To demand abolition of contractualization: Red Workers march from DOLE to Mendiola

PRESS RELEASE

December 15, 2016

Manggagawang Sosyalista (MASO)

Contact person: Leody de Guzman 09205200672

To demand abolition of contractualization:

Red Workers march from DOLE to Mendiola

HUNDREDS of workers from the socialist alliance Manggagawang Sosyalista (MASO), comprised of militant and anti-capitalist “Red unions” assembled today at the labor department offices in Intramuros, Manila before marching to Mendiola to press for the abolition of all forms of contractualization, not just the much-hated “endo or 5-5-5 employment scheme”.

Sec. Bello wants a Department of Labor and Employers

At the workers program in Intramuros, Lino Brin, MASO chairperson and president of the Pag-asa Steel union said, “The workers call on DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello to take the sides of the workers rather than adopt a flimsy seemingly neutral stance on the nefarious employment scheme that has led to a cheap and docile labor force”.

“The so-called win-win solution proposed by the trade department and echoed by Secretary Bello seeks to regularize workers at their contractors rather than to the principals who utilize contracting and subcontracting arrangements to replace regular employees with cheaper contractual workers,” he added.

Brin explained, “Bello should act, not just as the alter-ego of President Duterte who has promised to stop contractualization during the electoral campaign but as the representative of labor, which is recognized by the 1987 Constitution as the “primary social economic force” and should be granted „full protection by the State‟. He should leave the DTI Secretary to be the champion of investors. From the last time we check, the DOLE is not named “department of labor and employers”.

Abolition of Contractualization: A Promise Undelivered

At around noon, the workers proceeded to march to Mendiola via Quezon and Recto Avenues. At the march, MASO vice chair Ding Villasin of Socialista asserted, “President Duterte rode on the crest of the people‟s anger towards elitist democracy that was restored after EDSA 1986. Part of his electoral rhetoric was his harsh words against abusive employers who employ contractual workers in order to cheapen their labor costs. Yet, after several months in office, no stone was unturned. The abolition of contractualization remains an undelivered campaign promise.

She furthered, “If President Duterte was able to enact „freedom of information‟ for the Executive branch. We challenge him to abolish contractualization in the same branch, to which he has full control of, as Chief Executive. After all, the Philippine government remains as the country‟s number one employer of contractual workers”.

Nasaan ang Pagbabago?

At Mendiola, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) chair Leody de Guzman declared, “Before the year closes, we fear that both the DTI and DOLE will railroad the passage of the so-called win-win solution at both houses of the legislative.

“To inflict another wound to the already injured working class would transform the public sentiment, from that which passively seeks the change promised during the May elections to that of a labor-led independent movement of the people that would actively pursue social change and meaningful reforms, not from above but from below,” de Guzman concluded. #

Hundreds march to Malacanang to denounce lack of change under Duterte presidency

Hundreds march to Malacanang to denounce lack of change under Duterte presidency

Hundreds of workers, urban poor, students, and other activists belonging to Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Sanlakas, and Partido Lakas ng Masa today marched to the gates of Malacanang to denounce President Rodrigo Duterte’s failure to fulfill his promise to end “contractualization” and other anti-worker policies as well as his insistence on burying Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

They later joined thousands of other people who trooped to the People Power Monument in EDSA to condemn Marcos’ burial at the LNMB and block the restoration of declarations of martial law.

“We joined thousands of workers and other Filipinos today to remind the President that we are still here, that we have been waiting, and that we still haven’t experienced the change that he said will come if he gets elected as President,” Leody de Guzman, president of the socialist labor group BMP said. “It’s been six months since Duterte won and yet it seems that only the rich are again benefiting from the change in government,” de Guzman said.

Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, secretary-general of multi-sectoral group Sanlakas, for his part said: “Militant groups were encouraged by Duterte’s initial steps, such as his appointment of leftists in Cabinet, his support for FOI, and his critical stance towards the United States. But none of these has so far translated into any concrete benefits for the majority.

“So far, the President has yet to back his words with actions,” Sonny Melencio, chairperson of Partido Lakas ng Masa. “We marched today because we find it hard to identify actual measures that could assure us that change is indeed on the way.”

According to Melencio, more and more Filipinos are starting to question whether Duterte will indeed deliver his campaign promises, in particular, his promise to end contractualization, to provide dignified housing for the urban poor, to stamp out corruption in the bureaucracy, to give tax breaks for those earning below 30k/month, and to chart an independent foreign policy.

After marching to Malacanang, the militant groups joined a Caravan for Justice that drove through several cities in Metro Manila before heading to the People Power Monument to join tens of thousands of other Filipinos protesting against Marcos’ burial at the LNMB.

“It seems that there are only two groups of people that Duterte will never betray: the police and the Marcoses,” Melencio said. “But it seems that he is all too ready to turn his back on workers, on the urban poor, and on the Filipino people.”

For real change to happen, the group urged the public to take action and use their power to achieve significant social transformations.

“As Andres Bonifacio has demonstrated, hope lies not in our so-called leaders but in the Filipino people themselves,” de Guzman stressed.

Labor group dismayed with ‘win-win solution,’ demands decisive action

Labor group dismayed with ‘win-win solution,’ demands decisive action

Frustrated at the Labor department’s continued non-fulfillment of President Rodrigo Duterte‘s marching orders to abolish all forms of contractualization, socialist labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) has taken their advocacy to the footsteps of the president himself.

The group recently sent the Office of the President a letter, signed by labor leader Leody de Guzman, attached with a draft of an Executive Order ordering the abolition of all forms of contractual employment, among others.

In the letter to the president, it read “contractualization is an urgent national policy concern because it economically and socially destroys the lives of millions of our people—not only of our national labor force.”

It added that “due to its nationally-destructive outcome, contractualization is as criminal an enterprise as terrorism and the illegal drugs trade are at the present time.”

The group asked the President to “strongly consider the signing of this EO into law at the soonest time possible” to reflect his government’s “principled commitment to the stopping contractualization in all its forms.”

Pronouncements and proposals by secretaries Silvestre Bello and Ramon Lopez of the labor and trade departments respectively have not sat well with labor groups in the recently concluded consultative meetings it held. BMP along with other labor groups says that the ‘win-win solution’ is a misnomer and there can be no compromise with their demands.

“Our economic well-being as well as our dignity as the country’s ‘primary social economic force’ has been violated for decades now and yet the so-called ‘managers of the economy’ worry more about the projected decline in profits of employers,” said De Guzman.

“Any delays, flip-flopping statements and continued overconsideration for employers are new abrasions to labor’s dignity on top of the already heavily exploitative nature of capitalist-worker relations.”

The draft EO included the implementation and full protection of labor rights and standards as mandated by the 1987 Constitution, the strict prohibition of all forms of contractualization in the public and private sectors, the order to the Secretary of Justice to prosecute of violators and the regularization of all employees through direct-hiring.

The letter also included a recommendation for the president to schedule a meeting and dialogue with a broad delegation of labor groups to discuss labor policy-related issues and concerns at the soonest possible time. “This he owes to those who elected him into office,” De Guzman claimed.

Marcos: Bayani ng Naghaharing Uri, Hindi ng Masang Pilipino

NAKAKASUKLAM ang paglilibing sa pinatalsik na diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. Bagong hibla ito sa matagal nang lubid ng kasinungalingan na si Marcos ay bayani ng lahing kayumanggi na kasing peke na kanyang medalya sa diumano’y kabayanihan noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig.

Nakapagdududa din ang biglaan at tila panakaw na paglilibing sa kanya, na tiyak tayong hindi lingid sa kaalaman ni pangulong Duterte. Sa darating na mga araw, asahan na nating sasagot ang butangerong pangulo na ibaon na natin sa limot ang nasabing isyu.

