National News - Press Releases

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan expressed today her outrage as she condemned the reported gang rape of a 21-yearold woman inside a military camp in Aroroy, Masbate.

“We strongly condemn this violence and abuse perpetrated by members of the 9th Infantry Batallion. We join the victim in her appeals for justice and demand a thorough and impartial investigation that will help ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice at the soonest possible time,” said Ilagan.  read more »

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today called for a probe into what she dubbed as the “extensive and intensive intrusion of the US military in AFP operations.”

The Gabriela solon said they will be filing a resolution within the week as she expressed her concern following various reports on the use of US spy planes, predator drones and unmanned aerial vehicles in recent military operations in the Philippines.  read more »

“As the BIR jumpstarts its campaign against tax evaders, we ask, WHERE ARE THE BIG GUNS?” This was the comment from Gabriela representative Emmi De Jesus, reacting to media releases by BIR as it filed tax evasion charges against a clothing apparel company and a pet shop.

“What happened to the tax evasion charges filed against Lucio Tan’s companies? Is the fact that Lucio Tan was among President Aquino’s biggest electoral campaign patrons connected to the slow action, if any, by the BIR?” the Gabriela solon further asked.  read more »

There was good reason why Filipino patriots resisted US military presence and intervention 113 years ago. That the Aquino administration is now geared towards increasing US military presence and intervention in the country shows that President Aquino failed to learn the lessons that history has to offer.

Thus said Gabriela Women's Party Representative Luz Ilagan on the eve of the nation's commemoration of the Philippine American War.  read more »

When asked about their reactions on the ongoing impeachment proceedings versus CJ Corona, many poor Filipinos reply "Nakakain ba yan?"

"I am reminded of a quote attributed to Albert Einstein -- An empty stomach is not a good political adviser. It is not enough that the Aquino administration has fed the Filipino public the ongoing Corona impeachment case. It has to create more jobs and rescind its anti-people economic policies so as to allow the increasing number of hungry Filipinos to feed themselves," said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus.  read more »

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today said the recent SWS survey indicating increased hunger is evidence that the Aquino administration’s Conditional Cash Transfer program is a failure. “It is high time for the Aquino administration to rethink its Conditional Cash Transfer program and in its stead, implement a more sustainable poverty alleviation program that will address the growing hunger and poverty among Filipinos.”  read more »

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today said Congress would do well to independently pursue its review of the Visiting Forces Agreement following news of President Aquino’s commitment to the United States government allowing increased US military presence in the country.  read more »

Now that the doctors have said that Gloria Arroyo is well enough to leave the hospital, Gabriela solon reiterated demands of the people to send the former President to a regular jail and resume the hearings on the electoral fraud case filed against her.  read more »

“It is an affront to the Filipino people that the Philippine government and US officials are wantonly violating the sanctity of our nation's sovereignty by agreeing to increase the presence of American troops in the Philippines," asserted Gabriela Women's Party representative Emmi De Jesus, reacting to confirmation by Defense Secretary Gazmin that the US and GPH are negotiating a deal on the expansion the US military presence in the Philippines in response to China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia Pacific.  read more »

“Why is the former President still in the hospital if she is well? If there is no more urgent and compelling life and death situation for the former President to stay at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, then the courts should immediately decide on and facilitate her transfer to a regular detention facility.”  read more »