OKINAWA MISSION TEAM FOUND PHILIPPINE GOVT NEGLECTED HAZEL

“Hazel was indeed raped, she was a victim of human trafficking and that the Philippine government had been sorely remiss in providing her adequate and proper assistance.” This was the statement of the mission team, headed by Gabriela Representative Hon. Liza Maza, that went to Okinawa, Japan last week to look into the case of Hazel, the 22-year old Filipina allegedly raped by a US soldier.

“We saw the medical records of Hazel. Hazel vividly accounted to us what transpired the night she was raped. And coming from the perspective of a women’s organization which has handled many cases of
violence against women, we are fully convinced that Hazel was indeed raped,” said Lana Linaban, GABRIELA deputy secretary general, who was also a part of the mission team.

“Just as tragically, while the Department of Foreign Affairs paints itself as concerned and supportive of Hazel, the truth is they have callously neglected Hazel at a time when she needed help the most,”
added Linaban added.

According to the team, Honorary Consul Ako Alarcon, Philippine Consulate in Okinawa knew of Hazel’s case the very same time the girl was hospitalized after the rape but Hazel was not provided any legal
counsel during the process of investigation to determine if there was probable cause for the case. Hazel, the team said, was on her own during the whole process of investigation given that she has no
knowledge of the legal system in Japan, does not speak nor understand the local language and that she hardly knows anyone because she just arrived in Japan just three days before the rape happened.

The mission team also said that Hazel is one of the many Filipina victims of human trafficking for the “rest and recreation needs” of US soldiers stationed in the US military base in Okinawa. US military base in Okinawa occupies about 20% of the province’s total area and 75% of US Forces in Japan is stationed in Okinawa. “This scenario makes women, especially Filipinas working as entertainers, in Okinawa vulnerable to abuse,” said Maza.

“US soldiers in Okinawa has a long list of rape cases of women starting way back 1945. From 1985 to 2005 alone, there were 34 cases of rape committed by US military personnel stationed in Okinawa. Buit
as in the experience of the Philippines, justice was denied the victims. The US has distorted and usurped the sovereign right of the country to prosecute US soldiers ,” added Maza.

“Hazel must be served justice. The Philippine government must push the Japanese government to reinvestigate the case. Wherever the US soldiers commit crime, sovereign countries should have the sovereign right to prosecute,” concluded Maza. #

GABRIELA SOLON CONDEMNS HEIGHTENED MILITARIZATION, DEV’T AGGRESSION IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan condemns the massive military operations and human rights violations against the Aetas of Porac and Floridablanca, Pampanga, where the 72^nd Infantry Battalion and the 3^rd Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been deployed since July 10 as part of the Investment Defense Force scheme of the Arroyo government.

“The deployment of military troops in indigenous communities under the guise of protecting the national economy but at the expense of the IPs is ridiculous. It is unlawful as it violates the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which state that the rights of indigenous cultural communities should never be compromised for the sake of development,” Ilagan said in a press conference with the Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP).

The Mindanaoan solon pointed out that it is not only the Aetas of Pampanga who experience state-perpetrated abuses. Since the Revitalization of the Minerals Industry Program was launched in 2004 and 18 indigenous territories were selected to be part of the 24 priority mining areas in the Philippines, complaints of human rights violations committed against indigenous peoples have increased.

“In Mindanao, for example, the Lumads of Compostela Valley and Subanens of Zamboanga del Norte are being pushed away from their homes by the easement rights granted to foreign mining firms by the Arroyo government. Any resistance is immediately quashed through the deployment of military and paramilitary forces and men, women and children who show the slightest hint of opposition are tortured, harassed, raped and murdered,” the militant party-list representative said.

She added that as of 2007, 130 cases of extrajudicial killings that victimized IPs have been recorded.

Ilagan, together with KAMP, supports the call of the Aetas and other indigenous peoples in the Philippines for the government to pullout the elements of Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed in their ancestral lands.

MILITANT SOLONS TO BOYCOTT SONA, HITS STATE NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION OF OFWS

“We expect GMA’s Eighth State of the Nation Address will gloss over the real situation of Overseas Filipino Workers and their families,” Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan said during a press conference to announce Gabriela Women’s Party, Bayan Muna, and Anakpawis solons’ plan to boycott the inaugural session of the Congress on Monday.