Kung tutuusin, dapat nang ilibing si Marcos na namatay noong 1989 sa Hawaii, USA. Ngunit hindi sa libingan ng bayani kundi sa basurahan ng kasaysayan sapagkat hinusgahan na siya ng pag-aalsang Edsa 1986. Siya ay pasista, diktador, mandarambong, at mamamatay-tao. Hindi siya bayani ng masang Pilipino. Siya ay kriminal na kahihiyan sa kagitingan ng ating lahi.

Si Marcos ay bayani ng naghaharing uri hindi ng masang Pilipino. Sa panahon ng diktadurang Marcos, nalugmok ang bansang Pilipinas sa kumunoy ng kawalang pag-asa at ibayong kahirapan. Hindi ang taumbayan kundi ang mga kroni gaya ni Cojuangco, Lucio Tan, Benedicto, Virata, Romualdez, Cuenco, atbp., at ang kanyang paksyon ng naghaharing uri, laluna ang dayuhang kapitalistang nakinabang sa likas at likhang yaman ng bansa mula noon hanggang ngayon.

Sa panahon ng kadiliman ng Martial Law, naganap ang pandarahas, pagpaslang, pagwasak sa kabuhayan ng maralita, magsasaka, at manggagawa at mga kabataang estudyante at intelektwal na rumurok sa pag-aalsang Edsa, na nagawang ibagsak ang diktadura ngunit para lamang humalili sa poder ang karibal na paksyon ng pamilya Marcos.

Sa isyu ng rekognisyon sa diktador bilang bayani, tiyak tayong magpoprotesta ang paksyon ng naghaharing uri na nakinabang sa pagpapapatalsik kay Marcos at naitsapwersa din sa pag-akyat ni Duterte sa panguluhan. Sabihin mang biktima din sila ng diktadura. Ngunit sila ay mga magnanakaw din na galit sa kapwa magnanakaw!

Nananawagan ang Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) sa manggagawa’t mamamayan. Matuto tayo sa aral ng kasaysayan. Huwag bumuntot sa mga naghaharing uri. Isulong ang independyenteng kilusan ng uri at bayan. Kondenahin sa paglilibing ni Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani habang ipinagpapatuloy ang kagyat at ultimong mga kahilingan ng taumbayan para sa panlipunang hustisya at karapatang pantao.

Itinakwil natin ang diktadurang Marcos ngunit mas labanan ang diktadura ng mga kapitalista’t asenderong nagsasamantala sa mamamayan!

Marcos: Hitler, Diktador, Tuta! Marcos is No Hero.

DTI’s ‘win-win solution’: Sugar coating to legitimize workers’ further exploitation

DTI’s ‘win-win solution’: Sugar coating to legitimize workers’ further exploitation

MILITANT labor again slammed the so-called ‘win-win solution’ being lobbied by the trade and industry department to end the menace of contractualization besetting the country’s labor force, claiming that “it would only be a continuance of capitalists’ transgressions and systematic exploitation”.

They likewise challenged President Duterte’s sincerity in fulfilling his campaign promise to end temporary employment; the militants urged him stop his economic managers’ dead on their tracks in promoting their outright anti-labor proposal or suffer political isolation from those who propelled him to power.

The groups Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) ang MASO-Pilipinas made this allegation as they ‘gate-crashed’ the 6th annual forum of PALSCON or the Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors which was set to tackle their position on the proposal of the trade and labor departments.

Among the speakers of the forum included Senator Franklin Drilon, secretaries Ramon Lopez and Silvestre Bello III of the trade and labor departments.

Under Lopez’ proposed set-up, workers will be hired by the service providers and manpower agencies as regular employees, receiving various benefits such as leave credits, 13th month pay as well as retirement, social security and health insurance plans, among others.

The militants called the proposal “baseless and dismissive” of Article 280 of the Labor Code, which states that regular employees are those who perform “usually necessary or desirable” in the normal operations of a business.

“For more than two decades now, workers have been severely burdened by the wanton denial of our rights, forcibly shoving us further below poverty line. No amount sugar-coating from capitalist agents, will dupe us into taking their bait,” said Leody de Guzman, president of the socialist BMP.

The groups insisted the proposal would only mean that Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code and Department Order 18-A, “legal instruments used to circumvent constitutionally-guaranteed rights” shall remain intact.

De Guzman articulated that Articles 106 to 109 provided the loophole for capitalists in these trilateral agreements to use contractors and subcontractors that provide cheaper workers to carry out work that should be performed by their regular employees.

These provisions, he claimed, “were only meant to obfuscate employee-employer relationships. More so, it reinforces the capitalist blackmail of ‘work or starve’, under constant threat of unemployment by simply terminating their employment contracts”.

The groups say that there shall be no compromise in their call for the abolition of all forms of contractual employment and will continue to hound conferences of capitalists and anti-labor government officials.

Concretely, the groups are urging President Duterte to a) issue an Executive Order to declare DO18-A void and the revision of the BMBE law; b) certify as urgent congressional bills nullifying Articles 106 to 109 and the prohibition of contracting of ‘usually necessary or desirable’ work, pursuant to Article 280 of the Labor Code. The criminalization of labor-only contracting and deputize labor union leaders as labor inspectors to check and report violation of labor standards.

“It will simply take President Duterte an issuance of an Executive Order to scrap contractualization for good. To ordain such would lift millions of families from the yoke of dearth and misery,” de Guzman concluded.

A ringing endorsement of dictatorship

A ringing endorsement of dictatorship

The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, a socialist labor group, joins Filipinos in denouncing the Supreme Court’s decision to authorize President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to bury the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.



Ferdinand Marcos is no hero: He was responsible for killing and torturing thousands of people—including many workers. He looted the public treasury. And he created the conditions that made the lives of millions of Filipinos miserable.

To bury him at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is to glorify rather than condemn mass murder, torture, and plunder.

Duterte’s determination to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is certainly payback for the Marcoses’ support for his candidacy. While he has so far failed to fulfill his campaign promises to workers, he has demonstrated a steely sense of purpose in fulfilling his promise to the Marcos family.

More than just repaying debts, however, Duterte’s determination to glorify Marcos is also an expression of his support for dictatorship and his contempt for democratic rights. 

All previous regimes, and all those whose interests they protected, deserve part of the blame for making dictatorship seem to many like a better alternative than our current system.

The Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, GMA, and Aquino II administrations not only failed to deliver justice to Marcos’ victims; they also all failed to carry out the social reforms that would have prevented people from believing that a return to out-and-out authoritarianism can solve their problems. 

But let us not gloss over the fact that the Supreme Court would not have made the ignoble stand they made today if not for President Duterte’s insistence that a hated dictator be glorified as a hero.



Both President Duterte—as well as the nine Justices who voted in support of his plan—are spitting on the memory of all those who suffered during, and as a consequence of, the Marcos dictatorship.


They are also reinforcing the climate of impunity reigning in the country and emboldening ruling warlords and political dynasties to shun all democratic pretenses and rule with iron fists.

But even if they use the laws to deodorize and legitimize dictatorship, they will never succeed in turning a villain into a hero.



We call on all Filipinos to join us in denouncing this travesty of justice, and we support all protests and direct actions against the dictator’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Pagpupugay kay Ka Ronnie Luna

Pagpupugay kay Ka Ronnie Luna: Magiting na Organisador ng Pakikibaka ng Manggagawa

KUKULANGIN ang mga salita para ipahayag ang pagdadalamhati ng pamunuan at kasapian ng BMP sa paglisan ni kasamang Ka Ronnie Luna. Kapos din ang anumang letra para iparating sa kanyang mga naulila ang aming lubos na simpatya at pakikiramay. Kayo man ay naagawan ng tatay, tiyuhin, pinsan, o kabiyak sa kanyang biglaang pagpanaw. Kami rin – ang kilusang itinuring niyang “pangalawang pamilya” – ay nawalan ng isang magiting na lider, kaibigan, at kasama. 

