đź“·Karapatan
Regional militant labor center Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan – KMU (PAMANTIK-KMU), joined by human rights groups and progressive organizations in Southern Tagalog, held a protest action in front of the Department of National Defense, Quezon City to condemn the state-enforced arrests and trumped-up charges against labor leaders Gavino Panganiban and Maritess David.
Panganiban and David were arrested in the morning of October 27 in Makati City and are currently detained at the Southern Police District headquarters in Taguig City.
The efforts of human rights groups to investigate the circumstances of arrest were then blocked by the Makati PNP, even in the absence of a search warrant. In an earlier statement, PAMANTIK-KMU stated that this may lead to planting of firearms and explosives at the place of arrest and the presentation of “egregious evidence”, such as the 2021 raid at the former Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Engklabo office in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The protest also assailed the DND’s role in crafting internal security policies that promote human rights violations and impunity and in shrinking democratic spaces.
“Ito ang itsura ng crackdown sa panahon ni Marcos Jr., at walang ibang may utak sa operasyong ito kundi ang DND, 2nd Infantry Division, AFP, PNP at JTF Katagalugan para supilin ang mga tagapagtaguyod ng mga karapatan ng manggagawa,” Antonio Fajardo, PAMANTIK-KMU acting chairperson, said.
Fajardo added that the PNP’s actions in coordination with the AFP and NTF ELCAC are continuations of state terror in the region. He also called for the immediate release of Panganiban and David asserting that the charges were fabricated, and assailed the possible filing of multiple trumped-up charges against the two.
“Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin natutugunan ang kagyat na pangangailangan ng mga manggagawa. Lalo silang lubog sa kahirapan, walang trabaho, mahal na bilihin at kontraktwalisasyon. At ito ang pilit na pinatatanggap ni Marcos Jr. sa mga Pilipino kapag dinadaan nila ang mga manggagawa sa matinding crackdown ng estado,” he said. #
