Protesters padlock Iloilo City urban poor office; 25 locked up

ILOILO CITY - Twenty-five employees of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) were locked up inside the building of the city agriculturist yesterday morning after members of the militant Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) nailed wooden planks to the main door of the building.

The militant group earlier had similarly padlocked the offices of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) which, it said, were "anti-labor."

Gina Celestino, head of the Urban Poor Development Cooperative, said a phone caller informed them that BMP members were on their way to padlock the building. The ICUPAO's 25 employees were taking part in a seminar.

She said the building's caretaker decided to close the main door and turn off the lights after he saw hundreds of men approaching the building.

"We decided to stay inside because we heard that they will destroy the ICUPAO office because (they said) it is anti-poor," she recounted.

Celestino called up the police who responded and freed the 25 employees. Lawmen found a streamer on the door, stating, "Notice to the Public: The ICUPAO has been padlocked for being anti-urban poor - BMP/KPNC."

Ruben Alfaro, BMP deputy secretary-general, said the ICUPAO, instead of looking into the concerns of the city's poor, has been used to demolish squatter areas where most poor families reside.

Urban poor leader Norden Lim added that the ICUPAO relocates squatters to areas lacking water supply and electricity.

After padlocking the ICUPAO office, the BMP members, numbering about 3,000, proceeded to Plaza Libertad to hold their main Labor Day program.