Sa darating na mga araw, lubos na mararamdaman ng Bukluran, ng kabuuang kilusang paggawa, at pangkalahatang kilusang bayan – ang kawalan ng isang magiting, masigasig at mapangahas na organisador ng pakikibaka ng masang anakpawis. Ang buhay ni Ka Ronnie ay kasaysayan ng mga pakikibaka sa iba’t ibang antas – mula sa pabrika, rehiyon, pambansa, maging sa kanyang komunidad sa Sitio Malipay, kung saan siya huling nanirahan.

Mula sa Samar tungo sa Maynila. Nagmula si Ka Ronnie sa isang mahirap na pamilya sa Northern Samar. Isinilang noong Disyembre 1, 1958. Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, napagtapos lamang siya ng Grade 4. Isang bagay na kamanghamangha. Sapagkat sa darating na mga panahon, siya ay papandayin ng kilusan para sa isang bihasang tactician ng mga lokal na pakikibaka, laluna ng mga ligal at ekstra-ligal na pakikibakang unyon kaya’t madalas siyang akalain bilang isang abogado. 

Edad labing-anim nang siya’y magtrabaho sa isang trosohan. At sa unang bahagi ng dekada ’70, sa paghahangad ng mas maayos na buhay, ay palihim na umangkas sa barko at lumuwas ng Maynila para maghanap ng trabaho. Palipat-lipat na namamasukan bago naempleyo sa Philippine Blooming Mills o PBM – isa sa pinakamalaking pabrika ng bakal sa buong Asya noong panahong iyon. Ang PBM, na may 2,000 manggagawa, ay naging bukal ng maraming kadre’t kasapi ng kilusang anti-diktadura. Dito nabuo ang unyon na isa sa naging kasaping tagapagtatag ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), kung saan si Ka Ronnie ay naging chief shop steward. 

Sa pamamagitan ng pag-uunyon, napanday siya sa bisa ng sama-samang pagkilos sa pagmumulat at pag-oorganisa ng manggagawa. Nang magsara ang PBM noong 1980 (hindi dahil sa labor dispute kundi sa internal na problema ng kompanya), nanatili ang kanyang pagiging aktibista at nagpasyang magpultaym sa kilusan – mula noong hanggang sa kanyang pagpanaw, nanatili ang kanyang tuloy-tuloy na pagkilos sa hanay ng masang anakpawis. Sa panahong ito, kahit sa kawalan ng regular na hanapbuhay, ginawa ni Ka Ronnie ang pagbebenta ng puto kasabay ng pamamahagi ng mga polyeto.

Welga sa Fortune Tobacco. Sa unang mga taon ng dekada 80, si Ka Ronnie ay naging bahagi ng grupo para organisahin ang Fortune Tobacco, na noo’y may 4,000 manggagawa. Sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-oorganisa, nagawang agawin ang unyon mula sa mga “dilawan” at maka-management na pamunuan. Disyembre 1984 nang magtagumpay ang “tunay na unyonismo” sa naturang pabrika, naagaw ang pamunuan. Agad nilang paghandaan ang laban para sa collective bargaining agreement (CBA) na magsisimula sa Oktubre 1985. Inilarga nila ang malawakang pagpapaaral ng GTU (Genuine Trade Unionism course), PAMA (Panimulang Aralin ng Manggagawa). 

Sinimulan din ang iba’t ibang porma ng sama-samang pagkilos sa loob at labas ng kumpanya. Bilang ganting reaksyon kinasuhan ng management ang mga opisyales ng unyon. Sinulsulan din nila ang pagbubuo ng bagong unyong lalaban sa certification election habang sapilitang pinagreresign ang mga manggagawa sa Plant C/D at Redrying, na diumano’y ibebenta sa Trans Union Corporation at Premium Tobacco. Sa pamumuno ni Ka Ronnie at iba pang mga kasama, nagpasya silang paigtingin ang mga pagkilos dahil sa tangkang pagdurog sa unyon (union busting). Oktubre 17 hanggang 20, pumutok ang welga. Pinagharap ng Ministry on Labor and Employment (MOLE) ang dalawang panig. Kung saan, nagpakaisahang mag-“back to work” ang mga empleyado nang walang ganti ang management. Lumakas ang kumpanyansa ng manggagawa sa sama-samang pagkilos. 

Nagsimula ang negosasyon para sa collective bargaining agreement (CBA) noong Nobyembre. Gumanti ang kapitalista sa pagsuspinde, noong nakaraang buwan ay kaso lang, sa 52 opisyales ng unyon dahil sa “illegal strike” noong Oktubre. Sinundan ito ng pagtatanggal sa mahigit isang daan (125) pang mga aktibong kasapi noong Disyembre. Sinagot itong muli ng welga. Nagpasya ang pamunuan ng KMU na i-angat ang laban bilang “rehiyonal na pakikibaka”, kasabay ng iba’t ibang mga welga tulad ng Cosmos sa Valenzuela. Sa naganap na negosasyon noong Disyembre 1985, umatras ang management para ibalik ang 125 na kasapi ngunit mananatiling tanggal ang 52 lider. Pumalag ang unyon. 

Subalit matapos ang dalawang buwan sa piketlayn, nakaranas na ng demoralisasyon ang mga welgista. Naagaw kasi ng pinagsamang pwersa ng management, eskirol, at pulisya (PC-INP) ang dalawang istratehikong piketlayn (Plant A at Trans Union). Nahahati na ang pwersa sa pagitan ng Fortune Tobacco Labor Union (FTLU) at Fortune Tobacco Independent Workers Union (FTIWU). Pebrero nang pumasok sa kompromiso ang unyon. Subalit tiniyak na kilalanin ng management ang “caretaker committee” ng unyon – pitong kasapi mula sa FTLU at FTIWU, sa pamumuno ng pederasyong NAFLU – upang hindi madurog ang pagkakaorganisa ng manggagawa. Ang panukalang ito ay inihapag ni Ka Lando Olalia ng pederasyon. Si Renato Magtubo ang tumayong pinuno ng naturang komite. 

Ang welga sa Fortune ang isa sa mayor na pangyayaring lumikha ng isang Ka Ronnie Luna. Dito siya natuto – hindi lamang sa bisa ng kolektibong pakikibaka kundi maging sa mga taktikang kaakibat nito kapag hindi na pumapabor ang kalagayan, gaya ng kompromiso, pag-atras, pagpihit, atbp. Ang mga aral sa pakikibakang ito ang tatanganan niya sa pamumuno ng iba’t ibang laban ng manggagawa na kanyang oorganisahin.

Organisador ng Manggagawa at Mamamayan. Matapos ang kanyang karanasan sa welga ng Fortune, bumigat ang responsibilidad na inaatang kay Ka Ronnie at siya ay naitakdang maging susing organisador sa Marikina, Mandaluyong at San Juan. Tinutukan niya ang mga unyonista ng Nissan Mandaluyong, Benguet Management Corporation, at iba pang mga empresa. Sa Marikina naman, naging instrumental ang papel ni Ka Ronnie sa konsolidasyon ng mga unyon sa ARMSCOR, Manila Bay Spinning Mills, Goya, atbp. 

Sa lahat ng nadapuan ni Ka Ronnie, umiigting ang labanan ng mga uri. Inaangat niya ang mga porma ng sama-samang pagkilos – hanggang sa humantong ito sa welga, ang pinakamatalas na sandata ng manggagawa sa pang-ekonomikong pakikibaka. Sa mga pakikibakang ito, napanday ang isang Ka Ronnie. Hindi umasa sa mga pederasyon para sa mga ligal na tulong. Sa halip – sa kabila ng hindi pagtatapos ng elementarya – natutong aralin ang mga prosesong ligal. Batid niya kasing ang bisa ng mga polyeto’t pag-aaral sa pagmumulat ng manggagawa ay isandaang beses na tumitindi kung ang manggagawa ay lumalahok sa laban. 

