|
THE
National Police went on heightened alert on Wednesday in
preparation for the expected mass actions that are
usually held during Labor Day.
The
alert status was raised by the National Police chief,
Director General Avelino Razon Jr., in order to ensure
that at all police units, personnel and resources will
be on standby and ready to be deployed for peace and
order and public safety operations if needed.
Razon
said the maintenance of peace and order during the whole
day activities by workers around the country is the
National Police’s contribution to the celebration of
Labor Day.
“The
National Police joins the entire nation in paying
tribute to the Filipino labor force for providing the
muscle to move the country forward. It is our duty as
police officers to make this day peaceful and
significant,” he said.
Razon
directed all police unit commanders to extend utmost
assistance to labor groups that will be holding public
assemblies.
Chief
Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, National Police spokesman, said
police commanders have been ordered to secure the venues
of public assemblies to maintain order and prevent
criminal and lawless elements from taking advantage of
the activities.
Likewise, police commanders were given authority to
upgrade the alert status of their units to full
depending on the situation in their areas of
responsibility.
“As
government workers, we, too, are entitled to commemorate
Labor Day. However, as law enforcers, duty dictates that
we must report for work on that day to preclude any
threat of violence and disorder in the celebration of
international Labor Day,” Bartolome said.
“Our job
is not to prevent people from holding public assemblies,
but to enforce the law and remind participants of their
responsibilities when holding public assemblies,” he
added.
Bartolome cited Batas Pambansa 880 that “spells out very
clearly the responsibilities of citizens in exercising
the right to peaceably assemble, as well as the duty of
the police to enforce the law and maintain order.”
Bartolome emphasized that all law enforcement functions
in accordance with Batas Pambansa 880 are governed by
rules prescribed in the Police Operational Procedures.
“The
long and short of it, as far as public assemblies are
concerned, is respect for the rule of law, specifically
Batas Pambansa 880,” he said.
Militant groups, however, have threatened to storm
Malacañang to dramatize their demand for a wage increase
in the face of the spiraling increases in the price of
rice and other basic commodities.
The
militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will
spearhead the workers’ march to Mendiola Street, Manila,
to denounce President Arroyo for the worsening hunger
and poverty being experienced by an increasing number of
people.
KMU
chairman Elmer Labog said hunger, meager wages and
oppression, will not stop the workers from storming
Malacañang on May 1 to assert the demand for a
legislated wage increase, warning that the President’s
failure to do so may spell trouble.
Labog
said the massive nationwide protests of workers and the
people on May 1 may revive the momentum for the ouster
movement.
As early
as 2007, KMU has been pushing for a P125-a-day
across-the-board wage increase through a piece of
legislation sponsored by militant party-list
representatives in Congress.
“If the
President will not immediately grant the demand for a
P125- wage increase, halt the incessant increases in the
cost of rice, food and petroleum products, and stop the
widespread corruption in the government, then her ouster
will come sooner.”
Labog
said several groups and personalities who are allied
with the KMU in the campaign against corruption, hunger,
poverty and political repression will join the workers
in the May 1 program at Plaza Miranda, Manila.
These
groups include organizations under the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan, the Labor Day Committee, government employees
under Courage, bank employees from the Concerned Makati
Employees, movie industry workers led by director Joel
Lamangan, and members of the Concerned Citizens Group
headed by Josie Lichauco.
Former
Vice President Teofisto Guingona and several senators
have also signified their interest to join the protest.
(With J. Mayuga) |
