Progressive groups and other labor organizations staged massive demonstrations in Metro Manila to call for a wage hike on Labor Day, May 1.
The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Workers for People's Liberation (WPL), Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), and other militant groups gathered on España Boulevard and Recto Avenue in Manila, and Mabuhay Rotonda in Quezon City.
The protesters were calling for the P150 across-the-board daily recovery increase.
(Photo from Kilusang Mayo Uno)
“Ang pinapanawagan namin talaga legislated wage increase. Kailangan na ng manggagawa ng dagdag. Masyadong naiiwan ang sahod,” WPL secretary general Primo Amparo said in a radio interview.
“Partikular, dapat nga living wage. Siyempre, kung ano ang kayang ilaban naming manggagawa kahit papaano. Kailangan talaga magkaroon na ng dagdag ngayon kasi matindi na talaga ang epekto ng krisis sa buhay ng manggagawa,”he added.
The WPL attempted to march to Mendiola but were blocked by the police. Instead, they decided to hold their program on Recto Avenue.
Six rallyists, one of them a female, were reportedly arrested by the Manila Police District (MPD) during a commotion on Kalaw Avenue as the they attempted to go near the US Embassy to denounce the ongoing Balikatan Exercises.
They were brought to the hospital for examination to make sure that they were in good condition before bringing them to the MPD headquarters for investigation.
Firefighters used water cannons to stop the protesters who were trying to breach the phalanx of police officers blocking their way.
According to MPD spokesperson Police Police Major (PMAJ) Philipp Innes, the six were arrested for violation of the Revised Penal Code 151 or resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, and Revised Penal Code 115 or the conspiracy and proposal to commit treason.
“Ikinalulungkot nga natin yun na nagkaroon tayo ng ganoong insidente na meron tayong naaresto na anim at isa dyan ay babae dahil nga dito sa paglabag nila dito…yung ating RPC article, revised penal code 151 at 115 (We are sad that we had such an incident that we had six people arrested and one of them was a woman because of their violation of our RPC article, revised penal code 151 and 115),” he said in a radio interview.
“Kasama na rin dyan yung ating vandalism kung saan nakita niyo naman yung ating sasakyan ng pulisya na vinandalize nila (That includes vandalism of our police car),” he added.