STATEMENT from the NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PHILIPPINE WOMEN IN CANADA (NAPWC)
Statement

National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada Condemns Congress Blast

November 16, 2007

The National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada strongly condemns the blast that hit the House of Representatives, Tuesday night. We join in the call of Gabriela Women's Party, and the people’s organizations under BAYAN-Philippines, in demanding an independent investigation be conducted immediately and that perpetrators are brought to justice.

This serious incident emphasizes for our Filipino kababayans abroad that the chronic political crisis in the Philippines is worsening under the cuurent US-Arroyo regime.

We recall that just over one year ago, Gabriela Representative Liza Maza along with the other ‘Batasan 6’ elected representatives were detained in the House of Representatives for two months threatened with arrest for baseless rebellion charges.

We are aware that the blast left at least four dead, including Marcial Taldo, driver and staff of Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan, Basilan Rep. Whab Akbar and Maan Abustanilo, staff of Negros Oriental Rep. Henry Teves and Julasiri Hayudini, staff of Rep. Akbar. We send our deepest condolences to their families.

We also know that Rep. Ilagan suffered a wound in her right thigh, and abrasions on her back, neck and face while Mr. Ismael Lim, driver and staff of Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza was wounded in the abdomen, arm and nape. We hope for their quick recovery.

As overseas Filipino women, we hope that a thorough investigation will be conducted, to properly analyze what were the motives and who were the targets in such an attack. While early pronouncements have been stating that the target was Rep. Akbar, we join the call to determine whether the blast was also aimed at Rep. Ilagan, a known Arroyo critic and staunch migrant worker advocate, or if the blast was a diversionary tactic to cover up the impeachment issue and the Senate probe on the distribution of cash gifts to congressmen and governors at Malacañang Palace on Oct. 11.

We join BAYAN in the call on the Arroyo government, not to use this tragedy as an excuse to further curtail civil liberties, or justify the use of emergency measures and the declaration of martial law in the Philippines. We also guard against the incident being used as a justification for further military intervention by the US under the guise of the “war on terror.”

We stand side-by-side with Gabriela Women's Party and the movement in the Philippines, and will not allow actions such as this, to intimidate nor deter us in the struggle for Filipino women's liberation and the liberation of the Filipino people!

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