“On the day Aquino steps down from office, we will make sure that President Aquino will pay for his crimes,” said Misty Lorin, Deputy Secretary General of progressive women’s alliance Gabriela.
On March 8, International Women’s Day, thousands of women marched from Liwasang Bonifacio to Mendiola bridge and expressed their outrage against the Aquino government’s alleged crimes against the people.
Lorin enumerated a list of violations of the government.
She held Aquino’s government accountable for the continuing hardships and violence experienced by women due to unemployment and low wages, the rape of our country and rampant corruption.
Instead of addressing the root causes of poverty, Lorin said that the government pushes its people to work abroad in order to save the economy, only to end up in peril such as Mary Jane Veloso, an OFW sentenced to be executed due to drug charges.
Her execution was temporarily stayed as legal proceedings are still ongoing in the Philippines.
Mary Jane’s mother, Cecilia Veloso spoke at Liwasang Bonifacio and called for public support as her daughter’s ordeal is not yet over.
Lorin also lambasted the Aquino administration for being a puppet of the United States. In 2015, Aquino approved the Enhanced Cooperation and Defense Agreement (EDCA), thereby allowing more American troops to stay and occupy military facilities in the Philippines, all at the country’s expense.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of EDCA early in January.
Lorin criticized the Aquino administration for massive corruption; the highlight of all is the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
The Supreme Court declared the DAP unconstitutional in 2014 and 2015.
According to Gabriela, the CCT is being used by government to prevent women from joining mass protests such as the commemoration of International Women’s Day.
“The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program is being used by government to hostage women,” said the Gabriela Deputy Secretary General.
Women from urban poor communities are main beneficiaries of the said program.
“We should not allow Aquino’s anointed candidates to take hold of power in Malacanang,” said Lorin.
Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas and Camarines Sur congresswoman Leni Robredo are the Liberal Party’s standard bearers in the upcoming May polls.
Roxas is running for President while Robredo is eyeing the Vice-Presidential post.
A wall of painted cardboard boxes with images of Uncle Sam, Aquino, Roxas and other administration officials was toppled by women leaders to symbolize their disgust against the ruling system.
