Police warn of consequences of holding Labor Day rallies under ECQ
Published Apr 30, 2020 12:00 am
By Aaron B. Recuenco
Authorities called on labor groups to refrain from holding protest actions to celebrate the Labor Day on Friday, citing health risks amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
But should they insist, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will implement its contingency measures to counter any attempt to hold mass assemblies.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar (PHOTO FROM PIO NCRPO / FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Eleazar explained that those who pursue Labor Day protest would only expose the workers and their family to the risk of coronavirus infection.
“We fully understand that it is the labor sector which was severely affected by the government’s strict measures against coronavirus infection. Everyday, we see news reports and social media posts about how the quarantine affected the life of the ordinary workers and their family because their workplaces were forced to either limit or shut down the business operations,” said Eleazar.
“But this is not the time to take the matters to the streets, in fact, it could only worsen the situation in terms of the health of our workers,” he added.
On Thursday, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa also warned militant groups from holding protest actions.
“We are aware of plans by militant cause-oriented groups to stage public assembly and mass action in several venues on May 1 in commemoration of Labor Day,” said Gamboa.
“Much as we respect their right to peaceably assemble, out of the exigency of the health crisis situation, we beg to discourage them from pursuing these plans for their own safety and in the best interest of public health,” he added.
Gamboa said arrests, detention, fines, and other penalties for violating the government’s ECQ rules will be imposed to hold violators accountable.
Instead of holding protest actions, Eleazar, for his part, said labor groups should just focus their effort in helping the workers what to do and what to expect once the opportunity to work would be available again.
“Labor groups should focus their effort on coming up with health protection-related strategic plans to help workers prepare themselves under the ‘new normal’ situation once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted,” said Eleazar.
“The government has always been respectful and tolerant of the conduct of protest actions. We hope that labor groups and our workers will realize that this is not the time to hold protest action, not under this situation,” said Eleazar.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar (PHOTO FROM PIO NCRPO / FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Eleazar explained that those who pursue Labor Day protest would only expose the workers and their family to the risk of coronavirus infection.
“We fully understand that it is the labor sector which was severely affected by the government’s strict measures against coronavirus infection. Everyday, we see news reports and social media posts about how the quarantine affected the life of the ordinary workers and their family because their workplaces were forced to either limit or shut down the business operations,” said Eleazar.
“But this is not the time to take the matters to the streets, in fact, it could only worsen the situation in terms of the health of our workers,” he added.
On Thursday, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa also warned militant groups from holding protest actions.
“We are aware of plans by militant cause-oriented groups to stage public assembly and mass action in several venues on May 1 in commemoration of Labor Day,” said Gamboa.
“Much as we respect their right to peaceably assemble, out of the exigency of the health crisis situation, we beg to discourage them from pursuing these plans for their own safety and in the best interest of public health,” he added.
Gamboa said arrests, detention, fines, and other penalties for violating the government’s ECQ rules will be imposed to hold violators accountable.
Instead of holding protest actions, Eleazar, for his part, said labor groups should just focus their effort in helping the workers what to do and what to expect once the opportunity to work would be available again.
“Labor groups should focus their effort on coming up with health protection-related strategic plans to help workers prepare themselves under the ‘new normal’ situation once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted,” said Eleazar.
“The government has always been respectful and tolerant of the conduct of protest actions. We hope that labor groups and our workers will realize that this is not the time to hold protest action, not under this situation,” said Eleazar.