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BOGUS Poor POWER,
ERAP ABUSES 'MASA' ONCE AGAIN
NEWS RELEASE
27 April 2001
"Billionaire Erap and his very rich cohorts are at it again. These sham
leaders, whose slogan 'Erap para sa mahirap' has long been exposed as a lie,
are orchestrating the pro-Erap gathering at Edsa. While in power, Erap and his
ringleaders have robbed these people blind. Now, they are misleading these poor
people as props for their deranged political agenda."
Thus said Liza Largoza Maza, GABRIELA secretary general and BAYAN MUNA Party
List Nominee in reaction to the so-called "Poor People Power".
GABRIELA and BAYAN MUNA-Women joined other militant organizations in condemning what they call the "mis-leaders" of the pro-Erap gathering in Edsa spurred by the arrest of the ousted President Joseph Estrada.
"Erap and his operators simply cannot accept the fact that they have been
dislodged from power by Filipinos all over the nation in a genuine demonstration
of People Power. The fact that is with his arrest, they have realized that the
Filipino people intend to see Estrada's prosecution through. They are hoping
that with this show of force by their paid minions, the Arroyo government will
make a compromise."
According to the women's groups, most Filipino women feel vindicated with the
arrest of Erap after more than two years of degradation under his administration.
"Thus we say to the Arroyo government, NO COMPROMISE! While Erap cavorted in his many mansions all over the country, 4 M families in Metro Manila alone did not have any decent homes. And while his mistresses get at least P100, 000 weekly allowance, many families had to make do with a measly P223 a day and most with far less."
"The arrest of Erap is just the first step to justice. His prosecution
must push through. He must be made to answer for his crimes against the people,"
said Maza.
The groups added that the presence and leadership of Pwersa ng Masa senatorial
candidates in the pro-Erap gathering at Edsa makes it easier for voters to junk
them. "These morsels of Erap presidency must not win even half a seat in
the government."
"The bogus 'People Power III' will not and cannot restore Erap back in
Malacañang. The men and women who vigilantly and militantly fought to
oust Erap will never allow a booted criminal back in power."###
