KMU condemns oil firms for sneaking in price hikes amid people’s mourning

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno slammed big oil companies for exploiting the mourning of Filipinos over the Maguindanao massacre to sneak in price hikes in petroleum products, warning that they shall face the same public wrath which the Ampatuans are now dealing with.

Big Three’s second round of oil price hikes last Tuesday amid widespread condemnation of the massacre would be followed by the price increase of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P3.50 a kilogram next week, corporate moves which KMU said capitalizes on the focus of the media and the people on the massacre.

“These greedy oil companies are like sliding a knife into our necks through their barrage of price hikes, while we grieve for the victims of politically motivated killing in Maguindanao,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

“They are too heartless to maximize public mourning and attention on the massacre for profit’s sake. What they are doing to us will surely leave the people more teary-eyed.

“Apparently, oil firms are no different from the Ampatuan clan with their mafia-like tact in pushing for corporate profits. 

“But they should be warned: there is currently a social volcano against injustice, which will not spare them as they remain bent in pursuing profits over people’s welfare,” added Labog.

KMU said it can be remembered that oil companies also raised gas prices at the time when many Filipinos are coping with the damage wrought by Ondoy and Pepeng last month. It can also be remembered that they raised gas prices immediately after the lifting of EO 839 and amid celebration on the recent victory of Manny Pacquiao,” said Labog.

Labog said the round of pump price hikes brought up the average price of diesel to P31 a liter and gasoline to P40 a liter, while the looming hike in LPG would raise the price of an 11-kg cylinder tank from P580 to P620.

“At the current prices of petroleum products, Filipinos are bound to grieve rather than celebrate during the holiday season, notwithstanding the unabated price hikes in basic commodities,” Labog said. #