Women’s group call for GMA’s ouster
March 12, 2008“This activity is simultaneous with other activities conducted today in celebration of Women’s day nationwide. We chose to celebrate this day in protest of the growing immorality of the present government. We as women are very disappointed of Mrs. Arroyo and her and family’s involvement in the ZTE controversy. She does not exemplify the kind of women we advocate Filipino women should be”, Linda Caluza, Spokesperson of Gabriela-Ilocos Region said in an interview.
Chants extolling women as militant and palaban together with such calling for PGMA’s ouster echoed throughout and in between speeches of the different orators of the affair. The passersby and motorists were also asked and challenged to join in the protest action. The various passing motorists answered positively by honking their vehicles and receiving the statements being distributed, others even applauded the efforts of the protesters.
Members of various youth organizations under the broad alliance Youth for Accountability and Truth Now (Youth Act Now!) also joined the activity in solidarity with the plight of women and the public clamor for truth and change in government. They said the latest ZTE-NBN controversy are just the latest in the long list of reasons why Arroyo should be removed from office.
“The Campus Press have been under constant attacked since the Mrs. Arroyo assumed power in Malacanang. The deterioration of the state of campus press freedom and freedom in general in the country could be attributed to the malevolence of this government to the press. Many student publications have been either closed or threatened closed under the rule of Mrs. Arroyo most recent of prominent of which is the case of Tandem, the official student publication of University of Northern Philippines “, Paola Espiritu, Ilocos Regional Coordinator of College Editors Guild of the Philippines shared.
“The immoral and corrupt acts of this government is not a good example for the youth of today. The Filipino youth has taken a stand to light the way for truth and meaningful change. We challenge many others to stand and be counted. The protest action today in La Union is a testament that the people in the National Capital Region is not alone in the clamor truth, accountability and change in governance. The people in the provinces are united in the stand against immorality, corruption and fascism”, Louie Santos of Youth Act Now stressed.
