National Alliance for Philippine Women in Canada
Statement

Filipino women in Canada decry illegal arrest of two young women; Condemn violence against women and abuses of human rights

15 September 2006

The National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada expresses our grave concern and anger at the recent illegal arrests of two young Filipina organizers, Aprilyn Perido and Eloisa Tucay in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the evening of September 4, 2006.

Perido, 26, organizer of the provincial chapter of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) and Tucay, 24, a student activist of the progressive organization Anakbayan (Youth of the Nation), were nabbed in front of the Wesley Divinity Seminary School of the Methodist Church at 6:25 p.m. by police without any warrants of arrest. 

To date, the PNP have denied the arrests of the two women, though according to reports, they are being held at the PNP Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG) in Cabanatuan City.

Perido, member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the youngest daughter of UCCP pastor Virgilio Perido, was among the nine complainants who testified before the public inquiry of the Commission on Human Rights on August 24 in Angeles City.  

The illegal arrests of Perido and Tucay are blatant violations of the human rights and civil liberties of women fighting for national democracy in the Philippines. These abductions show that even young women are not spared from violence and human rights abuses.

Since 2001, there have been 752 killings and 181 abductions under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government, including the killings of 78 women. Fresh in our memories, last July, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, students at the University of the Philippines and members of the progressive youth organization, League of Filipino Students, were abducted and remain missing until this day.  

As Filipino women living in Canada, we are outraged over the growing number of politically-motivated killings, abductions and harassment of our women, children and men. At the same time, we are also inspired by the many brave Filipino women who continue to struggle against fascism and state terror despite these ongoing attacks.

We call on Philippine and Canadian government officials to condemn these abuses. We also call on all peace-loving Canadians and progressive women to unite in solidarity with Filipino women and the Filipino people who are struggling for national democracy and a just and lasting peace in the Philippines. Join us in various protest actions on the internationally-coordinated day of action to call for a stop to the killings in the Philippines on the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 2006.

Uphold the dignity of human life!
Stop the killings, harassment, illegal arrests and other violations of human rights of Filipino women!
No to Arroyo’s “All-Out War”!
Oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo!

September 15, 2006

Statement issued by:

National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada:

Philippine Women Centre of BC
Philippine Women Centre of Manitoba
Philippine Women Centre of Ontario
Philippine Women Centre of Quebec
PINAY (Montreal)