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GABRIELA SLAMS
SOLONS SEEKING RAPIST'S RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
29 July 1999
"A complete scorn of justice, a vulgar affront to Filipino women and victims of violence. Like Jalosjos, these solons deserve imprisonment" GABRIELA said, as seven Mindanao solons filed Resolution 1012 seeking the release of convicted rapist Romeo Jalosjos.
"None as hypocritical and totally biased as a government that boosts its image by giving sacrificial lambs the lethal injection while granting refuge to rich and influential rapists." said Liza Largoza Maza, GABRIELA Secretary General.
GABRIELA added that the House of Representatives are not wasting any time, noting that the resolution is being filed after its Electoral Tribunal's dismissal of an election protest against Jalosjos. "They have successfullylegitimized the bogus elections that granted a convicted rapist a seat in the House of Representatives, now they're taking the final steps."
GABRIELA said that while invoking "national interest", Jalosjos and his colleagues are in fact upholding the interests of rapists, and may have served as a bad example to their constituents, noting the increase in the number of rape cases in Mindanao.
DSWD data shows that of the 1,275 cases of sexual abuse reported from January to June 1999, 570 or 44.7% were in Mindanao. Jalosjos' home town, region 9 ranks fourth among the highest reported number of cases of sexual abuse, following Southern Mindanao, NCR and Southern Tagalog.
GABRIELA furthers that "Women obviously cannot rely on the government to protect us and our children from violence. We call on women to remain vigilant, militantly fight for our rights for a safe and peaceful environment that only justice and democracy breeds."