Sapagkat ang tunggalian ay paaralan ng manggagawa, katulad niyang hinubog ng tunggalian ng ideya at sama-samang pagkilos. Ang kanyang pagkilos sa Marikina ay kinatampukan ng pagbubuo ng “Marikina People’s Council” o MPC, kung saan natipon ang mga demokratikong pwersa sa naturang munisipyo. Dahil dito, nagawa ng kilusan na makapagpaupo ng manggagawa ng Fortune Tobacco bilang konsehal ng pamahalaang lokal (Larry Punzalan). Napabilang din sa inisyatibang ito sina Bayani Fernando at Ome Candazo, na kinalauna’y naging mga opisyal ng gobyerno.

Lider ng Bukluran. Sa pagputok ng tunggalian sa loob ng kilusang Kaliwa sa bansa, tumindig si Ka Ronnie sa “bagong linya”. Itinakwil niya ang lumang linya ng pangmatagalang digmang bayan na umaasa sa magsasaka bilang pangunahing pwersa. Tumindig siya sa pamumuno ng manggagawa sa laban ng bayan upang magtuloy-tuloy ang pakikibaka ng masang anakpawis patungong sosyalismo. 

Taong 1995, nang siya ang naging pinuno sa elektoral na kampanya ni Sonny Rivera ng SANLAKAS sa pagkakongresista ng Pasig. Hinawakan niya ang ikalawang distrito nito. Taong 1996-1998, nang mapabilang siya sa tinaguriang “National Pool of Organizers” (NPO) ng BMP. Una niyang hinawakan ang teritoryo ng Bulacan, kung saan, pumutok ng kaliwa’t kanan ang mga pakikibaka – mula sa grievance hanggang sa welga – sa mga pabrika ng McRyan, Standard Aluminum, Banson Lumber, Ingasco, atbp. Kasama din siya sa pag-oorganisa ng Indophil (pabrika ng sinulid) sa Marilao, na may libo-libong mga manggagawa. Kinalauna’y tinagurian siyang “borderless” bilang organisador. Gamit ang tsapang “Office of the Secretary-General” at “Lagman Law Office”, hindi na nahahangganan ng isang munisipyo o probinsya ang kanyang pag-oorganisa. 

Mula sa paglilipat ng Pacific Glass (Paglamaco) sa San Juan tungo sa ARCYA Laguna hanggang sa pag-agaw ng unyon sa Novelty Philippines na nasa may 3,000 manggagawa at maging sa mga kagilagilalas na aksyon sa Hopewell sa Pagbilao, Quezon at Philippine Geothermal sa Tiwi, Albay. Masipag at walang kinakatakutan. Tumutubo saan man maitanim. ‘Yan ang naging marka ni Ka Ronnie bilang organisador. Taong 1999 nang mahalal siya bilang bahagi ng BMP Central Committee, kung saan, itinalaga siya upang maging organisador ng balangay nito sa Southern Tagalog. Naging tanyag, hindi lamang ang BMP kundi si Ka Ronnie, sa naturang erya. Kasabay ng pagtatayo noong ng mga export processing zones at mga technopark, sumabay din sa pag-oorganisa ang mga unyon at buklod ng BMP, laluna sa Laguna. 

Lumatag din ang impluwensya ng BMP sa pagkakabuo ng Kapatiran ng mga Pangulo ng Unyon (KPUP), kung saan naugnayan ang malalaking mga unyon gaya ng Alaska, Kimberly Clark, Anglo Watson, Unilonseal, atbp. Sa panahon ding ito, naging komon na pulang bandera ang BMP sa mga pabrikang nagpiket o nagwelga sa Calabarzon. Nabasag ang “no strike, no union” sa mga subdivision ng mga eksporter (welga sa GNF, Canlubang Spinning Mills, atbp). 

Hindi rin nakaligtas ang naglalakihang mga pader ng mga industriyal na erya sa mga panawagan at paninindigan ng BMP. Umabot ang saklaw ng pag-oorganisa – sa tulong ng mga kasamang ikinatuwang niya sa mga gawain – maging sa mga probinsyang karatig ng Laguna – hanggang sa Quezon (Peter Paul, mga subcon ng Gelmart, tricycle drivers ng POKTODA, atbp.), at Cavite (RIL, Berenguer Topacio, Lepanto Tiles, AA Ceramics, atbp.). 

Kaya naman, hindi nakapagtataka kung bakit sa mga panahon ng eleksyon (mula 1998 hanggang 2013), malaking porsyento ng boto sa mga partylist na sinuportahan ng BMP ay nagmumula sa Southern Tagalog, kahit tayo ay nagmula sa Maynila at maituturing na ‘dayo’ sa Calabarzon. Mula sa pagiging ordinaryong kagawad, si Ka Ronnie ay permanenteng nahahalal bilang kagawad ng BMP National Executive Committee noong 2001. 

Bilang bahagi ng pambansang organo, siya ay naging responsable sa iba’t ibang linya ng gawain – kahit ang kanyang ispesyalisasyon ay nasa lokal na pakikibakang masa at gawaing kampanya. Isang ganap na kumprehensibong kadre. Nagsusulat. Nagtatalakay. Nagtatalumpati. Nagbabalangkas ng plano – sa kabuuan at sa pakikibakang lokal. Nangangasiwa ng mga gawain. Nagmomobilisa sa mga pagkilos. Naghahain ng mga petisyon sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno. Nag-aalaga ng ugnay sa mga opisyal ng DOLE, simbahang katolika, at iba pang institusyon. Nagpapatupad ng mga panalong desisyon sa kaso. Isang libo’t isang gawain ang kinayang gawin ng kasamang walang tigil sa pagpapaunlad at paghuhubog sa sarili para maging mahusay na unyonista, sosyalista at rebolusyonaryo. Kahit sa huling yugto ng kanyang buhay, mula sa pakikibakang pang-unyon ay nagsisimula na siyang aralin at kabisaduhin ang pakikibaka sa lupa ng mga maralita nang pamunuan niya ang laban ng mamamayan sa Sitio Malipay sa Bacoor, Cavite.

Katangiang Mahirap Pantayan. Mabigat man sa atin ang tanggapin ang kanyang pagpanaw, hayaan nating humimlay si Ka Ronnie para ganap nang makapagpahinga. Mamayapa ang katawang buong sipag at sigasig na inalay sa paglaya ng uring manggagawa at sambayanang Pilipino. Kung mayroon mang tunay na nakapanghihinayang, ito ay ang kanyang biglaang paglisan nang hindi natin nakuha – ng buong-buo mula sa kanya – ang kwento ng kanyang mga karanasan. Karanasang punong-puno na mga aral sa praktika ng pagsusulong ng rebolusyon. 

Kulang ang pagpupugay ngayon para kunin ang mga leksyon mula sa kanyang kakaibang paglilingkod sa kilusan ng masang anakpawis. Ganunpaman, sa ating pamamaalam, sumahin natin sa isang salita ang natatanging katangian ng magiting na organisador ng pakikibaka na si Ka Ronnie Luna. Walang iba ito kundi ang KAPANGAHASAN. 

Siya ang kasamang hindi magpapatinag kaninuman, sa anuman, at saan man. Kahit na anong balakid, suliranin o pagsubok ay kanyang hahanapan ng kalutasan. Masalimuot man ang nakitang solusyon, lahat ng ito ay handa niyang suungin – kahit maisakripisyo pa ang kanyang sarili – kung ang magiging resulta (gaano man kaliit ang posibilidad ng kongkretong ganansya) ay ang pagkamulat at pagkakaorganisa ng pakikibaka ng manggagawa, ang uring tutubos sa atin sa sumpa ng kahirapan at pagsasamantala. 

