Philippines: Gabriela Joins Filing of 3rd Impeach Raps vs Arroyo

The militant women’s group GABRIELA will join in the filing of an impeachment
complaint today to once again register the group’s stand that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo’s crimes against the people and women should be put to end.

“Every year, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo racks in more crimes against the people.
The impeachment complaint we will file today is buffered by more and stronger
evidences to prove that Arroyo no longer has the right to stay in Malacañang,”
said Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA secretary general.

Among the cases included in the impeachment complaint is that of 63-year old
human rights advocate Angelina “Angie” Ipong who has been in jail since March
2005. “Angie’s case is the epitome of how vicious Arroyo is against Filipino
women. An activist for more than three decades, Angie was illegally arrested on
an International Women’s Day, tortured and sexually molested and is now being
tried for charges which are flagrantly fabricated,” said de Jesus.

Ipong is currently detained in Pagadian City with charges of rebellion, arson,
frustrated double murder and double murder in three different courts. Ipong is
set to be arraigned in Dipolog City on the same date and time the impeachment
complaint will be filed in Congress.

De Jesus also said that they will not be detered by the “technical obstacles
being imposed by Congressman Matt Defensor,” stating that “the people’s right to
oust a much unwanted president should overrule any technicality.”

“The numbers game Macapagal-Arroyo was so confident would favor her no longer
holds. With its shameless scandals rocking even its own people and causing more
rifts among the so-called ‘pro-administration’ legislators, this impeachment case
has better prospects,” de Jesus said. ###

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