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Ang Ladlad statement

Ang Ladlad slams anti-gay acts
in the NBN-ZTE issue


“We support the call of whistle-blower Jun Lozada for truth and transparency in the NBN-ZTE scandal, and we deplore the continued silence of Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri, Jr. on the issue,” said Danton Remoto, the chairman of Ang Ladlad, the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Filipinos.

“However, we are also uncomfortable with the scare tactics being made against Neri by people who promised they would spill the beans regarding his secret, personal life. On record, Senator Jamby Madrigal has threatened to do this in retaliation for what she said was Neri’s statement regarding the patriotic fund that supposedly besmirched her good family name. While we laud the strong stand taken by Sen. Madrigal to ferret out the truth, we are unhappy with the bullying and aggressive, if not crude, tactics being used to reach this noble goal.

“Ang Ladlad also slams former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos for his malicious snide remark asking why was Lozada always with Neri at the Wack-Wack Golf Club. This was the same Comelec Chairman who refused to accredit Ang Ladlad as a party list on the weak argument of lack of national constituency, saying that what we have are just “phantom voters” and that a group of drunkards might as well run for party list if Ang Ladlad is allowed to do so. This was also the same Abalos who figured in the overpriced election automated machines contract, as well as the 2004 and 2007 elections marred by blatant cheating. Under his controversial tenure, the reputation of Comelec plunged to an all-time low.

“We call on Chairman Neri to disclose everything he knows about the NBN-ZTE deal. He should step forward into the light and leave the shadows behind. In that shadowy world, talks are rife about his alleged homosexual relations that supposedly prevent him from disclosing everything he knows about the issue. In this way, homosexuality is used as a blackmail to prevent one from speaking the truth. Ang Ladlad is against this Gestapo tactic being done by the State.

“Ang Ladlad bravely fought for its accreditation in the last elections and revealed the racket on party list accreditation that was for sale. We continue to fight for the rights of Filipino LGBTs. We are asking Chairman Neri to reveal everything he knows about the NBN-ZTE deal. In this way, he will finally feel how it is to be free from one’s fears and bask in the pure light of truth.


Danton Remoto
danton.lodestar@gmail.com
danton_ph@yahoo.com

Comments

Unknown said…
how dare this Madrigal lesbian turn the direction of the wheel into this direction? and, what does she refer to as a hindrance, who Neri's lover is? I pray it's not FG.
Friday, February 22, 2008
the boomerang kid said…
hi danton,

pinoy in cambodia have also issued a statement on this issue (although walang gay angle). i sent a copy of the statement in an email.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
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