Around 50 combined elements of Cabuyao Philippine National Police and Laguna Industrial Park Police Assistance Group (LIPPAG) dispersed the protest march of more than a hundred Hanjin workers and supporters from 5PM till 6PM, at Gatchalian Industrial Subdivision in Barangay Banay-Banay, Cabuyao, Laguna.

The dispersal took place after negotiations between representatives of Hanjin workers and management, in the presence of DOLE representative Med-Arbiter Estrella Rosal, collapsed.

Twenty-one (21) protesters, of which 11 were women workers, sustained wounds and bruises from police truncheons and shields. Some injured women cried sexual intimidation and harassment as police forcefully shoved them off.

Cabuyao PNP Chief Moises Pagaduan and LIPPAG Chief Major Marvin Saro ordered the dispersal.

The police took control of Hanjin gates after the dispersal, while protesters regrouped and held a program in condemnation of police brutality and injustice from Hanjin management.

Romina Ibarrola, spokesperson of union Aniban ng Manggagawang Inaapi sa Hanjin Garments (AMIHAN), screamed, ”Hindi na kayo naawa sa amin! Hindi n’yo na kami nirespeto bilang babae at masahol pa sa hayup kung kami ay inyong tratuhin! (You showed us no mercy. You showed no respect on us being women and you treated us worse than animals!)”

Ibarrola sustained bruises on her right knee and left elbow. The police also shoved and pushed her by the chest.

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU) participated in the protest march.

PAMANTIK chairman Romeo Legaspi expressed, “Mapayapa ang ating protesta at lehitimo ang ating karaingan. Matapos pagsamantalahan ng kapitalistang Hanjin sa loob ng 12 taon, ito pa ang igaganti niya. Ang ipinakitang panggugulo at pandarahas ng kapulisan ay wala sa katwiran at nagpapatunay lamang kung kanino sila panig (We are holding a peaceful protest and the workers’ demands legitimate. After being exploited by capitalist Hanjin for 12 years, this is what it will give us in return. The intimidation and harassment shown by the police is unreasonable, and only proves to which side they serve).”

Workers from Nestle, Nissan, Toyota, Philippine Steel, Ebarra, Keihin, Honda Cars, Enkei, Jac Liner, YVRI, Tritran Bus, and Chiyoda were among those who supported the protest march.

Community members from Southville Relocation Site, member unions of Cabuyao Workers’ Alliance (CAWAL), Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Enklabo (AMEN), Car and Auto-Related Industry Against Imperialist Domination (CAR-AID), Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Probinsya ng Laguna (ALMAPILA), Southern Tagalog Region Transport Sector Organization (STARTER), and Organized Labor Association in Line Industry and Agriculture (OLALIA-KMU) were also present.

Hanjin workers are on their second day of picket protest demanding reinstatement of more than 200 illegally terminated workers, regularization of more than 1,000 contractual workers, and union recognition.

Korean nationals Jeong Kee Min and Mak Rae Min own Hanjin Garments exporting blazers, cocktail dresses, and pants to the US.