Destabilization plots, threat to re-impose emergency powers meant to undermine wage demands

Destabilization plots and threats of reimposition of emergency powers were meant to undermine the legitimate P125 wage call that will be the focal issue on Labor Day according to the militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

This is in response to the statement made by Malacañang that an emergency proclamation will be reimposed if "the rallies turn out to be a cover for an armed component to topple this administration."

"Ayaw niyang (President Gloria Macapal-Arroyo) magbigay ng P125 umento, ayaw pang deretsahin. Ang totoo, gustong pagtakpan ng palasyo ang matinding pagtanggi nito sa kahilingan ng mga manggagawa para sa dagdag na sahod," insisted KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

The labor leader likewise said that the government should instead focus on how to respond to the issues that were being raised by the sector instead of resorting to diversionary ploys such as rumored destabilization plots. He reiterated that the workers will not be cowed to carry on with the May Day celebration tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Labog assured Labor Sec. Patricia Sto. Tomas that their group have always conducted peaceful assemblies, "Ulyanin na yata si Sto. Tomas at hindi niya naaalala na kahit ang mga welga namin ay mapayapa at ang mga iniisyu niyang Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) ang nagbibigay ng lisensya sa mga pulis para dahasin ang aming hanay katulad ng naganap sa Hacienda Luisita Massacre."

He also said that the Sto. Tomas' advice for workers to take advantage of the long weekend holiday by going to some domestic tourist spots to celebrate Labor Day is absurd since the P275 minimum wage that workers receive in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone can barely help workers' families to meet ends meet.

The daily cost of living for a family of six in NCR reached P690 while the prices of commodities increased by an average of 11% according to IBON Price Monitor.