8,000 OFWs in Hong Kong Back Protests to Oust Arroyo
 
Through their names and signatures, at least 8,000 OFWs in Hong Kong will participate in today’s (Aug. 6) protest action to remove Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from power.
 
“We want to add our collective voice calling for a change in the system of governance and the first thing to do is to remove the fake President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from power,” said Dolores Balladares, chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) and spokesperson of the OUTRAGE-HK (Overseas Filipinos Unite to Remove the Arroyo Government).
 
OUTRAGE-HK, a coalition of nearly 50 Filipino migrant organizations, Church groups and unions are calling for the immediate ouster of President Arroyo and the formation of a transitional council. The group yesterday dispatched more than 8,000 signatures they collected from OFWs in Hong Kong to the Philippines in time for today’s national day of protest.
 
“We are one with our families and compatriots back home who are marching today to seek the truth and to cleanse the government from corruption, greed and injustice,” Balladares stated.
 
For the past two Sundays, OUTRAGE-HK has been gathering signatures from OFWs in the territory who are in favor of GMA’s ouster. Last Aug. 28, the group was able to gather more than 6,000 signatures by setting up signature collection centers in four strategic locations in Central where OFWs congregate during Sundays.
 
According to Balladares, aside from the worsening poverty in the country under her leadership, OFWs are mostly angered by Arroyo’s absolute disregard of the plight of overseas Filipinos.
 
“She is responsible for the sufferings and deaths of many OFWs because of the lack of protection and welfare assistance from the government. Despite the recent wage cuts imposed on us here in Hong Kong, she continues to intensify collection of unreasonable and excessive fees,” Balladares stated. “Where is compassion in that?”

Balladares said that Arroyo’s stubbornness to cling to power despite the overwhelming evidences that she rigged the last presidential election has also infuriated many OFWs.
 
“In fact we have more than enough reason to call for her immediate ouster. What makes it more compelling is her stubbornness and lack of fear to lie and deceived the people,” Balladares said.
 
“For the first time in our history, we were allowed to exercise our right to vote through the overseas absentee voting only to be bastardized by Arroyo and her accomplices,” she averred.
 
Meanwhile, the group said they will continue to launch protest actions until Arroyo is forced to vacate the presidency.
 
“Time and again, we have proven that our distance is not a hindrance from participating in our country’s political affairs. From this part of the world, we will do everything we can to contribute to the efforts of the Filipino people to oust the inutile, ineffective and fake President Arroyo,” Balladares concluded.

Reference: Dolores T. Balladares
                   Chairperson
                   Tel. (852) 97472986
                   Aug. 6, 2005

Posted by Bulatlat

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