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BABAE KA
(Babae para sa Kaunlaran)
http://babaekapartylist.tripod.com
PRESS STATEMENT
29 MARCH 2010
BABAE KA CONDEMNS ENTRY OF
TRAPOS AND MULTIMILLIONAIRES IN THE PARTYLIST RACE
In the strongest
words possible, the Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) condemns the entry of traditional politicians and multi-millionaires
in the partylist system as nominees of certain organizations.
While it is our stand that the establishment of partylist
organizations is the right of each and every Filipino as enshrined in the country’s Constitution, we view the entry
of these individuals as an affront on our democratic institutions and processes as well as highest law of the land.
We
say that members of traditional political parties especially those who have sought election or have been elected to positions
other than the party-list system must never be allowed to become nominees of any party-list organization.
The intent
of the Philippine Constitution is clear on that. We also say the same to those multi-millionaires claiming to represent a
party-list organization.
This gross anomaly in the party-list system is the result of the incompetence of the present
party-list representatives in Congress. The party-list elections started in 1998, and they have had more than ten years to
introduce amendments to the law but they never bothered simply because these individuals and organizations have benefitted
and are benefitting precisely from the present set-up that is filled with loopholes and ambiguities.
So far, we say
that the party-list system of representation is a total failure. Not because it wrong but because many of those who have been
given the chance to represent the various sectors of our society have failed in its duty.
It is a failure because
many of those who are now occupying seats as party-list representatives have become traditional politicians themselves. It
is a failure because of some leftist groups with self-serving ideological and political motives.
We say that this must
be rectified now! We say that the trapos and multi-millionaires must be disqualified as nominees! We say that the ideological
groups must now be exposed and opposed, and their accreditations must be cancelled!
It is high time to uphold the true
intent of the party-list system. It is high time to truly serve the different sectors and the Filipino masses.
Reference: Ruth
Vasquez, 09083920804
June 1, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
The Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) women’s party-list would like to express our gratitude to those who supported,
campaigned and voted for the organization, as well as to those who in one way or another sympathized with us during the most
trying times of the campaign.
We could say that it is a campaign filled with unexpected challenges. From the start we knew that it would be difficult
for us to gather the number of votes needed for a partylist to achieve its electoral objective especially given our meager
resources compared to other groups. But still we persist. We dared to campaign in the hope that it will be a principled one
— a campaign based on programs and platform and not on the number of posters, streamers and media advertisements.
However, we find out that it is more than that.
During the party-list campaign, mudslinging and black propaganda prevailed perpetrated by those party-list groups in power.
We never expected those leftist organizations to result to dirty tricks, lies and deceit but they did.
The results of the party-list election and the ongoing drama wherein various organizations have been accused of vote padding
are proofs that all the so-called charges against BABAE KA are fabricated by those with malicious and self-serving motives.
BABAE KA has been vindicated.
On the other hand, our issues against these organizations are true and would be proven, if the COMELEC will not give in
to pressures from these leftists.
To date, BABAE KA officers are still being harassed thru text messages. But as what we have stated before, BABAE KA will
never be cowed by the bullying tactics of these leftist organizations.
The experience in 2007 party-list election will serve as a valuable lesson for BABAE KA. We shall come back stronger, better
and much more prepared in 2010.
Again, thanks to all.
Mabuhay ang Kababaihan! Mabuhay ang Sambayanan at Pamilyang Pilipino!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
May 29, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
MANILA. – WOMEN’S partylist group Babae para sa
Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) has called on the Commission on Election (COMELEC) to defer the proclamation of Akbayan, Gabriela and
Anakpawis until after the resolution of the investigations which could result to the disqualification of the said groups.
“We have filed a disqualification case against Akbayan
for receiving foreign funds while a motu propio investigation of Gabriela and Anakpawis has been requested for violation of
certain provisions of the partylist law. These are serious matters that should be addressed immediately by the COMELEC,”
said Ruth Vasquez, president of BABAE KA.
The group alleged that Akbayan has received funding from the
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a foundation of German leftwing social democrats with an office in the country. It also alleged
that Gabriela and Anakpawis are members of partylist Bayan Muna coalition and thus must be disqualified for violating the
maximum 3 seats rule of the partylist system.