Ang totoong pagpupugay kay Ka Ronnie ay hindi pa ang pagbibigay-puri sa kanyang mga ginawa kundi ang matularan – laluna ang kanyang kapangahasan – ng sinumang nagnanais na baguhin ang umiiral na kabulukan. Sa ganitong paraan, ihihimlay natin ang kanyang pisikal na katawan ngunit mananatili siyang buhay sa ating puso’t isipan para palakasin muli ang kilusang paggawa at kilusang sosyalista sa bansa. Mabuhay ang mapangahas na diwa ni Ka Ronnie Luna! Mabuhay ang mapagpalayang kilusan ng uring manggagawa!

Duterte’s defense of cop who rammed protesters itself an act of violence against the people

Duterte’s defense of cop who rammed protesters itself an act of violence against the people

This week, we watched with horror as a police officer repeatedly and brazenly rammed scores of protesters in broad daylight in front of hundreds of people. We gasped at the sight of men lying under a police van, about to be run over. We witnessed how heavily-armed cops truncheoned water-cannoned, and beat up protesters It was the most violent dispersals we have seen in years.

The least that the President could have said was:

“I extend my solidarity to all those who were hurt. I strongly denounce the violence committed by the police. What they did was will not be tolerated under this government. I reprimand and I will move to file charges against the police officers who—as numerous video reports clearly showed—used disproportionate force against the protesters and violated their right to protest.”

Instead, after two days of silence while the rest of us boiled with anger and demanded justice, the President has instead chosen to act as a lawyer for the police.

Instead of saying the only thing that must be said in the face of what happened—-i.e. that the violence was unacceptable—he instead echoed the line of those who have chosen to justify the cop’s unjustifiable actions. More than that, he even invited the cop to Malacanang “for coffee.”

We at the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino are not entirely surprised by this response: This, after all, is the same President who has repeatedly said that he will protect and pardon any cop accused of committing human rights violations, who has said that he is “happy to slaughter” more than 3,000 criminals, and who wants to bury Marcos—the dictator who ran over the lives of thousands—as a “hero.”

But, while not surprising, his response is still shocking and unacceptable. By choosing to lawyer for the cops and refusing to condemn their blatant abuse of power, Duterte is in effect telling cops: “It’s OK to ram protesters. You will just be ‘investigated’ and invited to have coffee with the President. And he is in effect telling us: “Don’t count on the police not to run you over in case you decide to fight for your rights.”

As commander-in-chief, the President bears command-responsibility for the shocking violence that happened this week. He certainly did not create the climate of impunity that now reigns in our country. But by repeatedly shielding abusive cops and now refusing to condemn the shocking violence they had just committed, he has certainly further reinforced it—encouraging many other cops to think they really can get away with attempted murder.

We reiterate our demand for justice and we call for accountability—not just from the cops, but also from the President himself.

Labor warns Duterte of Rasputins in his cabinet

Labor warns Duterte of Rasputins in his cabinet

Socialist group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) expressed grave concern that several members of the cabinet are actively working against the fulfillment of the economic reforms vowed by President Rodrigo Duterte himself.

Days ago, the government’s so-called economic managers ganged-up and rejected the P125 national wage increase proposal, that according to them would push inflation rates to 9.7 percent and spike unemployment by 1.2 percent

The group identified Secretaries Ramon Lopez, Ernesto Pernia, Benjamin Diokno and Silvestre Bello of the trade, socioeconomic planning, budget, and labor departments respectively as ‘obstacles’ to the realization of the president’s wishes that the BMP said “could have made positive impacts in the lives of millions of ordinary folks”.

“The alter egos of the president in the economic cluster are clearly on the opposite side of their superior and the heavily taxed ordinary folks who pay for their salaries. The secretaries have been consistently active in countering measures that the president has explicitly declared. More importantly, they are not only defying the president’s orders but betraying the trust between him and the nation,” the group’s spokesperson, Attorney Luke Espiritu said.

Among the economic reforms that the secretaries have opposed despite the president’s open support, according to Espiritu is the abolition of all forms of contractual employment, the establishment of a national wage board, a substantial wage increase for the public and private sector as well as the ban on land conversion.

He also accused the cabinet officials of “poisoning the mind” of the president into withdrawing his promises and to fear mongering.

“If they are not fulfilling the wishes of the president or that of the taxpayers, then whose interests are they working for, Espiritu inquired.

BMP fears that other measures that will substantially raise the quality of life of millions living below the poverty line will receive the similar fate as the wage increase proposal.

He likewise reminded the officials that, “It is the overwhelming support of working class that catapulted Duterte to power for they believed that he can affect change they seek. This government must serve the interests of the many and not of the elite”.

“With the way things are going and not unless they are removed from their posts immediately”, Espiritu warned that the recently issued Executive Order No. 5, adopting the “Ambisyon 2040”, a long-term development plan aimed at tripling Filipinos’ per capita income to $11,000 in 24 years’ time “will remain to be a bureaucratic pipedream”.

“If the President really sides with the overburdened workers then he must on guard at all times from his subordinates and terminate them at the smallest infraction they commit,” Espiritu asserted.

The group, last week demanded the president to fire trade Secretary Lopez for his efforts to block the abolition of all forms of contractualization.#

President Duterte must condemn and punish cops who attacked protesters

President Duterte must condemn and punish cops who attacked protesters

We at the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino condemn the violent dispersal of the nonviolent protests of indigenous peoples belonging to the newly formed Sandugo alliance at the US embassy today and at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.

Over fifty of our brothers and sisters were hurt when the police and the military used disproportionate force to break up their protest. Many were injured when a police vehicle repeatedly rammed the crowd of unarmed protesters.



This is shocking and unacceptable under any circumstances. But it is even more intolerable under a government that has promised to champion the rights of indigenous peoples and other oppressed classes, under a President who claims to be the first ‘leftist’ or ‘socialist’ President of the country.

As commander-in-chief of the country’s police and military, President Rodrigo Duterte has command responsibility over the state’s repressive forces. As such, he too is ultimately responsible for these forces’ actions.

To prove that he is committed to upholding our freedom to assemble and protest and to demonstrate that he supports our indigenous sisters’ and brothers’ struggle for their rights, he must immediately and publicly castigate the military and police officials responsible for this crackdown.

At the very least, he must immediately order disciplinary actions against—and if need be fire—Franklin Kho, the driver of the police vehicle that rammed the group of protesters and Marcelino Pedrozo, the officer who ordered the violent dispersal.

Any hesitation or refusal on his part to strongly denounce this shocking use of force will only further intensify the reigning climate of impunity that he has further fanned with his repeated pronouncements that he will protect and pardon all police officers accused of human rights violations.



It is this climate of impunity that is already leading officers of the law to think they can get away with anything—even attempted murder in front of cameras.

The struggle of the indigenous peoples is inseparable from our struggle as workers. An attack on them is an attack on us all.

All Senators’ bills fail to challenge contractualization

All Senators’ bills fail to challenge contractualization

Below is the position paper on the Senate bills on contractualization and security of tenure of workers issued by the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino National Executive Committe on October 13, 2016:

The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) welcomes various initiatives by lawmakers to address contractualization and other controversies regarding job security, in the form of legislative proposals to address a problem, which has long been branded by the organized labor movement as a scourge on labor rights and welfare.

But all the proposals, particularly Senate Bills 217 (Hontiveros), 174 (Aquino), 117 (Pimentel), 302 (Zubiri), 329 (Ejercito), 1061 (Poe), and 1116 (Villanueva), fail to address the legal basis for contractualization; no other than Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code, which pertains to contracting and subcontracting agreements.

As a workers’ organization, we are not composed of lawyers but of trade unionists who are day-to-day practitioners of laws on labor relations. But we all still know that provisions on job contracting undermine Article 280 of the said code, which states that regular employees are those who perform “usually necessary or desirable” in the normal operations of a business.

Articles 106 to 109 provides the loophole for the so-called “principals” in these trilateral agreements to use contractors and subcontractors that provide cheaper and more docile workers to carry out work that should be performed by their regular employees.

