PM Stands with Senator Risa Hontiveros Against Vilification by Quiboloy Camp

 

Photo from Daily Tribune

Partido Manggagawa stands with Senator Risa Hontiveros against the malicious attacks orchestrated by the Quiboloy camp, as the Committee on Women and Children resumed its public hearing yesterday on the latter’s alleged criminal offenses.

 

The group asserts that the arrest of Quiboloy is a fitting commemoration of women's month. Tomorrow women members of Partido Manggagawa are joining two mass actions; at the Senate in the morning and at Mehan Garden in the afternoon.

 

Senator Risa hoped that the man at the center of the controversy finally submits under the jurisdiction of the Senate for investigation, in aid of legislation. Quibuloy failed to show up again, prompting the committee to finally issue a warrant of arrest against the self-appointed son of god.

 

But in a bid to defend himself in absentia, Quibuloy sent his followers to the Senate yesterday to demand Senator Risa's resignation instead. His followers claim to seek justice for what they perceive as unjust treatment of their leader by both the US and Philippine governments. Yet, Quibuloy himself conveniently avoids facing the same demands for justice within his own kingdom. In retaliation, he stoops to vilifying the individual who dares to subject him to public scrutiny. 

 

Here he crossed the line long held and defended by the women’s movement.

 

Targeting a champion of women's and children's rights like Senator Risa Hontiveros is an affront to all women. It is deeply concerning to witness a cult leader, who shirks accountability for his crimes by hiding in the shadows, manipulating his female followers to shield him from scrutiny, and tarnishing the reputation of a prominent female leader. This behavior exposes him for what he truly is: an incorrigible male supremacist.

 

Senator Risa may stand as the lone woman in the Senate on this contentious issue of justice, but she stands fortified by the unwavering support from grassroots women across the nation. United in solidarity, this battle is already won, with or without Quibuloy's human body landing in jail. 

06 March 2024

Ping, anti-women and pro-capitalist

"Ping Lacson's statement was not only anti-women, it's pro-capitalist, too. Not unexpected from a misogynist with a need to prove his macho credentials," said PM Secretary-General Judy Ann Miranda. 

This was in reaction to Lacson's statement disparaging the proposed legislation on menstrual leave. This year, Spain passed a law granting women workers paid menstrual leave for three days a month with the option to extend it to five days. Studies reveal half of women experience dysmenorrhea for one or two days and for some, the severe pain hinders their ability to work and function normally.  

          

"We are all too aware that capitalists have fought against benefits for women's reproductive rights and well-being since the dawn of the industrial revolution. And here comes Ping Lacson, a former legislator who has a lot of followers, ridiculing women's demand for menstrual leave, seemingly the 21st century spokesperson of capitalists against women's right to reproductive health and well-being," continued Miranda.

Lacson's statement was likewise thoughtless and careless. Indeed, one concrete measure of how sincere legislators are is how they view and speak about women's rights and well-being.

25 March 2023

Judy Miranda 

Women’s Month celebration ruined by Duterte’s dirty hands

Aside from the killings of trade unionists and activists, the country’s celebration of Women’s Month is ruined by Duterte’s dirty hands, the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) said in a statement.

“Definitely, that dirty act comes from a sexist mind,” declared PM Secretary General Judy Miranda.

Miranda insists that President Rodrigo Duterte’s act constituted sexual harassment of their kasambahay as the video clearly showed he was in the act of touching her. He was unsuccessful only because she stepped back just in time to avoid the contact.

PM likewise condemns Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s defense of the president saying it was just a joke, and that she’s been with the family since young and is used to these sorts of jokes from him.

“Time and again, we have deplored the President for his sexism extending to misogyny for degrading women in the way he speaks and acts. This is another similar incident that we cannot just disregard the way Roque wants everyone to do,” explained Miranda.

The fact that the video was uploaded without regard to the sexual harassment act, with such an act done right on the face of her wife, and so with the spokesperson justifying the harassment, are totally unacceptable in a society that claims to respect and guarantee women’s rights.

The group said it’s a double whammy against women, especially among working women represented by the president’s kasambahay, who are facing so much difficulties during this pandemic because of government neglect and incompetence. 

March 30, 2021