Migrant workers have been repeatedly cited as the modern day heroes because of the important role they play in propping up the economy, and Ilagan expects the President to use this in her address to promote labor export policy as a legitimate option for the country’s workforce.

“But she will intentionally leave out the different forms of abuses OFWs are being subjected to, and the failure of her government to implement appropriate measures to protect the Filipinos abroad. Our women, particularly, are neglected by this administration as proven by the experiences of “Hazel”, an entertainer raped by an American soldier in Japan, Marilou Ranario, a domestic helper sentenced to death for killing her Kuwaiti employer and Eugenia Baja, another DH who mysteriously died in Saudi Arabia,” the Mindanaoan solon said.

She pointed out that the government is the primary exploiter of the migrant workers and the only one that benefits from the labor export policy because of the remittances that keep the economy’s vitality and the excessive fees that its departments and agencies exacts from the OFWs. Studies by the Gabriela party-list show that an average of P15,400 in OWWA membership fee, POEA processing fee, passport and other charges is being extracted from every Filipino who wishes to work abroad.

“The State does not have the right to exact this large amount because, aside from being at fault that millions of Filipinos are forced to work in other countries to cope with the worsening economic crises in the Philippines, the billions collected annually from the OFWs only goes to the pockets of some corrupt government officials,” Ilagan said.

The excessive charges and the lack of a loan program to rely on for their pre-departure needs push a lot of people wanting to work abroad to fall prey to human traffickers and illegal recruiters. Many also enter other countries illegally, like the thousands of Filipinos in Europe and in Sabah who now face the risk of illegal detention and inhumane treatment prior to their deportation, following the crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Rice Prices soared 100% under GMA; REAL SONA SHOWS HUNGER, POVERTY AT ALL TIME HIGH

“President Arroyo can claim to have successfully achieved her SONA targets year after year but the fact remains that rice prices have soared 100% since she first came into power in 2001. Gabriela Women’s Party holds the Arroyo leadership personally responsible for the widespread hunger and poverty that our country has sunk into.”

Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Largoza Maza noting that rice was sold at an average of P17.00 per kilo when President Arroyo first delivered her SONA in 2001. “Today, the cheapest commercial rice is at P34-36.00 per kilo.”

Rep. Maza also criticized the National Food Authority as it announced its intent to limit the access to cheap NFA rice by September. “How else will our people cope with the unending increase in the prices of rice, oil and basic commodities?”

“The economy has been downhill since President Arroyo assumed office in 2001. The price of gasoline and diesel in January 2001 was at P16.56 and P13.82 respectively. Today it has increased by as much as 380-420% and is pegged at P62.00 and P58.00. Seven years ago, the daily cost of living for a family of six was at P420, today it is at P894,” Maza lamented.

The lawmaker joined fellow Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan and representatives from Bayan Muna and Anakpawis in announcing their intent to boycott the coming State of the Nation Address and instead join street protests this coming Monday.

“This year’s SONA, we predict, will be a litany of lies, a parade of fake economic gains.”#

HUNGER CASTS GLOOM, BETRAYS REALITY IN GMA’s ECONOMIC FANTASYA

“Ramdam na ramdam ang kagutuman. President Arroyo can harp all she wants about the supposed  economic gains but the truth of the matter is that seven SONAs later, hunger incidence in the Philippines has gone from bad to worse.”

Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Largoza Maza in reaction to the latest survey released by the Social Weather Station. The lawmaker noted that surveys conducted by the SWS the past seven years indicates that hunger which was at 9.8% in July 2001 is now at 16.3% in the latest survey.

“Filipinos, especially the women are not buying any of the propaganda that the Arroyo government peddles. The tarpaulins and TV ads are spin  attempts and telefantasyas thatwaste the people’s money.”

The Gabriela solon stressed on the urgency of addressing food insecurity with more and more women bearing the brunt of the crisis. “It is the women who are hit hardest by the food crisis. Mothers who make up the majority of those lining up for cheap NFA rice, are most often, the last to eat. Isusubo nalang, ibibigay pa sa anak.”

