[APWSLMembers 508] Persecuted party lists top survey, proof of mass support and political credibility

[KMU International Department]

>From the office of Anakpawis Party List Nominee JOEL MAGLUNSOD
ANAKPAWIS Headquarters: 56 K-9 Street, West Kamias, Quezon City
Tel. Nos: (02) 4269442, (02) 4359402 Email: 
anakpawis2003 at yahoo.com

NEWS RELEASE
March 10, 2007

Persecuted party lists top survey, proof of mass support and political
credibility

Anakpawis nominee Joel Maglunsod said that despite the continuing
harassment against leaders and members of progressive partylists,
Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Womens Party are on top of the 
latest
surveys conducted by SWS. Anakpawis, even with its first nominee 
Cong.
Crispin Beltran still in incarceration, garnered 9.4% in the survey or
equivalent to three Congressional seats.

"To show our determination in resisting all the harassment and attacks
initiated by the Arroyo government against progressive party lists,
Anakpawis will push through with the filing of our nominees on March
12, Monday at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Cong. Crispin
Beltran will be with us."

"We expect to make good in the elections, we are working hard on it.
We are not afraid of the threats and harassments. The public's
continuing support to us is enough to embolden us in getting through
this situation. We will surpass all these trials and be victorious in
the end."

Maglunsod said people are welcoming them whenever they are going 
to
campaigns and activities. "Ordinary people are not afraid of us,
especially workers, peasants and poor people. They often tell us their
problems and what they like us to do if we get elected in Congress,"
said the labor leader who is now in the Panay region campaigning for
Anakpawis.

He said that attempts from Malacanang and the military to discredit
and disqualify Anakpawis and other progressive party lists will not
succeed. We are working harder in the campaign and in advocating
people's rights and welfare. In the provinces, workers are denouncing
regional wage boards for diminutive wage adjustments. We will continue
to assert the P125 across-the-board wage increase."

"We are aware of the demolition job that Malacanang is spearheading
against Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and other staunch Arroyo critics. We
were initially informed that the demolition campaign is being run by a
group close to First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Who knows, maybe DND
Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor is also a part of this demolition
team. We are still gathering more information about this. But it is
likely that the government is behind all these, only the Arroyo camp,
the AFP have the motives and machinery to launch an all out demolition
campaign against us," Maglunsod said. ###