MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested two labor leaders before noon yesterday after they staged a demonstration together with six others in a subdivision in Rodriguez, Rizal to mark Labor Day.
Authorities said Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) vice president Lito Rastica and labor leader Renaldo Dulay were nabbed for violating guidelines on public gatherings during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
While following strict social distancing measures, the demonstrators staged a protest inside Eastwood Subdivision at 9:30 a.m., holding placards to commemorate Labor Day.
Probers said the six companions of the duo escaped when the policemen arrived.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) had earlier warned activists that they would be arrested and ordered to pay fines if they hold protest actions on Labor Day that would violate lockdown protocols.
The BMP denounced the arrest of their members and demanded their immediate release.
“Why is it that when the rich can freely go outdoors and queue to buy Starbucks or other non-essential goods, they are not arrested? But when workers call for mass testing and enough financial aid, they are jailed immediately!” the BMP said in a statement.
The BMP said the inquest proceedings against the labor leaders will be on Monday.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Labor Day was generally peaceful and orderly nationwide despite isolated incidents in some parts of the country.
Banac said groups generally heeded the call of authorities against holding mass gatherings during the holiday associated with protest action for worker’s rights.
He added that normally held public assemblies and mass actions will not sit well with public health protocols to contain COVID-19.
The police spokesman lauded the move of many labor and transport organizations that held their mass action online, such as on Zoom and Facebook where protests were safe, orderly and without risk to public health.
The PNP said that while it “upholds with highest respect the freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly,” it appealed for understanding to comply with the strict enforcement of ECQ.
Central Luzon police director Brig, Gen. Rhodel Sermonia said there were no rallies staged by workers in the region.
Sermonia said the regional police office of Central Luzon conducted relief operations to about 15,000 displaced workers as part of the celebration for Labor Day that started on Thursday and ended yesterday.
The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) yesterday dared President Duterte and other officials to take the working class challenge by living on the P5,000 relief assistance that they are supposed to get from government.
In a statement, KMU chairman Elmer Labog said these officials should do this challenge even for a week in the hope that they will understand the situation of workers during the ECQ.
“This Labor Day I challenge President Duterte and his officials to live how workers experience the crisis with the same policies and financial aid that they provide the Filipino people. Even just for a week. Let’s see how grounded they are with the programs they have for the people,” he noted.
Since the ECQ was implemented in March, the KMU had called on the government to address the impact of the crisis on all affected workers.
“Duterte and his government should realize that the supposed aid programs fail to reach the people who are in dire need. It’s a failure. People who have been forced to come out to find any source of living or food have been arrested, instead of getting help,” Labog added.
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president Raymond Mendoza said yesterday that COVID-19 had only exposed the bad situation of Filipino workers.
Mendoza said workers from various fronts, through sweat and blood, have kept the rest of society alive.
However, he maintained that with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the workers and their families who are the first victims.
Harassment
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has condemned the alleged harassment of its members who were supposed to conduct relief operations along Visayas Ave. in Quezon City yesterday.
Law enforcers stopped a group of teachers who were supposed to distribute food packs and face masks to workers to honor them on Labor Day.
“For 30 minutes, the operatives held our team at the site, demanded that the teacher-leaders alight the vehicle and to present a permit for the activity,” ACT said in a statement.
“With barangay officials and media people as witness, the ACT4PH team showed the permit for the activity and the vehicle interior to prove that they only had food and face masks with them. The operatives could not hold the team any longer as no violation can be found,” it added.
ACT said the teachers just wanted to show their solidarity and deliver assistance to frontliners and poor communities that have not received government aid for almost two months now.
The group previously spearheaded donation drives for personal protective equipment for health workers and other frontliners, as well as relief operations for poor communities. - With Sheila Crisostomo, Janvic Mateo, Romina Cabrera, Ramon Lazaro