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WOMAN PRESIDENT
SHOULD TAKE A STAND FOR WOMEN
NEWS RELEASE
22 February 2001
"Over a month into the Arroyo presidency and we have yet to see what good she can do for women.” This was the statement of the militant women’s group, GABRIELA as they challenged President Arroyo to give women something to look forward to on March 8, International Women’s Day.
“Is Arroyo turning out to be as macho as her predecessor? In the same manner that Estrada turned a deaf ear on the women's demands, not one among the women’s agenda has been addressed accordingly by Arroyo. Estrada’s cases have been given a reprieve, giving the ousted president more chances of consolidating his alibis and his billions. Not one among the women and children political prisoners has been released. A new round of oil price increases-of LPG no less, hit women hardest, all in Arroyo’s first month,” Liza Maza, BAYAN MUNA Partylist Nominee and GABRIELA Secretary General said.
According to Maza, instead of having the people’s issues addressed, it appears President Arroyo has different priorities. “It looks like the people's issues are taking the backseat in this administration. She is touring military camps and wooing them with perks. She is welcoming known Estrada cronies into Malacanang. Where do the people stand in her priorities?"
Among the issues that women have presented to Arroyo, are the release of women and children political prisoners; the immediate arrest and prosecution of Estrada; the scrapping of the oil deregulation law and the VFA. “Today, we give her a checklist, a good reminder of the people's issues she has ignored. This checklist will grow in length while every woman’s market or grocery list shortens for everyday Arroyo ignores this.”
Maza likewise said that if ousted president Estrada was known for his macho quips, and for marginalizing and degrading women, in word and deed, “then the Arroyo presidency should take the women’s agenda to heart, stand as a champion of the people whose militance put her in Malacanang in the first place. She should not be ‘one of the guys’.”
“From one woman to another, we give GMA this piece of advice: On March 8, International Women’s Day, take a stand for womenhood. Address the women’s agenda now.” ###
