Senatorial candidate and broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo promised to protect workers from abusive employers if he will be elected in the upcoming national and local elections.

“Kapag ako po ay napunta sa Senado, I will come up with a legislation na this time patitikmin naman doon sa mga amo kung paano yung sila ang makasuhan at makulong dahil kumupit sa ating mahihirap na kababayan (If I will be elected in the Senate, I will come up with a legislation that will be directed to the employers— how they can be charged and imprisoned if they stole from our poor citizens),” said Tulfo in a video aired in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) e-rally that was live streamed on Saturday night.

“Hindi palagi nalang na ang mga mahihirap na kababayan ang nakukulong kapag sila ay kumupit sa kanilang amo. Paano kaya kung ang mga amo na kumukupit sa kanilang mga manggagawa ay makulong din? Para patas ang laban (It is always the poor people who are being imprisoned when they steal from their employers. What if employers who are stealing from their workers will also be jailed? For the sake of a fair fight),” he added.

Poor individuals are more likely to become victims of abuse, said Tulfo. He emphasized the importance of “equal opportunity.”

“Mahirap ang maging mahirap. Kapag mahirap ka, madaling malapastangan ang iyong karapatan, madali kang maabuso, madali kang mabastos dahil sapagaka’t meron tayong bulok na sistema. Ano yung bulok na sistema? Yung maliliit nating mangagawa napapabayaan (It’s hard to be poor. When you are poor, your rights are easily violated, you are easily abused because we have a rotten system. What is this rotten system? Our workers are being neglected),” he said.

“Ang mga maliliit nating kapus-palad na mga kababayan dapat mas magkaroon ng mas malawakang proteksyon sa ating batas. Only then, magkakaroon na po ng (Our poor citizens should have more comprehensive protection under our laws. Only then, there will be a) level-playing field,” he added.