Labor groups on Saturday marked Bonifacio Day with protests to call for lower prices of basic commodities, higher wages, and an end to contractual labor.
Partido Manggagawa (PM) secretary general Judy Miranda said: “If Bonifacio were alive today, he would lead the Katipunan in a fight to end political dynasties as a pathway for true independence and real development.”
Miranda pointed to a stark contrast between the inaction of the House of Representatives on the P150 wage hike bill and its fixation on Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war and Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.
“Of course, we want Digong to be held accountable for the murder of alleged drug users and Inday Sara for her plunder of people’s money. But we know that Congress is motivated by factional infighting not good governance. And that is why Congress is ‘deadma’ to proposed reforms favorable to workers,” Miranda added.
Members of PM joined the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition in a march on the occasion of Bonifacio Day from Espana to Mendiola, Manila.
The nationwide commemoration of Bonifacio Day by the PM and Nagkaisa raised the call for ending endo jobs, low wages, and political dynasties.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) meanwhile claimed that several of its officers suffered injuries after protesters commemorating the 161st birth anniversary of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, who marched along CM Recto Avenue in Manila, breached their barricade.
In a statement, the PNP said it strongly condemns the “acts of violence perpetrated by certain rallyists… which led to injuries and the disruption of public order.”
According to initial reports, the PNP said that one police officer deployed to the area sustained an eye injury and was promptly rushed to a hospital in Manila for medical treatment.
The PNP said that the incident underscores the delicate balance the police force strives to uphold between protecting the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly and ensuring the safety and security of our communities.
“Their mission is always clear: to de-escalate tensions, preserve peace, and protect lives,” it added.
