Press Releases

“President Aquino’s concept of sovereignty is muddled and one-sided. While he points his finger to China for encroaching on Philippine territory, his other fingers are signaling enticements to the US Armed Forces and foreign companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron to impinge on our sovereignty and steal our nation’s patrimony,” said GWP Rep. Emmi de Jesus on the President’s statements on the issue.  read more »

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Emmi De Jesus condemned the brutal demolition of Silverio Compound resulting to the death of Arnel Leonor, 21 years old, a dweller of the compound. “What happened at the Silverio Compound shows how state forces, in cooperation with local government officials, quickly act in favor of business tycoons and big real estate developers like Henry Sy even if this could mean harm and even the death and loss of livelihood and homes of thousands of marginalized Filipinos,” said the alarmed Gabriela solon.  read more »

“Wala pa man, tumatayo nang spokesperson ang Pangulo para sa mga pribadong sektor na interesadong bumili sa power industry ng Mindanao. Para siyang tinderong naglalatag ng paninda sa baratillo,” thus said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the President’s statement that he is considering the entry of private investors in ensuring a sustainable power supply in Mindanao.  read more »

“Nakakahiya ang Pangulo na inaasa sa ibang bansa ang kapayapaan ng kanyang sariling bansa,” thus said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the President Aquino’s statement that the Philippines is looking to the US for help in building up its defense capabilities, amid a maritime territorial dispute with China and a host of other security issues.  read more »

“President Aquino affirmed that prostituted women are criminals when he signed RA 10158, thereby perpetuating the archaic view contained in Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code. Samantala, hinahayaan niyang malaya at walang pananagutan ang mga taong kumikita sa kahirapan ng kababaihan,” exclaimed GWP Rep.Emmi De Jesus on the President’s signing of RA 10158.  read more »

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today called on President Benigno Aquino III to veto legislation seeking to amend Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code.

“The amendment effectively decriminalizes vagrancy yet sustains penalties for prostitution. Pimps are no longer considered vagrants will no longer suffer penalties for their acts while prostituted women are still considered criminals,” explains Ilagan.  read more »

Militant Mindanaoan solon Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Party today said legislators should look deeper into the real causes of Mindanao brownouts before even considering giving President Aquino special powers to address the power crisis in Mindanao.

“Special powers will not resolve the crisis. On the contrary, special powers, combined with a problematic energy policy powered by private, multinational interests will spawn an even bigger crisis that will result to higher power rates and leave the people of Mindanao in darker ages.”  read more »

A consolidated bill amending the Anti-Vagrancy Act while continuing to criminalize women in prostitution violates the Magna Carta of Women or RA 9710 which clearly recognizes prostitution as a form of violence against women, and prostituted women as victims and as among the most vulnerable women in society," remarked Gabriela representative Emmi De Jesus on the impending passing of the consolidated SB2726 and HB4936.  read more »

“The outright invitation for increased US military training exercises in the Philippines and more frequent dockings by US navy ships in our ports makes President Aquino a co-conspirator to the rape of our national sovereignty. This is US neocolonization in a not-so-subtle form,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on President Aquino’s announcement that more US troops would be welcome to rotate through the country.  read more »

“The workers’ call for P125 across the board wage increase is over a decade-old. The workers have carried the brunt of the series of inflationary crises and increases in the prices of oil, utilities and basic commodities. The Aquino government's only response last year was the P22 ECOLA. And now, Malacanang claims that the proposed P125 wage increase is too high. This, once again, is Aquinomics at its worst,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus in reaction to a Malacañang's rejection of the proposed P125 legislated wage increase.  read more »