MALAYBALAY City–The women’s rights advocate Gabriela yesterday congratulated Pia Wurtzbach for winning the Miss Universe crown but took exception to her stance in favor of US military presence in the country.
In a statement, Gabriela said it “joins the Filipino nation in celebrating Ms. Pia Wurtzbach’s victory… We commend her for raising the issue of HIV-Aids as one problem that needs to be addressed globally.
“However, we view that her position in favor of US military presence in the country contradicts her concern for humanity. We hope she will have a change of mind and heart on this issue by learning the history of our nation under US colonial rule.”
Gabriela asked Wurtzbach to examine the “brutal killing of Jennifer Laude and other criminal abuses of US military in the Philippines and other countries and be a powerful voice to seek justice for the victims.”
Laude, a transgender, was found dead in a motel room in Olongapo City in Oct. 11 last year. The suspect in the killing, US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, was charged with murder but was convicted of homicide.
Progressive groups have cited Laude’s case as another ground for resisting US military presence.
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