These provisions not only obfuscate employee-employer relationships. In the processes of union building, workers become victims of finger-pointing between principals and the labor agencies on who should negotiate with the newly-formed union regarding wages, benefits, and work conditions.

More so, these provisions reinforce the capitalist blackmail of “work or starve”, as the threat of unemployment constantly hovers, like Damocles’ sword, on contractual workers who could be fired anytime by simply terminating their employment contracts.

Contractualization, legalized by Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code, is tantamount to cheap and docile labor. It is a problem that affects millions, especially if we include the families who rely on casual workers for their daily sustenance and upkeep.

According to the May 2016 Labstat Updates of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), based on the 2013/2014 Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment, out of a total of 4.472 million workers in firms with twenty (20) or more employees, 1.336 million (29.87%) are non-regular workers. This data does not include those employed in small and micro establishments, which comprise more than 90% of employers in the country.

If the 1.336 million contractuals in large firms provide for the needs of a family of five, we have 6.68 million Filipinos who are affected by low wages and the lack of job security due to contractualization!

Hence, the BMP believes that only a bill that would  repeal Articles 106 to 109 and the prohibit  contracting of “usually necessary or desirable” work, pursuant to Article 280 of the Labor Code would actually begin to bring an end to contractualization. Employment of contractual labor, in order to depress wages and deny regular status to workers should be regarded as a criminal offense.

Such harsh penalties, as proposed, are guided by state policies enshrined in the Constitution. Labor, states Article 2, Section 18, is the “primary social economic force”. Because labor should enjoy primacy over non-human inputs in production and commerce, the charter orders the state to provide “FULL PROTECTION to labor” (Article 13, Section 3, emphasis ours).

The State should guarantee workers their immutable rights in the work place – a fitting tribute to their undervalued contribution to economic development. It is hence but appropriate to treat the deprivation of the workers’ due, their basic entitlements and social protection as criminal transgressions which must not be countenanced by the State.

Indeed, the State owes a ballooning social debt to workers who should, as a matter of Constitutional mandate, be entitled to living wage, participation in decision-making processes affecting their rights and benefits, unhampered self-organization, among others.

Hence, the BMP challenges Congress to tread the right direction, consistent with this mandate, by plugging the legal loopholes that permit contractualization and the further detriment of labor rights and welfare.

Ending contractualization, which has been declared as a policy by no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself, is a step in this rightful course.

End contractualization now!

Uphold the right of workers to security of tenure!

BMP to Duterte: Fire Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez now

Duterte: Fire Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez now



During the election campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte won the hearts of many workers when he promised to immediately end “contractualization,” or the practice of not giving workers the wages and benefits they should receive under the law by hiring them as “contractual” rather than regular workers.



Then, during his inaugural speech, President Duterte said that his government will be guided in part by former US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s statement that, “The test of government is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide for those who have little.”




Today, one person in the President’s Cabinet has gone out of his way to prevent the President from fulfilling his campaign promise and from passing the test that Roosevelt set.

Since he assumed office, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez has consistently opposed measures to end contractualization that we at the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, along with other labor groups in the country, have been demanding.



Recently, Lopez even championed the so-called “win-win” but in fact win-lose solution that purportedly seeks a middle-ground between capitalists and workers but in fact again ultimately harms the interests of workers since it will continue to force them to live a life of precarity and near-destitution while allowing the rich to earn more profits and live a life of luxury on the back of contractual workers.



Yesterday, he again spoke out to defend contractualization by saying that ending it would make the country less attractive to foreign investors by removing their “flexibility”—as if “flexibility” for investors has not come and will not come at the expense of the well-being of Filipino workers.


At every step of the way, then, Lopez and his department has represented not the interests of Filipino workers but of capitalists—Filipino and foreign. He fails the test that Roosevelt set because he wants to “add more to the abundance of those who have much” rather than “provide for those who have little.”


In so doing, he is challenging and defying President Duterte himself since the President has said that he wants to “provide for those who have little” and he has promised to end contractualization.

This, then, is an important moment for the President—another early test forcing him to choose whose side he will take and whose interests he will protect.



If the President really cares about Filipino workers, if he really wants to to “provide for those who have little,” then he should match his rhetoric with action and do what needs to be done: he should immediately fire those in his Cabinet who favor contractualization.

More than this, he should immediately take steps needed to end labor flexibilization once and for all by: 1) certifying as urgent – and mobilizing all his party mates to pass – a bill to amend Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code in order to prohibit the contracting and subcontracting of “usually necessary or desirable” work in the normal operations of a business, which should be performed by regular employees, in line with Article 280 of said law; 2) revising the BMBE law so as to remove the exemptions to labor standards compliance of small and micro establishments, which comprise more than 90% of the employers’ sector; 3) repealing DOLE’s DO 18-A and issuing a new order which reviews all existing subcontracting arrangements and cancels those that encroach upon the duties and functions, which should done by regular employees; 4) actually prosecuting employers that practice contractualization, starting with the Sys, the Ayalas, the Gokongweis and others.

Otherwise, if he allows the pro-contractualization Lopez to stay in his Cabinet and if he does not carry out all these steps immediately, it will become harder and harder for us not to confirm what many of us have long suspected but wanted the President to refute:

That he did not really mean what he said when he said he would end contractualization, that he does not really care for all Filipinos but just for his fellow elites, and that he will not really bring about real change—just like all his predecessors.

Workers group challenges Duterte to fire pro-contractualization Trade Secretary

Workers group challenges Duterte to fire pro-contractualization Trade Secretary

Socialist workers’ group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) today called on President Rodrigo Duterte to fire his Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Lopez has been defying and contradicting the President’s own campaign promise to end the practice of contractualization so the President must remove him from office if he is still serious about fulfilling his promise, BMP said.

The group was reacting to Lopez’s most recent statement saying contractualization will only scare away foreign investors.

“Since he assumed office, trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has consistently opposed measures to end contractualization,” the group noted in its statement.

“At every step of the way, Lopez has represented and defended not the interests of Filipino workers but of capitalists—Filipino and foreign. He fails the test that the President set because he wants to “add more to the abundance of those who have much” rather than “provide for those who have little,” the group added, quoting the President’s inaugural speech.

Expressing frustration at the lack of progress in eliminating contractualization, the group said the President needs to do more to demonstrate his commitment to workers by firing Lopez.

“This is an important moment for the President—another early test by forcing him to choose whose side he will take and whose interests he will protect.

If the President really cares about Filipino workers, if he really wants to “provide for those who have little,” as he said in his inaugural speech, then he should match his rhetoric with action and do what needs to be done: he should immediate fire those in his Cabinet who favor contractualization.”

In addition, the group called on the President to take concrete steps needed to end labor flexibilization. This include: 1) certifying as urgent – and mobilizing all his party mates to pass – a bill to amend Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code in order to prohibit the contracting and subcontracting of “usually necessary or desirable” work in the normal operations of a business, which should be performed by regular employees, in line with Article 280 of said law; 2) revising the BMBE law so as to remove the exemptions to labor standards compliance of small and micro establishments, which comprise more than 90% of the employers’ sector; 3) repealing DOLE’s DO 18-A and issuing a new order which reviews all existing subcontracting arrangements and cancels those that encroach upon the duties and functions which should done by regular employees.

Finally, the group challenged the President to actually prosecute employers that practice contractualization, starting with the country’s richest families such as Sys, the Ayalas, the Gokongweis and others.

Duterte’s foreign policy remains subservient, not independent

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino

PRESS RELEASE

Duterte’s foreign policy remains subservient, not independent

President Duterte's recent pronouncements regarding the country's relationship with the United States, China, and Russia does not signal an "independent foreign policy."

While the President’s criticism of our unequal relationship with the US is, of course welcome, the President himself has made it clear that he has threatened to break our subservient and mendicant relationship with the US only because the US officials have criticized the President's brutal "war on drugs."

