NEWSFLASH

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WOMEN LAUNCH "DEFEND THE PESO" MOVEMENT

Manila, Jan. 26 , 1998 - A group of women will lead a civic action movement to "Defend the Peso" by changing their dollars into Philippine pesos at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas tomorrow.

Women's movement leader Nona Ricafort and broadcast journalist Loren Legarda will be joined by Nelia Gonzales of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents and Justice Regina Benitez in showing an example which they hope will be supported by millions of Filipinos.

"We must unite in defense of the peso and to do this we must convert our dollars, no matter how much or how little we have, to fight and burn the hands of ruthless dollar hoarders who continue to undermine and sabotage the national economy," Ricafort said.

Ricafort is the chairman of the National Council of Women of the Philippines. The group's action is seen as having been inspired by Indonesian women who have been photographed lining up at banks to turn in their gold jewelry.

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