Philippines Update

May 5, 2006

• Congresswoman Liza Maza and Tita Lubi, of the Gabriela Women's Party (GWP) have been formally charged with rebellion, along with 46 others.  Among the acts for which the 48 are being held responsible was the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing that nearly wiped out all the political opponents of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.  Maza was 14 years old at the time and two other accused congressmen, Teddy Casino and Joel Virador, were four and two years old.  Quite a puzzle, that one. 
• The lead prosecutor in the rape case against the four US marines resigned to protest the downgrading of charges against three.  Today, the judge hearing the case reinstated the rape charges. 
• At commencement exercises at the Cavite State University, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was heckled by graduating student Theresa Pangilinan who, in cap and gown, unfurled a banner and shouted for Macapagal-Arroyo's ouster.  The student is now being investigated by a government education committee. 
• Pickets in support of the Gabriela Women's Party and GABRIELA were held in India, Indonesia, and Thailand.  In Portugal, women delegates from 17 countries at the Women's International Democratic Federation passed a resolution calling for the dropping of charges.  The GABRIELA Network USA-initiated petition (freeliza@gabnet.org <mailto:freeliza@gabnet.org> ) for dropping charges against Maza and her co-accused has garnered an initial 5,000 signatures, with women from 23 countries and 40 US states signing.