Under the law, a partylist organization may be disqualified
if proven that it received funding from foreign governments or foundations. Also, a partylist that gather 6% or more of the
total number of votes cast on the partylist system shall have the maximum 3 seats in congress.
“The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung is the benefactor of Akbayan
and its allied organizations including the Akbayan Youth. Akbayan has directly and indirectly benefited from the funding and
logistical support of this German foundation. It has directly and indirectly aided the electoral activities of Akbayan,”
Vasquez stressed.
She added that, “Gabriela and Anakpawis are members of
the Bayan Muna and Bayan coalition. In fact, the representatives of these groups – Liza Maza of Gabriela and Crispin
Beltran of Anakpawis – were the number 2 and 3 nominee-representatives of Bayan Muna in the House of Representatives
from 2001 to 2004. The registrations of both organizations circumvented the law and violated the maximum 3 seats rule.”#
May 21, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
BABAE KA hails Panlilio’s victory in Pampanga
Women’s partylist group Babae para
sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) has hailed the election victory of Catholic priest Ed Panlilio in the province of Pampanga calling
it as “a triumph of principles over money-politics”.
Ruth Vasquez, president
of BABAE KA, also described Panlilio’s win as “a peaceful revolution of the Cabalens against decades of gambling
and graft and corruption.”
BABAE KA also called
on the Filipino people to emulate the “Pampanga experience” by electing somebody “comparable to Father Ed
Panlilio” to the presidency in 2010.
“It is time for
real change in the country’s political landscape, and the Pampanga experience is something that is a very good example
that must serve as a starting point,” Vasquez said.
“The Filipinos must now be very discerning relative to the presidential candidates in 2010. That should become a battle
of programs of government and not of media advertisements,” Vasquez added.
BABAE
KA said that a law must be passed by Congress putting a limit to campaign expenses to enable candidates and parties with genuine
pro-people platforms to be at par with candidates with money and resources.#
BABAE KA blames leftist groups for low partylist turnout May 16, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
Leaders of women’s partylist group
Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) has pointed an accusing finger on leftist partylist organizations for the low turnout of
voters in Monday’s sector-based election, even as they vowed to pursue disqualification cases against Akbayan, Gabriela
and Anakpawis.
“These leftist organizations
are to be blamed for the very low voters awareness about the party-list system resulting to a low turnout of participation
in Monday’s synchronized national and local elections,” BABAE KA leaders said.
They added that these groups did not introduce any amendment to the partylist system law except for a proposal to increase
the maximum representation of a group from 3 to 6.
“These leftists did not even bother to lift a finger to amend the partylist law because they are benefiting from
the loopholes in the law. They want their own dynasties within the partylist system. Further, they did nothing to educate
the people on the partylist system,” BABAE KA added.
The group also said that leftist parties like Bayan Muna, Akbayan, Gabriela and Anakpawis are already assured of seats
in Congress not because of the popularity of these groups but due to the negotiated votes delivered by local government chief
executives.
BABAE KA chided the leftist organizations for “using gutter politics” instead of focusing on issues and
programs during the campaign.
“These leftists are the worst traditional politicians. They used all forms of black propaganda and dirty tricks
just to be able to destroy the credibility of other groups they perceived as against them,” they said.
BABAE KA said they would lobby for a bill introducing reforms in the partylist system including provisions against
dynasties and related matters.
“Just like any candidate, partylist organizations must have term limits. Further, the partylist system must be
reform based. It must also be explicitly stated within the law that pro-administration, anti–administration or neutral
organizations could participate so as not to confuse the public that the partylist system is only for anti-government groups,”
BABAE KA stated.
The group also vowed to pursue the disqualification cases it filed against Akbayan, Gabriela and Anakpawis.
“These groups violated the partylist system law and therefore
must be disqualified,” BABAE KA said.##
May 10, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
WOMEN’s partylist organization Babae para sa Kaunlaran
(BABAE KA) has described the disqualification cases filed against them by Akbayan and Gabriela as “blatantly unconstitutional,
anti-women and anti-civil servants” and called on government employees and women to reject “these leftist organizations”
in Monday’s sectoral election.
