Stop the Attacks on Human Rights Defender
GABRIELA USA strongly opposes the ongoing attacks against the leaders of Karapatan, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, and GABRIELA Philippines. The former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. filed a petition to revisit the perjury case he initiated against 10 human rights defenders, despite the Quezon City Municipal Trial Court’s decision to drop the charges against them earlier this year. GABRIELA leaders, Gert Libang and Joms Salvador were among the 10 that were charged. Under the current Marcos administration, the country continues to suffer from inflated prices of basic commodities, steady oil price hikes, and massive unemployment. The Filipino masses are left to navigate the extreme economic crisis, while the President continues to take trips abroad. In the proposed National Expenditures Program $25.3M will be used for Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s local and foreign missions and state visits, whereas the Overseas Filipino Welfare program is only budgeted for $1.1M. GABRIELA demands for more budgeting to be allotted to social services, not to further pork barrel and corruption.
It is progressive organizations like GABRIELA that are critical of the state and call for genuine social change. Esperon alongside other members of the rich elite are threatened by people’s collective power to fight back and will implement state fascism to continue to dominate over the toiling masses.
“We condemn these cowardly attempts to delegitimize growing people’s organizations across the Philippines and abroad. Esperon’s actions, the attempt to disqualify Gabriela Partylist, and Apollo Quiboloy’s SMNI news platform are all part of the larger scheme in Marcos Jr.s’ fascist offensive to deceive and suppress the people. Marcos Jr. is no different than his father Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who also used violent tactics to instill fear and silence for the sake of ushering in neoliberal policies that only benefit foreign countries”
We affirm that activism is not a crime and we call on all supporters of GABRIELA and other progressive organizations to release statements in solidarity, demand an end to the attacks on human rights defenders and join us in the fight for genuine liberation in the Philippines!
Defend Filipino Women, Defend GABRIELA!
Call to Actions
Take a photo with the following calls and share on social media:
Affirm the acquittal, Defend the Defenders!
Stop the attacks on Filipino people!
Defend Filipino Women, Defend GABRIELA!
End state fascism, END US IMPERIALISM!