Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)

August 10, 2007

FILIPINO VETERANS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS CONDEMN HARRASMENT OF US-BASED GABRIELA NETWORK LEADERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Los Angeles—Different Filipino World War II veterans and community organizations in Los Angeles today condemned the harassment perpetrated by the Philippine authorities against GABRIELA Network (GABNet) USA National Chairperson Dr. Annalisa Enrile.

Dr. Enrile was barred from boarding her return flight to the United States. This act of harassment occurred on the culminating day of the 10th bi-annual Women’s International Solidarity Affair in the Philippines, a conference that draws hundreds of women from all over the globe and covers issues such as sex trafficking and other international human right violations.

The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), the Society of Guerillas and Scouts Inc (SGSI) and other community organizations like the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC), Philippine Peasant Support Network (Pesante)-USA and other groups were outraged by the violations of Dr. Enrile’s rights.

Commander Peping Baclig and Jack Vergara, both veterans and community leaders were appalled that the Philippine government will subject one of the rare doctoral degree holders in the Filipino community in the Untied States to such inquisition. Dr. Enrile is a very staunch supporter of veteran’s recognition, equity and justice in the United States even when she was still a student.

A professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work, Dr. Enrile and She was returning to the U.S. after chaperoning a delegation of USC Masters students attending the conference and visiting with local Philippine non-profit organizations. Officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport advised Dr. Enrile that she must report to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. She was informed that she had been placed on the Philippine government’s watchlist on July 25, 2007, two days after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address.

GABRIELA Network is a Philippine-US solidarity network that consists of several U.S. chapters. Members of GABRIELA Network work closely with their sister organization in the Philippines on issues affecting Pilipina Women and Children.

The detention of Dr. Enrile, a natural born citizen of the United States, is part of the continuum of harassment and violence GABRIELA women in the Philippines and abroad have faced under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime.

Also reportedly on the watchlist are GABNet USA leaders Judith Mirkinson and Ninotchka Rosca. Dr. Enrile, Ms. Mirkinson and Ms. Rosca were in the Philippines, along with other GABNet members, officers, and USC students for the 10th bi-annual Women's Solidarity Affair in the Philippines. The

GABNet 3 also led the GABNet-co-sponsored human rights fact-finding mission to the Philippines with a group of US women lawyers in May-June 2006.

The treatment of Dr. Enrile, of the GABNet 3, however, had the opposite effect. Leaders and members of Filipino American community are even more determined, refusing to be silenced by such fascist measures. # # #?