Maza also said that with President Arroyo gearing up for her SONA on Monday, “the real state of the nation lies at the gut of every single Filipino who has experienced hunger under the Arroyo administration.”#

GABRIELA SOLONS PUSH FOR HOUSE INVESTIGATION ON INHUMANE TREATMENT OF SABAH DEPORTEES

Amid increasing complaints from individuals deported from Sabah, the Gabriela Women’s Party solons called on the members of the House of Representatives to look into the alleged human rights violations committed against Filipinos during their detention in and deportation from Malaysia, following their government’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

“We should not wait for the abuses to reach epic proportions or for a repeat of the 2002 crackdown on undocumented Filipinos in Malaysia, where 12 children died and dozens of women were raped in detention camps, before we make our move,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said.

She also urged her fellow legislators in the Lower House to take up immediate measures to protect undocumented Filipinos, most especially women and children, who face the risk of being detained and abused in Malaysian jails before they are returned to the Philippines.

The lawmaker from Mindanao added that “Malaysia’s reputation as among the world’s top ten worst places for refugees to stay in was confirmed by the cases of denial of food and medical care to deportees while they were in detention camps. There are also the tales of inhumane treatment of a child who acquired injuries during his three-month stay in a detention center and of a woman who gave birth inside a jail.”

As for the Filipinos already deported to the country, Ilagan said that providing them with temporary shelter and transportation allowance is not enough.

“The government should provide the deportees with proper housing and livelihood for them not to be tempted to leave the country again in search of a decent life,” she said.

GABRIELA SOLONS HIT CA FOR “PONTIUS PILATE” STUNT ON FATIMA GUMANOY CASE, SAY JUSTICES ACCOMPLICE OF AFP

Gabriela Women’s Party criticized three Court of Appeals justices for the ‘Pontius Pilate’ stunt they pulled during the hearing of the petition for writ of habeas corpus for Fatima Gumanoy.

“Court of Appeals Justices Sesinando Villon, Jose Catral Mendoza and Andres Reyes condemned Fatima to a life separated from her family. Then they washed their hands of, saying that it was the minor who chose her sister over her mother,” the progressive party-list solon said.

Gumanoy is the seventeen-year-old girl abducted by the AFP last July 4 and is illegally detained at the Fort Bonifacio General Hospital.

An active child’s rights advocate in Mindanao, Ilagan added that the justices should have returned Fatima to her mother because she is a minor and no charges were filed against her.

“Their incompetence showed when they let the AFP affect their judgment,” Ilagan said.

On Fatima’s decision, the lawmaker said that it was obvious that the AFP pressured her into deciding to stay with her sister.

“She is afraid for her sister. She knows what the AFP is capable of doing because she has been subjected to  physical, emotional and psychological abuse herself,” Ilagan, pointing to the torture Gumanoy suffered from in the hands of the military during her disappearance.

According to Ilagan, the AFP’s actions were in violation of a number of local and international laws including the Philippine Constitution, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

OVERPRICED, KICKBACK-RIDDEN ODA PROJECTS’ PAYMENTS NOT PROJECTS FOR THE POOR, BEHIND VAT COLLECTIONS

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Largoza Maza today said that it is the government’s overpriced ODA obligations and not the poor that is the reason behind President Arroyo’s mulish stance against the scrapping of the 12% Value Added Tax.

“A huge chunk of the government’s spending still goes to foreign debt payments. And for the past seven years, ODA availments have increased the debt service burden, ” said Maza citing IBON studies indicating that around 40% of outstanding foreign debt may be attributed to ODA loans.

“The disadvantageous and kickback- ridden Northrail project alone compels the government to pay $400,000 in monthly interests alone.  In addition to this we are also paying for several other overpriced ODA projects such as the P3.6B Bohol Irrigation Project Phase II, the $465.5 M Cyber Education Project among several others,” said Maza.

