Members of the women’s group Gabriela on Wednesday staged protest outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila to demand the immediate proclamation of Gabriela Women’s Party as the real representative of women in Congress.
The protest came after the Comelec en banc’s decision to cancel the registration of the Duterte Youth Party-list, which they described as a "bogus" group serving the interests of the Duterte family.
“Katarungan, wasto ang desisyon na yan. Sapagkat alam natin kung ano ang duterte Youth. Wala itong naiambag sa mga kabataan, lalong higit sa mga kababaihan. Kung hindi ang paninira sa tunay na representante ng kababaihan sa Kongreso ang Gabriela Women's Party at iba pang mga partido sa ilalim ng Makabayan Coalition,” said former Gabriela party representative Liza Maza.
"Kailangan lubusin ng Comelec ang kanyang awtoridad para reportahin ang party list system. Sapagkat, alam naman natin marami pang bogus na party list na nandyan nakaupo sa Kongreso ngayon," she added.
Maza emphasized that the Comelec should fully exercise its authority to cleanse the party-list system.
“Mga hindi represante ng mamamayan na naghihirap sa ngayon naghihirap sa ilalim ng baha, naghihirap sa baha ng kahirapan. Narito ang malakas na sigaw ng mga kababaihan, proclaim Gabriela Women’s Party now,” she declared.
One of the protesters stressed Gabriela’s record of accountability, as the party holding corrupt politicians to account, going after crooked contractors in collusion with lawmakers, senators, and even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself inside Malacañang
"Hinahabol ang mga kurat na politiko. Hinahabol ang mga korap na kontraktor kasabwat ng mga kongresista, mga senador at ni BBM mismo sa loob ng Malacanang," she said.
"Kaya nararapat na ngayon mismo, hinahamon natin si Comelec Chair Garcia at ang buong en banc na huwag nang patagalin pa ang proklamasyon sa Gabriela Women's Party ngayon mismo," one of the members added.
The call was echoed by other members, who stressed the importance of genuine representation in Congress.
“Para sa tunay na representasyon ng babae, bata, LGBT at bayan sa loob ng Kongreso,” one member said.
Police forces were also deployed at the site as the gathering took place.