Ruth Vasquez, president
of BABAE KA, also called Akbayan and Gabriela to withdraw from the electoral race or face genuine disqualification cases.
“The partylist
election is not a partisan activity as it concerns the marginalized and underprivileged sectors, and women are considered
as such. Even government employees have the right to participate as they are allowed by the constitution to form unions and
associations for purposes not contrary to law,” Vasquez said.
She also described the
document being presented by Gabriela as “fake” and “fabricated.” “Gabriela’s so-called evidence is not authentic. It has no bar code or hologram of
the Office of the President. Furthermore, it is neither an original copy nor a certified true copy of the alleged document.
Clearly, this is fabricated document in the same breath as the ‘Protocols of Zion’,” Vasquez explained.
The Protocols of Zion is an antisemitic pamphlet that purports to describe a Jewish plot to achieve world domination. It is one of the most well known and discussed examples of literary forgery.
Babae Ka likewise chided
Akbayan, Gabriela and other leftist partylist groups for “having delusions that they have the support of the people.” “What happened at Parola on Wednesday was a
clear proof that the ordinary masses do not support these prophets of doom,” Vasquez said, referring to the incident
at the said compound wherein members of leftist partylist organizations were rejected by the residents of Parola compound
in Manila for campaigning against the presence of military personnel in the area.
Babae Ka charged that
most of the votes of these leftist partylist groups are negotiated with local politicians. “The people do not really support these leftists. In fact, the
sample ballots of these groups are being distributed by supporters of local candidates in various municipalities not by their
so-called organizational strength. Most of their votes will come from the command bases of the local candidates they have
talked to,” Vasquez stressed.
May 8, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
If
you are a woman or a man and looking for a job, you will always see in the advertisements, “female, 20 to 35 years old”
or “male, 25 to 40 years old” as one of the qualifications. Not anymore, that is if the proposal of women’s
party-list Babae para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka) will be enacted by the 14th Congress of the Philippines.
This proposed law will make it unlawful
for any employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or otherwise
discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because
of such individual’s age, gender and religion.
To be patterned after the ‘Age Discrimination in
Employment of 1967″ that was enacted by the United States Congress, even the printing of any employment advertisement
that will tend to be discriminatory to age, sex and religion shall be unlawful in this proposal.
Witch-hunt
May 5, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
As described
in wikipedia, witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and
mob lynching. Witch-hunts still occur in the modern era. In fact, in the Philippines it also occurs in politics
with both rightist and leftist extremists as the perpetrators.
Recently,
Akbayan, Gabriela and other extremist leftist organizations conducted a witch-hunt against so-called party-list “fronts”
of the administration. For months, these leftist mongrels barked on the wrong tree. We were accused, tried and
convicted before the bar of public opinion with Akbayan, Gabriela, Bayan Muna and their leftist groups acting as the accusers,
judges and juries.
The
truth has now surfaced and these extremists have been unmasked for this unjust and immoral witch-hunt against Babae Ka. For
these lies and disinformation, we demand that Akbayan, Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and their surrogates issue written
and verbal public apology.
But of course, they will never apologize. The leaders of these groups are so callous.
They even think of themselves as demigods and saviors of the universe.
May 4, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
As previously posted at the website http://babaeka.tripod.com, hereunder are the nominees of Babae para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka) Women’s partylist:
1. Rosalina Q. Dagami, nurse by profession, NGO and social worker, anti-corruption and anti-violence against women
advocate. Sally is the chairperson of Babae Ka.
2. Ruth T. Vasquez, community and religious leaders and organizer, anti-corruption advocate. Ruth is the president
of Babae Ka.
3. Corazon Tumang, businesswoman, cancer victim and patient, and health care advocate. Cora is the vice president
of Babae Ka.
4. Aida Sunga, housewife and community organizer. Aida is the coordinator for CAMANAVA of Babae Ka.
5. Ma. Luisa Lantin, ob gyne by profession, health worker and active urban poor doctor. Luisa is the treasurer of
Babae Ka.
