Militant women of Gabriela surprised police when they conducted a lightning rally near Gate 7 of Malacañang Palace this morning to protest the Aquino administration’s mishandling of Sabah as well as the “rape of the motherland.”

A scuffle ensued after members of Manila Police District shoved the protesting women away from Malacañang’s Gate 7. According to Joms Salvador, secretary general of Gabriela, at least 10 of their members were injured and two were arrested.

The Gabriela members were already in organized retreat when they again were suddenly attacked by the cops, who attempted to arrest Salvador.

The two, identified as Eule Bonganay of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns and Abigail Extremadura of Gabriela, were helping to free Salvador from police when they were arrested and handcuffed.

As of writing, the two are still in Manila PD headquarters for inquest proceedings.

The group assailed President Aquino’s handling of the Sabah crisis that led to several deaths and the grounding of the USS Guardian in Tubbataha Reef. Gabriela said Aquino violated Philippine sovereignty and patrimony.

“The Aquino administration’s three-year rule has a track record fully decked with his grovelling before foreign interests that compromised or severely damaged the welfare of the nation and people,” said Salvador.

Salvador cited the constant violations by the US military of Philippine laws, notably the destructive intrusion into the Tubbataha Reef, and the most recent stonewalling of the Sultanate of Sulu’s efforts to reclaim Sabah from Malaysia.

“Aquino has become the shameless spokesperson for foreign governments. Instead of acting like the President of the Philippines, Aquino has become the defender and ambassador that they can depend on to defend and justify their rape and plunder of our natural resources, and even dispose Filipino citizens to their mercy,” Salvador added.

The group vowed to mobilize thousands of women tomorrow for the International Women’s Day.