DEBATE
“Sa totoo lang, ang paggamit sa mahihirap na dahilan para sa patuloy na koleksyon ng VAT ay katulad ng pagprito sa mga mahihirap sa sariling mantika. This government take the poor Filipinos for fools if it thinks insulting subsidies are enough to make the people believe that we are enjoying the fruits of the VAT. We doubt if she can debate with and defend her VAT collections to the impoverished mothers lining up for cheap NFA rice, and insulting electricity subsidies,” said Maza.
The Gabriela solon also belied Arroyo’s claims and insisted that the government can very well still provide for projects for the poor sans the VAT collections. “Government claims it will lose Php73.1 Billion should the government cease VAT collections. But this can easily be resolved by addressing graft and corruption in tax collections.”
Maza cited statistics from the IBON Foundation and the National Tax Research Center which estimate that graft and corruption in revenue collections have cost government Php82 Billion in uncollected corporate taxes in 2006 and an average of Php57 Billion annually in uncollected VAT.

Gabriela Representatives Maza and Luz Ilagan have filed HB 3458 removing the 12% VAT on oil products and HB 3433 to repeal the RVAT. They are also supporting several measures in Congress that seek to amend the RVAT approved in 2005.

AS MISSION TO OKINAWA LEAVES TODAY: WE WILL HOLD PERPETRATORS OF RAPE AND CRIMINAL NEGLECT ACCOUNTABLE -MAZA

“The Gabriela mission to Okinawa hopes to give Hazel the much needed moral and legal support in this uphill battle for justice. Hazel needs the support of her kababayans now more than ever, especially since the Arroyo government’s neglect and inutility in her case, and their obvious complicity with the US government has made justice even more difficult to attain for Hazel and her family.”

Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Maza as she leaves today for Okinawa, Japan with Nanay Melly, mother of the Okinawa rape victim, Hazel.

“We will be meeting with Hazel, her custodian, Okinawan government officials and the Filipino community in Okinawa. We hope to be able to properly assess what the Philippine government has done and failed to do in Hazel’s case so that we will be able to take the next appropriate steps to make the perpetrator accountable,” said Maza, explaining the 5-day mission’s itinerary and objectives.

Maza also said that aside from getting a thorough assessment of Hazel’s case and her legal options, Gabriela Women’s Party and the “Mission to Okinawa” intends to also look into the situation of Filipina migrants and entertainers in Okinawa.

“Like Hazel, Filipina migrant workers in Okinawa, especially those working in places near the US miltiary bases are in a situation that exposes them to much violence and sexual abuse. There is a very good chance that Hazel’s case is not the only one. The responsibility to ensure their safety and the protection of their rights falls squarely on the Philippine government. Their failure to do so make them accomplices and liable.”

The Mission to Okinawa will be presenting their report to the media upon their return in a press conference on July 23.#

NORTHRAIL PROJECT IS A BURDEN TO THE PEOPLE -MAZA

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Maza today called for the immediate termination of the Northrail contract saying that the issues now being raised by the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. Group (CNMEG), as well as price adjustments amounting to over US$ 299M corroborate allegations of bribes and anomalies that have hounded the US$ 503M Northrail Project.

According to the Gabriela solon, “The termination of the Northrail contract and the prosecution of those involved are long overdue. The Arroyo government has already wasted millions in taxpayers’ money and should not be given the opportunity to waste even more.”

Reports reveal that since January 2005, it has reportedly been paying about $400,000 in monthly interest. The government has allegedly drawn USD$105 M of the loan in 2004. Moreover, with the price adjustments, the total cost of the project would now amount to at least US$ 802M. “Why the government insists on carrying on with the project despite its already huge and rising cost is in itself dubious and questionable,” Maza further said.

The Northrail Project, a deal financed by a disadvantageous loan of around US$ 503M from the Export-Import Bank of China and awarded to Chinese contractors, was overpriced and allegedly involved some US$ 50-100 M in commissions and kickbacks to high-ranking government officials. “These allegations that surrounded the Northrail project from the very beginning have yet to be resolved.”

“This project is a burden to the people. The $400,000 monthly interest that the government is now compelled to pay can be used for subsidies and other projects for the poor and marginalized. Terminate this project now so we can be spared from the burden of paying for the kickbacks and anomalies that have long surrounded this project.” said Maza.

“Moreover, we believe that the reason why the Arroyo government insists on collecting the 12% VAT, is because of its commitment to pay these overpriced and anomalous ODA loans such as the Northrail project.”

Research conducted by the partylist group meanwhile reveal that US $50-100 M commissions from the Northrail project could have produced 4,000 classrooms or 3,636 houses or it could have treated 2,000 women with breast cancer at P1M per treatment.#