NEWS RELEASE
26 July 2008

Bangsamoro adheres to stand vs. GMA’s another round of lies

COTABATO CITY – Moro groups and a youth alliance here held a joint press conference to arrange its own State of the Nation Address (SONA) – the State of Bangsamoro Address.

The Suara Bangsamoro, Kawagib and Kilos Kabataan! unite to belie Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ‘development program’ that proves rhetoric to ears of the Bangsamoro people.

Bai Ali Indayla, Kawagib’s spokesperson, said the lives of Bangsamoro and Filipino people remains impoverish during GMA’s eights years in Malacanang cited Social Weather Station (SWS) survey which record 50% of the 88.9 million Filipinos are ‘self-rated poor’ and 14.9 million families experience hunger everyday.

“People who feel they are poor are increasing everyday. Some could only afford to eat once a day due to soaring prices of basic commodities. But, it is very saddening that while many Filipinos experience hunger, Gloria and her cohorts are busy spending ‘rest and recreations’ abroad and using taxpayers’ money,” Indayla said.

Indayla added that cases of human rights violations against the Bangsamoro people are also increasing due to continuous militarization in the rural areas and the state’s anti-terrorism policy.

Further, Blah Lawan, vice-chairperson of Suara Bangsamoro in Cotabato City said, “We could no longer endure a ruthless, corrupt and fraudster president. We unite to oust Gloria. She has no heart for the Bangsamoro people.”

The Kilos Kabataan! also supports GMA’s ouster for being neglectful to student and youth’s agenda on education and social services.

Michael Angelo Lucas, Kilos Kabataan! convenor said, “GMA’s foreign-serving policies caused commercialization of education. Due to relentless tuition fee increases, many youth had stopped schooling. GMA gives freedom to school owners and administration to implements tuition and miscellaneous increases anytime they wanted to.”

“We want GMA to be held accountable for all the lies and violations she committed to the Bangsamoro people. The crimes she had done and the crises she brought are sufficient grounds to overthrow her,” the groups closed.