{"article":{"id":4596,"heading":"Picket at Philippine Consulate!!!","author":"AFIA","created":"2000-11-15 04:36:30","modified":"2013-11-10 23:36:43","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 06:36:43","article":"

what: Picket at Philippine Consulate!!!

when: Tues, Nov. 14, 12:00noon - 1:00pm

where: 3400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

who: by Alliance of Filipino Immigrants and Advocates-Southern California,

USA (AFIA-SC)

\"UNITED WITH PHILIPPINE GENERAL STRIKE!!!\"

\"Philippine President Estrada: RESIGN OR BE OUSTED!!\"

Novermber 14, 2000 - Today marks a significant time in history where the

people globally unite to call for the removal of Philippine President Joseph

Estrada by impeachment or ouster. Since President Estrada’s inauguration in

1998, the following “alleged” incidents occurred:

§ President Estrada received 550 million pesos ($11 million) in illegal

gambling payoffs from November 1998 to August 2000, known as the “jueteng”

scandal.

§ President Estrada embezzled 130 million pesos ($2.6 million) from tobacco

tax monies.

§ President Estrada incurred the highest ever foreign debt of $52.4

billion (March 2000). The country relies on the International Monetary Fund

for loans to pay off this debt.

§ During President Estrada’s term, the devaluation of the peso has

continued and is currently $1=50pesos.

In the Philippines today, the community is mobilizing in a national people’s

strike to halt Estrada’s corrupt presidency. In 42 provinces nationwide, the

time for a general strike against President Estrada is NOW! A broad people’s

movement is expanding and includes millions of workers, students & faculty,

peasants, and government officials. Even the Catholic Diocese and other

church denominations are joining the clamor for President Estrada’s

resignation.

On November 13, 2000, in less than 8 minutes, the House of Representatives in

the Philippines issued the articles of impeachment, approved them, and called

for a suspension of the session. Although attempts were made to derail the

process, the Senate has had enough of Estrada’s corruption.

President Estrada’s policies and corrupt behavior has led to the increased

oppression and victimization of Filipino migrant workers around the world.

These workers, who are denied protection by the host-country and by the

Philippine government, suffer human rights violations committed by overseas

employers and foreign governments:

§ Workers in areas such as Singapore and Saudi Arabia are often raped .

Domestic abuse is common for these overseas workers.

§ From Filipinos on death row in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to

mysterious deaths of Leonora de Guzman (Kuwait), Felicitas Til-Adan (Taiwan),

Elena Masinaring (Hongkong), and Edwin Dagok (Saudi Arabia), Filipino workers

are devalued and treated as a disposable workforce.

§ Filipino workers (such as Arcadio Basat, home healthcare workers, parking

attendants, and animators) in the US, are relegated to part-time or

temporary work and are denied of their benefits despite years of full-time

service .

JOIN US IN OUR CALL TO END CORRUPTION!

ESTRADA RESIGN OR BE OUSTED!

END U.S.-SUPPORT FOR ESTRADA!<\/p>\n","contact":"pilworker@cs.com","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"JOIN US IN OUR CALL TO END CORRUPTION! \r\nESTRADA RESIGN OR BE OUSTED!\r\nEND U.S.-SUPPORT FOR ESTRADA!","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2000\/11\/4596.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}