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FREE ALL WOMEN
AND CHILDREN POLITICAL DETAINEES ARREST ERAP, CRONIES AND CRONY MISTRESSES
NEWS RELEASE
23 February 2001
"Both names start with L but that's where their similarity ends. While Laarni Enriquez acquired at least P650 M bank account and lavishly spent on three mansions, Lorna Rivera Baba found herself dispossessed and languishing in a decrepit jail cell. Both, thanks to Erap.
"This is definitely not the democracy Filipino women fought for in People Power II." So said the militant women's group GABRIELA during their picket rally this morning at the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge to demand the release of women and children political prisoners. The action is also in support of the hunger strike political prisoners launched yesterday.
"There is no democracy and there is no justice in a country where a big-time criminal and his accomplices freely roam while ordinary women, men and children are incarcerated for fighting a rotten regime," said Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA deputy secretary general.
According to the women's group, aside from Baba, not included in the list for release are minors Aileen and Neshril Navarro, 15 and 16 years old respectively. They are currently detained at the Albay Provincial Jail together with common criminals.
Other minors not included in the list are Joven Velasco, 17; Lamberto Niebla, 17 and Rafael Llantino, 16. Minors Arlindo Galla, 15 and Ariel Encenas, 17 are still detained after being turned over to the provincial DSWD.
"While we acknowledge the efforts, especially of DOJ Secretary Hernando Perez, to release 73 political prisoners, 10 of whom are women and minors, this number is much too little for the Arroyo government to gain the people's confidence," added de Jesus.
The women's group said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should "immediately and decisively act to release all political prisoners. Or we will take it as a clear signal that she is like minded with the militarists and rabid US lackeys in her new cabinet."
"With the International Women's Day coming up, it would be a fitting gesture for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to release the women and children political detainees." ###
