Former and incumbent representatives of the Gabriela Women’s Partylist spewed out heavy criticisms against President Rodrigo Duterte over government’s bid to disqualify the organization in future partylist elections.
In a press conference on Friday, March 5, House Asst. Minority Leader and GWP Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, together with former Reps. Liza Maza and Emmi de Jesus, accused the chief executive of trying to get rid of their organization because of their critical stance against excesses of his administration.
However, the three women leaders remained confident that the move to eliminate their partylist group in future elections will not prosper.
Maza said petition filed by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to cancel GWP’s registration as partylist organization is not new.
“In fact in 2007, may mga attempts na idisqualify ang Gabriela. (there were attempts to disqualify Gabriela),” said Maza, adding that various criminal chartes, including murder, were filed against her.
Maza disclosed that not one prospered in court.
“Patong-patong ang inhustisya at panggigipit sa mga kababaihang naghahangad ng mas maaliwalas na buhay para sa kanilang pamilya, para sa bayan (There have been numerous instancews of injustice and harassmen against women whose only intention is to provide a better life for their family, for their country)” lamented Brosas.
De Jesus aired the harshest criticism against Duterte during the press conference.
She accused Duterte of being a misogynist who has shown disrespect to women in various instances.
“Kung lason at lason din naman, ang Gabriela ay isang epektibong antidote. Kami ang antidote para pigilan at gamutin lahat ng ginagawa ni Duterte at ang lahat nang nasa kapangyarihan (Gabriela is an effective antidote against the worst of poisons. We are the antidote that would stop and will cure what Duterte and those in power are doing)” De Jesus stated.
In the same press conference, lawyer Alnie Fojas, who is representing the GWP in the Comelec case, said that NTF-ELCAC is being represented by the Office of the Solicitor General She said the NTF-ELCAC accusation against the GWP has no legal leg to stand for being based on falsehood.