NEWS RELEASE
15 March 2008

For Reference: REP LIZA MAZA 09209134540; 3876718
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 09156463009

MALACANANG DESPERATE AS IT MOBILIZES PSEUDO-PARTYLISTS IN DEFENSE
AGAINST TRUTH

The women's partylist group Gabriela criticized today moves
spearheaded by a pseudo-partylist group, Babae Ka to discredit NBN-ZTE
witness Rodolfo Jun Lozada.

"The cases filed by Babae Ka against Jun Lozada are meant to harass
him and and his family into silence. This is a move that benefits only
those that have been accused of large-scale corruption and bribery in
the senate investigations. This is a move to protect Mrs. Arroyo and
the first family," said Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Liza Maza.

"We have known all along that Babae Ka is a Malacanang stooge. They
were used by Malacanang in the elections to confuse women voters, but
failed. Now, apparently they are once more being used by Mrs. Arroyo
in a smear campaign against Lozada. That Malacanang is once more
mobilizing losers with dubious connections in its defense speaks only
of its desperation," chided Maza.

Last 2007 elections, Gabriela exposed a Palace memorandum citing
Babae Ka as one of the administration-funded and -supported
partylists. Sally Dagami, its chairperson, was reportedly a former
Kaibigan ni GMA coordinator, while a certain Nerissa Garcia,
Executive Director of Malacanang's Office of External Affairs, is a
standing member of the said group.

Gabriela filed a disqualification case against Babae Ka and three
other partylist groups alleged as Malacanang-backed groups in May
2007. The Commission on Elections dismissed the case citing Babae Ka's
loss in the partylist elections as basis.

Babae ka! was also reportedly a member of the Malayang Babae para sa
Cha Cha at Reporma (MELCHORA) which is affiliated with the Sigaw ng
Bayan group, a Pro Charter Change and Pro-Peoples Initiative group
headed by Raul Lambino Jr. which is allegedly organized by the OEA and
DILG.

"The first family and their allies have already been exposed for
their insatiable greed for power and money. Moves to discredit Lozada
will not in any way affect the strength of his testimony. Nor will it
cause the snowballing calls for Mrs. Arroyo's removal from office to
dwindle."