PAMANTIK-KMU has stated before that the Duterte administration is specifically targeting labor activists and unionists. These attacks, the group claims, intensified since the start of lockdown due to COVID-19 on March 17, 2020.
Providing workers with their “bare minimum government mandated benefits” is not enough to solve the crisis workers are facing.
“P/Brig. Gen. Vicente D. Danao, Jr. and Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Parlade, Jr. are profiting off fake surrender ceremonies while also discrediting legitimate organizations like Pamantik-KMU,” the group said.“They are even rewarding turncoats like Raffy Baylosis, who find ‘surrenderees’ from wherever they could so they could profit off them, by giving them a share in stealing taxpayers’ money.”
“This is a clear attack on the democratic rights of unionists and workers who are fighting for legitimate rights.”
“It’s disheartening that while workers are uniting to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, towards just compensation, and against widespread lay-offs, NTF-ELCAC is hard at work oppressing workers’ rights.”
“It is not the government – who belittled the impact of Honda Cars’ closure – but the strength of workers’ unity that is key in achieving a better separation package in order to start again.”
The arrested workers are currently detained in the Calamba City Jail. As of press time, there are yet no details on the cases filed against them.
The workers vowed to seek justice and pursue their demands for regularization as they prepare for the negotiation with Middleby at the Office of the Secretary of Labor on July 12.