All of them are private citizens. All of them are original officers of Babae Ka Women’s Partylist.
April 29, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
Manila, April
29. - Officers and members of women’s party-list Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) are set to flock to the Commission
on Elections (COMELEC) on Monday, April 30, to request the poll body to reveal the election spending of winning party-list
organizations during the 2004 elections even as they scored the whopping Php25 million electoral expenditure of Akbayan party-list.
Ruth Vasquez,
BABAE KA president, announced that the group will file a formal request-letter addressed to COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos,
Jr. to make public the 2004 election expenses specifically of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Akbayan and other party-list
organizations.
“Akbayan’s
Php25 Million expenses in 2004 should be an eye-opener to the Filipino people. This so-called cause-oriented party is not
a marginalized group but a multi-millionaire political party. They could not represent the underprivileged sectors,”
Vasquez said.
In an investigative
report published in a national broadsheet, it was mentioned that Akbayan spent the said amount during the 2004 national elections.
“We believe
the electoral spending of other leftist party-list groups are the same as the whopping Php25 million of Akbayan or even more
than that,” Vasquez said.
“Where did Akbayan get that much money? From the ten percent commission from projects that Sen.
Miriam Defensor-Santiago exposed? The people’s guess is as good as ours,” she added.
BABAE KA also
lambasted Akbayan for trying to muddle the real issues, saying that election spending is one of the focus that must be discussed
in the party-list system.
“The people have the right to know about the expenditures of these party-list
organizations that have representations in Congress. Basing from the propaganda materials they have so far, Akbayan, Bayan
Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis may have spent Php50 million each for this year’s campaign,” Vasquez noted.
April 28, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
The cat is out of the bag!
In the April 28, 2007 edition of The Philippine Star, Akbayan was exposed for having spent Php25Million during the 2004
electoral campaign.
For this year’s campaign, Akbayan’s spending will be double or even triple that amount, or around Php50 million
to Php75 million. Staggering isn’t it?
Ang yaman na po ng Akbayan. Pero marginalized daw sila at underprivileged.
But the question is: where in the hell did Akbayan get that much money? From the ten percent commission from projects that
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago exposed? Oh well, the people’s guess is as good as ours.
The people have the right to know. Dapat ilabas ang election spending nila. Dapat ilabas din ang election expenditures
ng iba pang nagkukunwaring maka-mamamayang party-list.
April 28, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
Rep. Lisa Maza is in big
trouble again. Already accused of various crimes against the state and the people, additional charges may be filed against
her for fabrication and falsification of public documents because of what she presented to media the other week.
We should ask Rep. Maza where she got the alleged documents. Are these documents authentic? Who gave it to her?
If the said documents really exist, where are the original copies or at least certified true copies? We have the right to
ask all these questions.
Rep. Masa has lots of explaining
to do. But she really would not because, as usual, her not so legitimate group is only after media mileage.
April 26, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
The net assets of Akbayan’s Etta Rosales is certainly more than 20 Million pesos.
She has 2 houses and lots in
Cubao and several lots in the provinces.
Is she marginalized?
Hello OUTGOING Congresswoman Etta, please answer that.
April 21, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
Leftist party-list group Gabriela’s
Akbayan-like accusation that women’s party-list Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) is a “front” of Malacaņang
is totally unfounded and very malicious.
The alleged document or “proof” that Gabriela showed to media – a letter supposedly
coming from an Asec. Marcelo Fariņas of the Office of External Affairs addressed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo requesting
for P5 Million to finance party-list groups, which, according to them, includes BABAE KA — is fabricated, a product of the dirty-tactics department of extremist hardliners.
In an official statement, Sally Dagami, BABAE KA chairperson, said that, “For the nth time,
we want the Filipino people to know that BABAE KA party-list is not a Malacaņang-backed organization. BABAE KA has not received
a single centavo from the government… Just like Akbayan’s, the accusation of Gabriela is another cheap-shot by
another leftist organization that is aimed to generate media projection at our expense. The document that this so-called cause-oriented
have shown publicly is a fabrication. BABAE KA knows nothing about this.”
