Gwen hit for calling militants "rebels"

Militant groups lashed back at Gov. Gwen Garcia for her all-out war policy against the rebel movement and her tagging them as fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army.

Officials of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno and Gabriela Women's Party yesterday held a press conference to deny the accusations of former rebel leader Pastor "Jun" Alcover and urge the provincial government to concentrate on providing social services to its constituents instead of all-out war against the leftist movement.

Bayan Central Visayas chairman Jaime Paglinawan said the governor is twisting the arms of the barangay captains to come up with resolution to support her by giving them projects if they do, otherwise tagging them as supporters and members of rebel movement if they don't.

He explained that Bayan and its allied groups became the target of the government in its all-out war against insurgents because they are critical against the government and their demands like resignation of President Gloria Arroyo and implementation of basic services have basis and projects for the benefit of the people.

Since Bayan ran as party-list group in 1998, he added that their group has been getting stronger, having the most number of party-list representatives in Congress.

Bayan expressed alarm over Garcia's declaration, adding that "the all-out war policy of the government places a grave threat on the people's civil rights."

Bayan Central Visayas President Paul Rodriguz urged Garcia to focus on solving the root problem of the insurgency like proper implementation of land reform, poverty and basic social services.

"Instead of militarist-fascist solution, she must implement the social services that are needed by her constituents," Rodriguez said.

He said that they are not legal fronts of the rebel movement but a legal organization that advocates for social transformation.

According to him, Garcia's recent announcement of all-out war against insurgency is in support of the national government's "Oplan Bantay Laya," which aims to neutralize all members of the leftist movement.

However, he explained that the program does not choose its target because they are two kinds of leftist groups -the armed groups and the groups that use legal means, to which Bayan belongs.

Kaira Zoe Alburo, provincial spokeswoman of Gabriela added that the government's all-out war policy and tagging progressive organizations as fronts of the rebels is a clumsy and irresponsible accusation.

She said that this puts women in dangerous situations because in Cebu alone, 54 women were already directly victimized by military. - Wenna A. Berondo