For Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540
Tels: 9316268, 9315001 loc7230; Jang Monte (Public Information
Officer) 0917-8226635
GABRIELA Women's Party Representative Liza Largoza Maza condemned
today the brutal murder of a member of the women's partylist
organization in April in Bohol, Philippines.
Inday Estorba, 31, GABRIELA Women's Party member and staff of the
Women's Development Center in Bohol was shot dead at close range today
at 3:00AM on 6 April 2006 at her home in Bgy. Panagtaran, Candijay, Bohol. Her
husband, Gerry remains in critical condition at the Tagbilaran
Hospital. The assailant, known to Inday's family and her neighbors as
Byron, is a known Philippine Army intelligence agent in the Barangay.
Inday has long been active in the women's organization in Bohol and is
a mother to two children aged 6 and 9 years old.
"With Arroyo's butcher Palparan setting his target for the elimination
of insurgents to September, Inday Estorba's death marks the
intensification of attacks against women militants and progressives
irrationally pinpointed by the government as rebels and insurgents.
Mothers are not spared."
"Political persecution of progressive partylists and organizations as
well as the opposition undoubtedly includes the annihilation of its
members and leaders. Inday Estorba, for being an active Gabriela
member and an advocate of women's rights has been identified as a
target of Arroyo's military," said Maza.
The recent killing comes in the midst of deliberations on the
Anti-Terrorism Bill. The Congress leadership hopes to approve the
terror bill this week.
"The terror bill completes the legislative infrastructure for Arroyo's
martial rule. This all encompassing license for abuse and
authoritarian rule is meant to silence critics, militants and the
opposition, as well as keep Mrs. Arroyo in power."
"One more life has been added to the long list of Mrs. Arroyo's
terror victims. I am appealing to my colleagues; these lives give us
more than enough reason to junk not just the terror bill but the
terror government that rams it in our throats."