All these accusations
are diversionary tactics – smokescreens to their miserable legislative work records. Her Royal Highness Lisa Masa of
Gabriela and the 3 Akbayan representatives – Rosales, Hontiveros-Baraquel and Aguja – failed to author even a
single bill that gets enacted into law.
But they have a ready-made
excuse for their failures. They have pointed an accusing finger on the majority congressmen for not acting on their proposed
bills. However, a review of the bills filed by these leftist solons would reveal the real score. All of their proposed laws
are not only poorly written but also haphazardly done. Parang hindi pinag-isipang mabuti. Ipinasok na masabi lang na may mga
panukalang batas.
Magaling lang talaga sila sa pagpuna at pag-akusa pero walang alam sa pagbibigay ng kagyat at wastong solusyon sa
mga suliran ng mga mamamayan, bayan at lipunan.
April 20, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
PRESS RELEASE
APRIL 21, 2007
“Another propaganda scheme
of another leftist organization”BABAE KA CATEGORICALLY DENIES GABRIELA’S
ACCUSATION
WOMEN party-list Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) today categorically denied that
it is a stooge of Malacaņang even as it challenged Gabriela party-list to file a formal complaint.
Sally Dagami, BABAE KA chairperson, said that, “For the nth time, we want the
Filipino people to know that BABAE KA party-list is not a Malacaņang-backed organization. BABAE KA has not received a single
centavo from the government.”
“Just like Akbayan’s, the accusation of Gabriela is another cheap-shot
by another leftist organization that is aimed to generate media projection at our expense. The document that this so-called
cause-oriented have shown publicly is a fabrication. BABAE KA knows nothing about this,” Dagami added.
Dagami stressed that she has never met an Assistant Secretary Marcelo Fariņas of
the Office of External Affairs.
“I do not know Mr. Fariņas. In fact, this is the first time I heard of his
name,” Dagami stated.
Ruth Vasquez, BABAE KA president, said that, “Mukhang isa na namang kuryente
ito, to borrow media’s parlance. Kinukuryente ng Gabriela ang media sa inanunsyo nila.”
“The document shown by Gabriela could be written by anybody. It could be a
product of the dirty-tricks department of extremist organizations. Wala kaming alam sa mga pinagsasabi nila,” Vasquez
explained.
Dagami challenged Gabriela to file formal complaints against BABAE KA “so that
we could also file formal charges against the leaders of this group.”###
April 18, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
Two very glaring declarations from the March 21 Press Statement of Babae Ka party-list are worth repeating:
“BABAE KA is not a government-controlled party-list organization.”
“As an organization, BABAE KA never received even a centavo of assistance from the Philippine government. “
Babae Ka is not a stooge of Malacaņang. It’s nominees are not government employees and are already known publicly,
contrary to the claim of Akbayan.
Oh yes, Babae Ka has government employees, even staff of the Office of External Affairs, among its officers and members.
It’s their Constitutional right to join any organization as long these are legal and does not preach violence or the
overthrow of duly-constituted authorities. Akbayan and other party-list organizations also have government employees as its
members, and some are even from the Office of the President Proper.
Babae Ka has not received funding from Malacaņang or any other government agency, as well as any foreign donor organization
or government. The same, however, may not be true in the case of Akbayan and its allied organizations.
Oh by the way, has anyone heard of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung? Maybe we could ask Etta Rosales?
April 18, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
As correctly mentioned by Babae Ka Chairperson Sally Dagami (she’s not an employee
of Malacaņang or any government agency as claimed by Etta Rosales) in the April 17 Press Release of the organization, Akbayan
has failed to file a “pro-people and pro-poor” amendment to the party-list system law.
What this self-proclaimed cause-oriented group
proposed was a bill seeking to increase the maximum number of seats for a party-list organization from three (3) to six (6).
Is this “pro-people and pro-poor”? Certainly not.
With this proposal, it seems that Akbayan wanted
to establish a political dynasty through the party-list system. Oh well… they really look like traditional politicians
pretending to be cause-oriented activists with this revelation.