This in itself does not constitute "independence."

Independence does not mean having the freedom to, in the President’s words, "happily slaughter" thousands of drug pushers or dependents. Independence does not mean renouncing our duties and obligations to humanity as responsible members of the international community.

Secondly, despite his repeated threats and bluster, the President has not actually abrogated the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and other onerous deals that constitute the basis of our unequal and mendicant relationship with the US.

Despite his provocative words, he and his alter egos have repeatedly backtracked on his announcements that the Philippines will no longer conduct military exercises or cut our ties with the US altogether.

Clearly, if the President were serious about breaking with the US, he would have set the ball rolling for the repeal of the treaties mentioned earlier and stuck to his word regarding the military exercises.

But the fact that the President has not done so only lends credence to our fears that, first, he is only instrumentalizing legitimate concerns about our unequal relationship with the US in order to obscure and delegitimize criticisms of his violent, anti-poor, and ineffective “war on drugs”; and that, second, he is merely trying to extract even more concessions from the US while appearing to be critical of the US--just like what the former dictator Marcos did in the past.

Finally, we do not believe that the President favors an independent foreign policy because he only seeks to replace the “alliance” with the US with an alliance with other rising powers, namely China and Russia. Indeed, in line with this, he has even announced that the government would not press the Philippines' claim to the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

Instead of signaling an 'independent foreign policy,' this actually signals the beginning of yet another era of subservience--only this time, to a different or to a more varied set of masters.

For not only is China's commitment to human rights and international law questionable at best, China has also adamantly opposed just and peaceful solutions to the disputes in the region.

In this context, Duterte's refusal to even discuss the country's claim to the Scarborough Shoal is tantamount to sending China the message that it can just use its might and throw its weight around to bully everyone else into submission.

This will not only undermine efforts to arrive at a just and peaceful settlement to the dispute, such as proposals for equitably sharing the resources of the disputed area among the region's peoples, it could also effectively lock in the Philippines to a subordinate position vis-a-vis China.

Instead of breaking with the past and inaugurating a new era in our relations with other countries, then, Duterte seems to be paving the way for more of the same: Rather than independence, we see subservience; rather than sovereignty, we discern surrender.

In order to achieve real independence, we demand, among others, the immediate abrogation of the MDT, the VFA and he EDCA. We demand peaceful but just solutions to the disputes in the region. And we demand equal relations with all countries based on the spirit of genuine international brotherhood, economic cooperation, and mutual benefit.

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino

Contact persons:

Leody de Guzman, BMP President @ 0920-5200672

Atty. Luke Espiritu, BMP Spokesperson @ 0933-0417125

Duterte’s foreign policy remains subservient, not independent

Duterte’s foreign policy remains subservient, not independent

President Duterte’s recent pronouncements regarding the country’s relationship with the United States, China, and Russia do not signal an “independent foreign policy.”

While the President’s criticism of our subservient and mendicant relationship with the US is of course welcome, the President himself has made it clear that his criticisms were only a response to US officials’ concerns about the President’s brutal “war on drugs.”

This in itself does not constitute “independence.”

Independence does not mean having the freedom to, in the President’s words, “happily slaughter” thousands of drug pushers or dependents. Independence does not mean renouncing our duties and obligations to humanity as responsible members of the international community.

Secondly, despite his repeated threats and bluster, the President has not actually abrogated the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and other onerous deals that constitute the basis of our unequal and mendicant relationship with the US. 

Despite his provocative words, he and his alter egos have repeatedly backtracked on his announcements that the Philippines will no longer conduct military exercises or cut our ties with the US altogether.

Clearly, if the President were serious about breaking with the US, he would have set the ball rolling for the repeal of the treaties mentioned earlier and stuck to his word regarding the military exercises.

But the fact that the President has not done so only lends credence to our fears that, first, he is only instrumentalizing legitimate concerns about our unequal relationship with the US in order to obscure and delegitimize criticisms of his violent, anti-poor, and ineffective “war on drugs”; and that, second, he is merely trying to extract even more concessions from the US while appearing to be critical of imperialism.

Finally, we do not believe that the President actually favors an independent foreign policy because he only seeks to replace the “alliance” with the US with an alliance with other rising powers, namely China and Russia. Indeed, in line with this, he has even announced that the government would not press the Philippines’ claim to the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

Instead of signalling an ‘independent foreign policy,’ this actually signals the beginning of yet another era of subservience–only this time, to a different or to a more varied set of masters.

For not only is China’s commitment to human rights and international law questionable at best, China has also adamantly opposed just and peaceful solutions to the disputes in the region.

In this context, Duterte’s refusal to even discuss the country’s claim to the Scarborough Shoal is tantamount to sending China the message that it can just use its might and throw its weight around to bully everyone else into submission.

This will not only undermine efforts to arrive at a just and peaceful settlement to the dispute, such as proposals for equitably sharing the resources of the disputed area among the region’s peoples, it could also effectively lock in the Philippines to a subordinate position vis-a-vis China.

Instead of breaking with the past and inaugurating a new era in our relations with other countries, then, Duterte seems to be paving the way for more of the same: Rather than independence, we see subservience; rather than sovereignty, we discern surrender.

In order to achieve real independence, we demand, among others, the immediate abrogation of the MDT, the VFA and he EDCA. We demand peaceful but just solutions to the disputes in the region. And we demand equal relations with all countries based on the spirit of genuine international brotherhood,  cooperation, and mutual benefit.

Security of Tenure, Workers’ Rights and Welfare are non-negotiable

PRESS STATEMENT

July 1, 2016

Leody de Guzman (09205200672)

National President, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

Security of Tenure, Workers’ Rights and Welfare are non-negotiable:

No to a mere cap to ‘endo’

Yes to “Change is Coming”

In reaction to an earlier pronouncement by incoming Labor Secretary for limiting the employment of contractual labor to twenty percent (20%), the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) would like to remind Silvestro Bello III that the workers’ rights and welfare are non-negotiable. 

We likewise oppose the blackmail line of “contractual employment or hunger by joblessness” that are issued by employers’ groups on the issue of contractualization. 

Our position is based on the following premises:

1) Placing a cap on contractual labor is not in the Labor Code, which clearly states that “usually and necessary labor” in the operations of a business should be performed by a regular employee (Article 280). It defines usually and necessary as the type of work performed for at least a year, whether continuous or broken. 

2) Bello’s proposal is likewise contrary and violative to the Constitution. While seemingly enabling the Constitutional right to security of tenure to a sizeable majority (80%) of the workforce, it institutionalizes its denial to two out of ten workers (20%). Where is the so-called “equal protection of law” in this patently anti-labor scheme?

3) The proposed cap on contractual labor is contrary to the “change is coming” mandate of the incoming Duterte administration. We want change. We want a labor market where workers’ rights and welfare are not threatened by contractualization. We expect it from a government that would side with the labor against capital, with the oppressed against the oppressors. Fence-sitting would not lead to change, it is business-as-usual for the unjust status quo. Bello must be reminded that the Duterte presidency rode on the crest of the people’s clamor for change by launching an all-out tirade against social ills, especially the lackluster and bungling elitist administration of Noynoy Aquino.

4) Putting an end to contractualization is not just a legal question on the Constitutional right to job security but a life-and-death issue for workers are forced to become cheap and docile due to the threat of unemployment, and in order for capital to gain higher profit margins. It is nothing but shameless and callous profiteering

Meanwhile, we condemn employers’ groups that justify contractualization by saying that it contributes to job generation. Your condescending excuses mock the dignity of labor. You are not in the business of providing us jobs to feed our families. Accumulation and competition are your masters. In their service, you have installed this regime of precarious and contractual work, that imposed starvation wages on hardworking Filipinos.

