaning and anti-administration parties” like Gabriela in the House of Representatives. It also reveals the formation of a special concerns group by the Office of the External Affairs (OAE) under the Office of the President.
“This scheme therefore complements the disqualification case against our parties and the killings and harassment of our members and supporters. The tragedy of this all is that not only is this scheme out to shove us out of Congress but it is robbing the underprivileged Filipinos of their right to be represented as enshrined in the party list system,” said. Maza.
Among the identified pro-administration parties are Babae Para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka), Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano, League of Youth for Peace and Development (LYPAD) and Kalahi Advocates for Overseas Filipinos. Farinas was requesting funding support for the said special concerns group which will run these parties.
“The registration and entry of these partylists in this elections, with funding and support from Malacanang, grossly violates the provisions of the Party List Law and the Constitution,” said Maza.
The Gabriela solon urged that investigations be conducted on pro-administration candidates and on the OEA.
“Malacañang may have the resources but we have the people’s support as shown by our consistent top rank in all surveys. For all we care, Malacañang can do cartwheels or eat fire just to keep us out of Congress. But by July this year, Gabriela will take our rightful seats in the House together with Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Kabataan and Suara Bangsamoro,” Maza concluded. davaotoday.com
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Davao firms to issue warning on closures, retrenchments
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:54 pm
PRESS RELEASE
BABAE PARA SA KAUNLARAN (BABAE KA) PARTYLIST
“Another propaganda scheme of another leftist organization”
BABAE KA CATEGORICALLY DENIES GABRIELA’S ACCUSATION
WOMEN party-list Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) today categorically denied that it is a stooge of Malacañang even as it challenged Gabriela party-list to file a formal complaint.
Sally Dagami, BABAE KA chairperson, said that, “For the nth time, we want the Filipino people to know that BABAE KA party-list is not a Malacañang-backed organization. BABAE KA has not requested and has not received a single centavo from the government.”
“Just like Akbayan’s, the accusation of Gabriela is another cheap-shot by another leftist organization that is aimed to generate media projection at our expense. The document that this so-called cause-oriented have shown publicly is a fabrication. BABAE KA knows nothing about this,” Dagami added.
Dagami stressed that she has never met an Assistant Secretary Marcelo Fariñas of the Office of External Affairs.
“I do not know Mr. Fariñas. In fact, this is the first time I heard of his name,” Dagami stated.
Ruth Vasquez, BABAE KA president, said that, “Mukhang isa na namang kuryente ito, to borrow media’s parlance. Kinukuryente ng Gabriela ang media sa inanunsyo nila.”
“The document shown by Gabriela could be written by anybody. It could be a product of the dirty-tricks department of extremist organizations. Wala kaming alam sa mga pinagsasabi nila,” Vasquez explained.
Dagami challenged Gabriela to file formal complaints against BABAE KA “so that we could also file formal charges against the leaders of this group.”
“Are these documents authentic? We should ask Rep. Masa where they got the alleged documents. Who gave it to them? If the said documents really exist, where are the original copies or at least certified true copies? We have the right to ask these questions and know about all these. And Rep. Masa has a lot of explaining to do,” Dagami said.###
References:
Ruth Vasquez, 09198286402 and (02) 8827623
1287 Bo. Visaya St., Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City
Sally Dagami, 09214379605, 09266971406 and 09285026487
May 1st, 2007 at 11:05 pm
BABAE KA asked COMELEC to reveal 2004 election spending of party-list groups
BABAE PARA SA KAUNLARAN (BABAE KA) Women’s Party-list on Monday, April 30, formally asked the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to furnish the organization with certified copies of the 2004 election expenditures of Akbayan, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis and other organizations that are represented in the 13th Congress of the Philippines. Further, BABAE KA also requested the COMELEC to publicize the said expenses.
As a party-list organization for women, which was mentioned by the Constitution and various laws as among the marginalized and underrepresented sectors of our society, BABAE KA seeks to verify reports that some party-list organizations have spent enormous amounts of money and logistics to boost their chances of electoral success. Included in the report is the Citizen’s Action Party or Akbayan, which allegedly used Php25 Million during the 2004 electoral campaign.