More on Akbayan’s miserable legislative record next blogs… Abangan!
April 17, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
In his weblog, pedestrianobserver stated that, “Babae Ka is acting like a scorned
women (sic)…”
What a very sexist remark albeit grammatically
incorrect, politically wrong and very unscientific.
It is precisely because of persons like pedestrianobserver
that we in Babae para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka) persevere to uplift and struggle for women’s rights and welfare. We are tempted to say that he is an ugly and
fat s.o.b. but that would be too personal. At best, he is an unremolded lumpen who wanted very much to be a writer but was
rejected because of gross violations of the principles of grammatical construction.
This weblogger has been lawyering for Etta
Rosales. He claimed that Etta is a feminist. Duh!?! Etta Rosales a feminist? If she is, where are his pro-women bills? Etta Rosales is not pro-women, she is also anti-family.
Oh yes she is, just like her co-leaders in Akbayan. Too much readings of “The origin of the state…” by Engels
made them as such.
We would want to elaborate further on Etta
Rosales and her anti-family crusade but that would be exploring into her personal and ideological life. We believe that she
is still entitled to her chosen principles no matter how rotten those are. We live in a democratic country and no one should
be persecuted because of his or her political and/or ideological beliefs, be that pro-state or anti-state.
PRESS RELEASE
17 APRIL 2007
”Loopholes in the party-list law”
Babae Ka blames Akbayan’s inaction
Women’s party-list group Babae para sa
Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) today lambasted the Citizen’s Action Party (Akbayan) for its failure to push for “pro-people
and pro-poor” amendments to the party-list system law.
Sally Dagami, Babae Ka chairperson said that, “This self-proclaimed cause-oriented
group did not even bother to introduce a bill amending the party-list law because it is benefiting from the loopholes in the
law.”
Babae Ka also chided Akbayan for failing to author a legislation that would oblige party-list
groups to reveal their nominees publicly.
“Anim na taon na sila sa Kongreso. Nitong nakaraang tatlong taon ay tatlo pa ang kanilang kinatawan pero kahit
isang batas ay walang naipasa ang grupong ito. Ngayon sila daldal ng daldal samantalang noong may sesyon ang Kongreso ay hindi
sila nagpasa ng batas na magtatakda sa paglabas ng pangalan ng mga nominado,” Dagami said.
“Sa loob ng tatlong taon, yung isang kinatawan nila ay pitong panukalang batas lang ang nagawa. Yung isa naman
ay labing-tatlo, at yung isa dalawampu’t siyam nga pero puro kinopya lang naman sa mga panukala ng ibang mambabatas,”
Dagami added.
The Commission on Elections last week said that the party-list system is “vague
and flawed” and it should be amended.
Commissioner Rene Sarmiento lamented that the poll body is “taking all the punches”
in its decision not to make public the list of nominees when it is simply enforcing the law.
“The law is flawed. It should be re-examined because it is vague. I believe Congress
should pass a new law or amend the existing one to spell out the nuances of the party-list law,” Sarmiento said.
Sarmiento said Republic Act 7941, otherwise known as the Party-list System Act, only
requires nominees to “represent” and not necessarily to “belong” to the marginalized sector that they
claim to represent.
“What exactly does ‘to represent’ mean?” Sarmiento asked. “It
could mean that being an advocate is already enough. Another could argue that the nominee should be marginalized himself,
poor or financially distressed.”
Under Section 9 of RA 7941, the only requirements set for nominees are the following:
must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter; a resident of the Philippines for a period of not less
than one year immediately preceding the day of the election; able to read and write; a bona fide member of the party or organization
which he seeks to represent; and at least 25 years of age on the day of the election.
“Under the law, an
aspiring party-list group only needs to meet the requirements set forth in it to get accredited. However, some groups like
Akbayan has dubious intentions. They obviously want to take advantage of the loopholes in the law to gain media mileage. But
the question is whose fault was it? It’s really theirs,” Dagami said.#
PRESS RELEASE
16 APRIL 2007
“Kontra Daya is not a genuine election watchdog”
Babae Ka dares Guingona, Dizon to reveal affiliations of other partylist
groups
Women partylist group Babae para sa Kaunlaran
(Babae Ka) today dared the Citizens Against Fraudulent Elections or Kontra-Daya to bare affiliations of other party-list groups
even as it reiterated that it is not a Malacanang-backed organization.
