Police dispersed on Monday morning an indignation rally staged by Cebu workers to commemorate Bonifacio Day and denounce what they described as the government’s alleged red-tagging activities.
In a news statement, the Council of Global Unions (CGU) said five of their members were arrested when policemen reportedly broke up the gathering.
They were identified as Dennis Derige, Myra Opada, Joksan Branzuela, Jonel Labrador and Cristito Pangan, who helped organized the Bonifacio Day rallies in Cebu to raise the grievances of workers affected by the reported job displacement in the Mactan ecozone amid the pandemic.
Quarantine violations
The five labor leaders, who are affiliated with Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) and Partido Manggagawa (PM) were arrested and detained for alleged violation of quarantine guidelines and disobedience.
Sentro Secretary-General Josua Mata said their members were complying with minimum health standards when they protested at the Gate 3 of the Mactan Economic Zone at 8 a.m. on Monday.
“Of course, physical distancing was severely disrupted, when the police started arresting our leaders,” Mata told the BusinessMirror in an SMS.
As of this writing, it was learned that Pangan and Opada were already released from police custody after paying a quarantine fine of P1,000 each.
Derige, Branzuela, and Labrador are scheduled for inquest on Tuesday.
“We will be bail them out,” Mata assured.
He said their members may have been targeted for successfully holding a protest action against First Glory Apparel two days ago.
Last week, the local government in Bantayan Island in Cebu drew criticisms after it reportedly hosted a high profiled event, wherein participants allegedly violated quarantine protocols.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is now investigating the incident.
Escalating attacks
PM Chairman Rene Magtubo said the recent arrest of their members allegedly proved the legitimacy of their calls against the government’s anti-labor policies.
“The arrest of PM Cebu labor organizers puts a spotlight on the escalating attacks on workers’ rights in the country and adds to the unsolved killings of unionists, busting of unions and red-tagging of union activists,” Magtubo said.
The CGU demanded the government to stop red-tagging against trade unions and civil-society groups and hold accountable the people who are behind such activity.
It also called for the abolition of the Anti-Terrorism Act, as well as better protection for workers amid the pandemic.
CGU includes the International Trade Union Confederation and its local affiliates, including the Federation of Free Workers , Kilusang Mayo Uno, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Sentro; the Building Woodworkers International, among others.