Women power in House: 80 percent for GMA

Twenty-eight of 35 female members of the House of Representatives, or 80 percent of woman legislators, have expressed support for President Arroyo who is fighting an uphill battle against allegations of poll fraud.

The women lawmakers led by Mindoro Occidental Rep. Amelita Villarosa expressed their full support for Mrs. Arroyo before Congress in plenary session puts to a vote next week the House justice committee decision junking the three impeachment complaints against the President.

"On behalf of this group, I say that we recognize the President’s significant contributions to women empowerment in government," Villarosa said.

"There are more women in the Cabinet now than at any time in our political history," she added.

The Mindoro lawmaker revealed their group will vote in favor of Mrs. Arroyo, committing the support of six political parties and one party-list representation.

On the other hand, seven of the women legislators supported the impeachment complaint. They are Cebu Rep. Clavel Martinez, Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, Batanes Rep. Genedina Abad, Las Piñas City Rep. Cynthia Villar and Darlene Custodio of South Cotabato.

Villarosa said Mrs. Arroyo is widely appreciated in the countryside for her micro-finance program, which empowered more than a million entrepreneurs – mostly women – by enabling them to set up income-earning businesses.

"We are solidly supporting the President’s 10-point agenda and program of government to advance the anti-poverty program and lift the national economy," she said.

Among those who expressed their support for the President are Reps. Angelica Amante of Agusan del Norte, Trinidad Apostol of Leyte, Belma Cabilao, Zamboanga del Sur; Carmen Cari (5th district, Leyte), Nanette Castelo-Daza (4th District, Quezon City);

Faysah Dumarpa of 1st district, Lanao del Sur; Glenda Ecleo (1st Dist., Surigao del Norte), Eileen Ermita-Buhain (1st Dist., Batangas), Janette Garin (1st Dist., Iloilo), Milagros Magsaysay (1st Dist., Zambales), Reylina Nicolas (4th Dist., Bulacan), Remedios Petilla (1st Dist., Leyte), Herminia Ramiro (2nd Dist., Misamis Oriental).

Others include Reps. Victoria Reyes (3rd Dist., Batangas), Lorna Silverio (3rd Dist., Bulacan), Maryann Susano (2nd Dist., Quezon City), Judy Syjuco (2nd Dist., Iloilo), Uliran Joaquin (1st Dist., Laguna), Josefina Joson (1st Dist., Nueva Ecija), Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (3rd Dist., Masbate);

Corazon Malanyaon (1st Dist. Davao Oriental), Nerissa Soon Ruiz (6th Dist., Cebu), Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa (Lone Dist., Occ. Mindoro), Ana York Bondoc (4th Dist., Pampanga), Emmylou Talino Santos (1st Dist., North Cotabato), Cecilia Carreon (3rd Dist. Zamboanga del Sur), Leonila Chavez (party-list Butil), and Consuelo Dy (Lone Dist., Pasay City).

Sixteen of the women lawmakers are from the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, five from Kampi, and the others are from the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party.