Mr. Sergio Ortiz of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has correctly observed that combatting contractualization would be hard due to the high levels of unemployment. Of course, cut-throat competition among workers to sell their labor-power persists as long as the unemployed masses lines up at the factory gates. But it is precisely the reason why the Philippine state – abiding by its Constitutional mandate to provide full protection to labor – should uphold the interests of the workers lest they fall prey to the blackmail line of “low wages or hunger” by exploitative employers. 

Hence, we appeal to the incoming Duterte administration to be true to its mandate by implementing the harshness of the law on abusive capitalists in the same way that it now threatens the crime lords of the illegal drug trade. For an Executive Order against contractualization! Prohibit the contracting out of “usually necessary and desirable work”! Amend Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code! #

Seguridad sa Trabaho, Karapatan at Kagalingan ng Manggagawa ay Hindi Naaareglo:

Hindi sa simpleng panakip lang sa ‘endo’

OO sa “Pagdating ng Pagbabago” 

Bilang tugon sa maagang pahayag ng papasok na Kalihim ng Paggawa sa paglilimita ng pagtatrabaho ng kontraktwal na paggawa sa dalawampung bahagdan (20%), nais ipaalala ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) kay Silvestre Bello III na hindi naaareglo ang karapatan at kagalingan ng manggagawa.

Gayundin naman, tinututulan namin ang linyang panggigipit na “trabahong kontraktwal o kagutuman sa kawalan ng trabaho” na ipinahayag ng mga pangkat ng kapitalista hinggil sa isyu ng kontratwalisasyon.

Ang aming tindig ay batay sa sumusunod na mga kadahilanan:

1) Ang paglalagay ng panakip sa kontraktwal na paggawa ay wala sa Kodigo ng Paggawa, kung saan malinaw na nakasulat ang “karaniwan at kinakailangang paggawa” sa pagpapatakbo ng isang negosyo ay dapat gampanan ng isang regular na empleyado (Artikulo 280). Ipinaliliwanag nito ang karaniwan at kinakailangan bilang tipo ng paggawang ginagampanan sa loob man lang ng isang taon, ito man ay tuluyan o patlang-patlang.

2) Gayunman, ang panukala ni Bello ay salungat at labag sa Saligang Batas. Habang nakikitang nagagampanan ang Konstitusyonal na karapatan sa seguridad sa trabaho sa malawak na mayorya (80 bahagdan) ng pwersa ng mga nagtatrabaho, itinatatag nito ang pagkakaila sa dalawa sa sampung manggagawa (20%). Nasaan ang tinatawag na “pantay na karapatan sa batas” sa ganitong malinaw na pakanang laban sa paggawa?

3) Ang panukalang panakip sa kontraktwal na paggawa ay salungat sa mandatong “parating na ang pagbabado ng parating na administrasyong Duterte. Nais namin ay pagbabago. Nais namin ang isang merkado ng paggawa kung saan ang karapatan at kagalingan ng manggagawa ay hindi pinagbabantaan ng kontraktwalisasyon. Ang inaasahan namin sa isang pamahalaan ay ang pagpanig nito sa paggawa laban sa puhunan, sa panig ng inaapi laban sa mga mang-aapi. Ang pangingitlog sa bangko ay hindi tutungo sa pagbabago, ito’y karaniwang-pagnenegosyo-lang para sa mga di-makatarungang naghaharing kairalan. Dapat paalalahanan si Bello na ang panguluhang Duterte ay nakatungtong sa gulugod ng panawagang pagbabago ng sambayanan sa pamamagitan ng paglulunsad ng panlahatang panunuligsa laban sa mga sakit ng lipunan, lalo na ang  walang kinang at padaskul-daskol na elitistang administrasyon ng Noynoy Aquino.

4) Ang pagwawakas sa kontraktwalisasyon ay hindi lamang isang legal na usapin ng Konstitusyonal na karapatan sa seguridad sa trabaho subalit isang usaping buhay-at-kamatayan para sa mga manggagawang natutulak na maging mura at masunurin dahil sa banta ng kawalan ng trabaho, at upang makakuha ng mas mataas na tubo ang puhunan. Wala ito kundi kawalanghiyaan at kawalang-habag na pagkakamal ng tubo.

Samantala, kinukundena namin ang mga grupo ng kapitalistang binibigyang matuwid ang kontraktwalisasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabing nakapag-aambag ito sa pagkakaroon ng trabaho. Ang pagpapakumbabang pagdadahilan ninyo ay mapangutya sa dignidad ng paggawa. Wala kayo sa katwirang bigyan kami ng trabaho upang mapakain ang aming pamilya. Ang pangangamkam at kumpetisyon ang inyong mga amo. Sa pagsisilbi sa kanila, inilagay ninyo ang rehimeng ito ng trabahong mabuway at kontraktwal, na iginigiit ang sahod na nakagugutom sa mga matitiyagang Pilipino.

Wastong naobserbahan ni Ginoong Sergio Ortiz ng Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) na ang pagbaka sa kontraktwalisasyon ay mahirap dahil sa taas ng antas ng kawalan ng trabaho. Siyempre, ang mga mapanakal na kumpetisyon sa mismong mga manggagawa upang ibenta ang kanilang lakas-paggawa ay nagpapatuloy habang parami ng parami ang mga walang trabahong manggagawa sa tarangkahan ng mga pabrika. Ngunit ito ang tiyak na rason kung bakit ang estado ng Pilipinas – na sumusunod sa mandatong Konstitusyonal nito na bigyan ng buong proteksyon ang paggawa – ay nararapat panindigan ang interes ng mga manggagawa kung hindi’y mabibiktima sila ng palyadong linyang “mababang sahod o gutom” ng mga mapagsamantalang kapitalista.

Kaya, nananawagan kami sa parating na administrasyong Duterte na maging totoo sa mandato nitong ipatupad ng malupit ang batas hinggil sa mga abusadong kapitalista sa parehong paraan na sa ngayon ay pinagbabantaan ng mga panginoon ng krimen ng mga ilegal na kalakalan ng droga. Para sa isang Batas Ehekutibo laban sa kontraktwalisasyon! Ipagbawal ang pangongontrata ng “paggawang karaniwang kinakailangan at kalugod-lugod”! Amyendahan ang mga Artikulong 106-109 ng Kodigo ng Paggawa! #

Police brutality in Kidapawan condemned, Declare El Nino areas in a state of calamity

Press Statement

01 April 2016

Police brutality in Kidapawan condemned, 

Declare El Nino areas in a state of calamity

SANLAKAS condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric acts inflicted by the police forces as a response to the legitimate and just demands of the Mindanaoan farmers. We hold the Aquino government accountable for unleashing his dogs of war against the hapless peasants.

We demand that entire police unit/s involved in the dispersal relieved, investigated and charged at the soonest possible time.

We also hold accountable the city officials of Kidapawan and the provincial government under Governor Lala Mendoza as well as the national agencies that should have been on top of the situation knowing that the impacts of the El Nino would affect hundreds of thousands if not millions ofpeople.

Firing at unarmed protestors is not only appalling and but also shows how inutile and insensitive our government is to the conditions our farmers who are suffering from water scarcity on a daily basis. While the government is fully aware that the El Nino phenomenon has intensely struck hundreds of thousands of acres of farmlands in Mindanao it did not only prepare for it but it also failed in relieving the farmers of the widespread hunger the climate crisis has caused on thousands of peasant and agricultural workers’ families.

As we share the grief of the victims of police brutality and extend our solidarity with the farmers in Mindanao, SANLAKAS demands from the Aquino government to provide economic relief and declare all EL Nino affected provinces including those in Visayas and Luzon in a state of calamity in order to freeze prices of the most basic commodities and so that the local government may access emergency funds.

We also demand that the climate adaptation efforts of the government expedited in order for the food and water supply crisis checked.

Contact details: 

Atty. Aaron Pedrosa 0927-5924830 

Sanlakas, Secretary General and nominee