This amount is staggering if not totally unthinkable especially if the real nature of the party-list system is to be truthfully considered. Such amount is more than what any aspiring congressman would spend to campaign in a congressional district. Even some Senatorial candidates for this year’s elections will not and could not spend such a large amount.
BABAE KA will not and will never spend even ten percent (10%) of the aforementioned amount because it believes that a big expenditure is contrary to the principles of the party-list system. Further, it is opposed to the very principles of this organization.
If Akbayan and for that matter other groups claiming to represent the marginalized and underprivileged sectors like Gabriela, Anakpawis and Bayan Muna could spend Php25 Million each in 2004, how much will they be spending for this year’s campaign. Will it be double or even triple that amount, or around Php50 million to Php75 million per organization?
If then, the questions that must be asked of them are: Where did and where will they get that much money? Is it from the ten percent commission from projects that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago exposed? The people’s guess is as good as ours.
The Filipino people have the right to know. The 2004 election expenditures of these millionaire party-list groups must be made public. These party-list organizations must also make public their sources of funds and logistics, otherwise, it will be construed as commissions to projects funded by their Priority Development Assistance Funds or the pork barrel.
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:53 pm
BABAE KA DEFENDS RIGHT TO BE VOTED,
SCORES AKBAYAN’S SEXIST REMARKS
April 30 is women’s suffrage day. But for Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) women’s partylist there was no cause to celebrate as the rights of women to vote and be voted upon are still being attacked.
Several days after women’s suffrage day, women will started the defense of their right to participate in the party-list system through the filing of formal comments to the disqualification case filed against us by so-called cause-oriented groups before the highest court of the land.
This pertains to the disqualification case filed against BABAE KA on the grounds that the organization and its officers are not marginalized and underprivileged.
BABAE KA seeks to represent the Filipino women and women as a sector is already marginalized as identified in the Philippine Constitution and Republic Act No. 7941 or the partylist law. The officers and members of BABAE KA are all women, and no one is a millionaire unlike officers and nominees of other partylist groups. Thus, we mentioned the following in the COMMENTS to the Petition:
As clearly enumerated by the laws of the land and by the Supreme Court, the sectors include women as among the marginalized and underprivileged sectors that may register as a party, organization or coalition for purposes of the party-list system. Purportedly, BABAE KA filed its petition for registration before the deadline and was duly registered by the COMELEC as a party-list group to participate in the party-list system of election on May 14, 2007. BABAE KA underwent the process and fulfilled all the requirements set forth by the COMELEC.
BABAE KA is an organization composed of women, 18 years and above, of varied occupations, educations, interests, ethnic origins, and religious beliefs. All the officers of BABAE KA are women. All the nominees of BABAE KA are women and officers of the organization but none are government officials or employees. All nominees are also members of the organization for more than ninety (90) days from today consistent with Section 9 of the RA 7941.
This disqualification case against BABAE KA is an attack against women’s rights by individuals and organizations with feudal outlook; a disrespect to all Filipino women who want their voices to be heard, who aspire for democracy and progress.
BABAE KA shall also start to campaign against sexist remarks and abuses being committed by certain groups against us specifically by leaders and supporters of Akbayan. Sexist words like ‘mababa ang lipad’ and ‘scorned women’ could be read in the Akbayan initiated ‘barethelist’ weblog (http://barethelist.wordpress.com). That is a clear assault against women’s rights. It betrays the real character of Akbayan, its leaders and supporters.
BABAE KA is now finalizing plans of filing sexual harassment and libel cases against these leaders and supporters of Akbayan.
These insulting, sexist and degrading remarks that were allowed by the moderator of the said Akbayan initiated site betray the true anti-women character of Akbayan party and its leaders. They are chauvinist pigs that look lowly at Filipino women. Parang hindi babae ang kanilang mga ina at lola. Parang wala silang mga kamag-anak na babae.
Kung babae ka at mahal mo ang pagkababae mo, tiyak na mababastusan ka sa mga sexist remarks sa weblog na ginawa ng Akbayan. Kung lalaki ka at mahal mo ang iyong ina at lola, kapatid na babae o anak na babae, tiyak na mababastusan ka rin sa mga sinabi sa weblog na ito ng Akbayan.