For Immediate Release
24 February 2008 12:20 AM

Reference: Emmi de Jesus, Secretary General, 371-2302 / 0917-3221203

GABRIELA WARNS OF INTENSIFIED EVIL RULE

"The people should beware and prepare: the government's evil rule is
getting viler by the day." This was according to the militant
women's group GABRIELA on the eve of the 2nd year anniversary of
Presidential Proclamation 1017.

"Let us not forget that Presidential Proclamation 1017 was declared
at the height of controversy over the legitimacy of President Arroyo
spurred by the 'Hello, Garci' exposé with the clear intent to
suppress the growing people's protest. It is within this
government's evil character to wantonly violate the people's civic
and democratic rights in order to preserve its power," said Emmi de
Jesus, GABRIELA secretary general.

Following the declaration of PP1017 in February 24, 2006,
representatives of progressive party lists Gabriela Women's Party,
Bayan Muna and Anakpawis were issued warrants of arrests. Anakpawis
Representative Crispin Beltran was arrested and detained for more
than a year. The office of Daily Tribune, a known opposition
newspaper, was also raided.

De Jesus added that a clear indication of the government's
continuing martial rule is the presence of surveillance cameras near
St. Scholastica' s College, La Salle and in Makati and the wire-
tapping of telephone conversations of Jun Lozada. "This is a
violation of Mr. Lozada's right to privacy. It is likely that other
individuals and groups critical of the government are being
monitored as well," de Jesus added.

"Let us also remember, the most vicious forms of human rights
violations – political killing, enforced disappearance, illegal
arrest and detention - continue to this day. Soldiers are still
being deployed in urban poor communities to harass residents poised
for protest. The Macapagal-Arroyo regime's depravity is boundless,"
said de Jesus.

"But the best defence against an intensified political repression is
for the people to remain steadfast in our fight for truth and
justice. We have weathered and triumphed over the Martial Law of
Marcos dictatorship, we will triumph against the current evil in
Malacañang," de Jesus said.

De Jesus also said that the women will lend its united voice to the
mounting people's protest and on March 8, GABRIELA's nationwide
women's protest will focus on the Filipino women's rage against
PGMA's crimes and corruption. The women's group also called on
Filipinas to join the February 25 People Power I commemoration and
the February 29 Inter-faith action for truth and justice.###

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