“Babae Ka challenges former vice president
Teofisto Guingona and Father Joe Dizon of Kontra Daya to be fair to all concerned and reveal the ideological connections of
alleged leftist and rightist party-list organizations, as well as those identified with the opposition,” Sally Dagami,
Babae Ka chairperson.
“These leftist and rightist organizations
and those in the opposition are themselves capable of committing fraud through terrorism. Further, they also could destabilize
the government through various forms of actions,” Dagami added.
Dagami lamented that Kontra Daya is biased
against organizations not identified with the opposition.
“New party-list organizations not within
their influence are immediately labeled as pro-administration and bogus while those in the opposition are hailed as genuine
and pro-people, and that is unfair. They are not the only ones capable of serving the people. In fact, they have failed to
serve the best welfare of the people,” Dagami said.
Babae Ka, Dagami explained, will not be influenced
by Malacaņang and the opposition, as well as by leftist and rightist groups.
Ruth Vasquez, Babae Ka president, alleged
that Kontra Daya is not a genuine election watchdog but an adjunct of the opposition.
“This self-proclaimed coalition against electoral fraud is an alliance
of the opposition and leftist organizations. It is not a genuine electoral watchdog as it is not capable of conducting nationwide
grassroots level activities. It is a mere propaganda front with some second-rated personalities of the legal left and the
opposition,” Vasquez said.#
In the news…April 8, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
“For leaking names of party-list nominees”
Babae Ka to petition
for Akbayan’s disqualification
Partylist group Babae para sa Kaunlaran (Babae
Ka) today announced its plan to urge the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party
(Akbayan) for “leaking the names of the nominees of different party-list organizations in violation of Comelec rules
and regulations.”
Sally
Dagami, BABAE KA chairperson, said that, “The evidences against Akbayan are all documented by the various television
and radio stations, and the print media. Nobody in his or her right mind will deny all these.”
Last week, the Comelec
threatened with disqualification party-list groups who would reveal the names of nominees in the May 14, 2007 party-list system
of elections.
Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion
Borra warned that a sectoral party organization will be disqualified “after proper proceedings and due process and the
merit of the case” if it leaks the names of nominees.
Borra claimed that the identities of party-list
nominees should not be revealed or published “so as not to confuse the voters.”
He added that under the law, even the poll body is not allowed to reveal the names of the nominees since
they represent the party-list and not the candidates.
“Akbayan maliciously revealed the names of nominees of other
party-list groups to grandstand and serve its selfish motive of gaining media mileage at the expense of legitimate party-list
organizations,” explained Ruth Vasquez, president of BABAE KA.
BABAE KA, according to Vasquez, will file a formal request to disqualify
Akbayan. The group will also encourage other party-list groups to petition for the Akbayan’s exclusion in the party-list
system of election.
“Based on the official statement of the Comelec, Akbayan has
clearly violated the party-list system law and trampled upon the rights of legitimate party-list organizations. Thus, we call
on all party-list groups to unite for the purpose of disqualifying Akbayan, the violator of our democratic rights,”
Vasquez said. ###
April 4, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
“Rep. Rosales lied on national television”
BABAE KA ACCUSES
AKBAYAN OF SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION
Partylist group Babae para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA) has accused
Akbayan of using its position to discriminate against Filipino women even as it challenged Rep. Loreta Ann Rosales to issue
a public apology for spreading lies and disinformation about the organization.
“Filipino women have the Constitutional right to self-organization and
to campaign for legitimate issues and concerns. To question these rights is to discriminate against women. Akbayan’s
tirade against BABAE KA is violative of the Philippine Constitution and numerous laws of the land protecting women’s
rights,” said Ruth Vasquez, BABAE KA president.
“In a desperate attempt to save face, Rep.
