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National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC)
SIKLAB – Canada (Advance and Uphold the Rights of Overseas Filipino Workers)
Another Philippine Congressman llegally arrested by Arroyo government;
more Congress members threatened with illegal arrest
February 27, 2006
(Vancouver, BC) – A network of progressive Filipinos in Canada
condemned the latest reports from the Philippines about another Arroyo
critic, Congressman Joel Virador, being unjustly arrested by the
government. They decried the rapidly deteriorating situation in the
Philippines and called for action from Canadians and the Canadian
government.
“Since we heard about President Arroyo’s declaration of a state of
emergency on Friday, we have named the situation in the Philippines as
de facto martial law,” said Cecilia Diocson, Executive Director of the
National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC). “Coming on the
heels of the illegal arrest of Congressman Beltran on Saturday, the
latest reports of this second arrest of Congressman Joel Virador and the
threats of arrest against four other members of the Congress are another
sign of the desperation of the Arroyo government to cling onto power,”
she added. “She is a fake and immoral President and we support our
compatriots call for her to be ousted,” declared Diocson.
In Vancouver, the network plans to hold a press conference today on
Monday, February 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Kalayaan Centre, 451
Powell Street (between Jackson and Dunlevy).
Roderick Carreon, Chair of SIKLAB Canada (an organization of Filipino
overseas workers), called for more attention of the international
community and Canadians to the crisis in the Philippines. “Filipinos are
the third largest visible minority community in Canada, now numbering
450,000. We have been forced to come to Canada because of the
anti-people policies of the Arroyo government. We are dismayed at what
is happening in the Philippines and ask for the support of all
peace-loving Canadians and the Canadian government to put pressure on
the Arroyo government,” said Carreon. “Those unjustly arrested must be
immediately freed and the harassment of other democratically-elected
officials must be stopped,” he added.
President Arroyo’s government has been wracked by crisis since she came
to power in 2001. In 2004, tapes of her conversation with an elections
official surfaced and she barely survived an impeachment attempt. Since
that time, many Filipinos in Canada have viewed that President Arroyo
committed electoral fraud.
Filipinos in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto are set to rally today to
protest President Arroyo’s declaration of a state of emergency.
In Toronto, Filipinos will rally at 3 p.m., Monday February 27, 2006, in
front of the Philippine Consulate in Toronto, 161 Eglinton Avenue East
(Eglinton & Redpath).
*In Vancouver, a vigil rally will be held at 5 p.m. in front of the
Philippine Consulate office at 700 West Pender Street at Granville.*
Protest actions will also take place in Montreal.
Media coverage is cordially requested.
- 30 –
For more information, please contact:
• TORONTO: Joy C. Sioson (Philippine Women Centre of Ontario–
416-878-8772; Ricky Esguerra (Philippine Network for Justice and Peace –
416-418-1577; Marco Luciano (SIKLAB Ontario – siklab_ontario@yahoo.ca
<mailto:siklab_ontario@yahoo.ca>).
• VANCOUVER: May Farrales, Philippine Women Centre of BC: 604-215-1103
or cell: 778-389-4267 or e-mail: pwc@kalayaancentre.net
<mailto:pwc@kalayaancentre.net>
• MONTREAL: Roderick Carreon (SIKLAB - Quebec) at: 514-344-2709 or
Joanne Vasquez (Philippine Women Centre of Quebec) at: 514-659-4300 |