Rosales even lied last week on national television that she has already met BABAE KA Chairperson Sally Dagami who allegedly
admitted to being employed with Malacaņang’s Office of External Affairs, which is farthest from the truth.” Vasquez said.
“All the 5 nominees of BABAE KA are not government employees,” Vasquez added.
BABAE KA officers also
revealed that Akbayan is a party-list coalition with members among civil servants including professors of the University of
the Philippines and union leaders in several government agencies.
“Unlike Akbayan, BABAE KA will never question the Constitutional rights of any public
servant. We will remain true to our principles and we will always respect the rights of our fellow Filipinos,” Vasquez pointed-out.
“We were accused, tried and
convicted before the bar of public opinion with Etta Rosales and her Akbayan hatchet-men acting as the accuser, judge and
jury. But the truth will surely surface and Akbayan will be unmasked for this unjust and anti-women witch-hunt. For these
lies and disinformation, Akbayan must issue a written and verbal public apology,” Vasquez
said. (April 2, 2007) ###
April 1, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
BABAE KA
HAILS DISMISSAL OF AKBAYAN PROTEST
The
Babae para sa Kaunlaran or BABAE KA party-list organization hailed the decision of the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) dismissing the request of Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales
to investigate at least 11 party-list organizations for alleged being “fronts” of the Arroyo administration, describing
the accusation as “unfounded and totally malicious.”
“The complaint was a product of Akbayan’s suspicious nature as a left-wing party-list coalition
composed of a hodgepodge of ideologies foreign to this country. At best, it is the product of a very wrong analysis of their
leaders on the real character of many newly-accredited party-list organizations,” BABAE KA
stated.
BABAE KA is a women’s sectoral party and one of the new party-list
organizations approved by the COMELEC. It seeks to participate in the May 14, 2007 through the party-list system.
“Akbayan’s bullying tactics will never work against legitimate people’s
organizations seeking to participate in the democratic and electoral processes of this country. Self-organization is a Constitutional
right of the various sectors of Philippine society even employees of the civil service,” BABAE KA
stressed.
BABAE KA has formally denied that it was a Malacaņang “front” and explained that it is an organization
existing since 2005 and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before being accredited by the COMELEC
as a sectoral party-list women’s group.
BABAE KA leaders also said that Akbayan itself has members from the Philippine Civil Service including professors
of the University of the Philippines (UP) and government employees affiliated with some independent public sector unions.
“We urge Akbayan to respect the rights of others to organize and be represented in
institutions of the Philippine government,” BABAE KA said.###
April 1, 2007 by BABAE KA Partylist
BABAE KA CONDEMNS AKBAYAN
“Accusation is a cheapshot aimed at gathering
media mileage at our expense”
The Babae para sa Kaunlaran or BABAE KA condemns in the strongest possible words the unfounded accusation
of Akbayan that the former is an “administration front”. This is nothing but a cheap shot aimed at gathering media
mileage at our expense and that of other legitimate party-list organizations.
BABAE KA is not a government-controlled party-list organization. BABAE KA is a legitimate organization existing
since 2005 and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before being accredited by the Commission on Elections
(Comelec). It submitted all the requirements and went through the legal process. It has organizational presence in majority
of the regions and provinces of the country.
As an organization, BABAE KA never received even a
centavo of assistance from the Philippine government. It will support programs of government that it deems as pro-people. However, BABAE KA will be critical of programs that shall negatively affect
Filipino women and the people, in general.
Unlike its accuser, BABAE KA has no political agenda or ideology
except to advance the rights and welfare of women and the Filipinos, as a whole. BABAE KA views itself as a centrist
organization and not a leftist or rightist coalition. BABAE KA does not have multimillion pesos in campaign funds like AKBAYAN but it has the logistics garnered from its officers
and members and the organizational network around the country that will guarantee a decent and possibly victorious campaign.
BABAE
KA urges AKBAYAN leaders to be true to their written program and to stop engaging in
gutter politics and mudslinging. BABAE KA also urges AKBAYAN to be brave enough and militant enough to admit its
mistake and apologize publicly.
For
more information, please visit the BABAE KA website at http://babaekapartylist.tripod.com.
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