Amid
intense political infighting between the camps of President Bong Bong Marcos
Jr. and Vice Sara Duterte, the militant group Partido Manggagawa (PM) stated
that workers choose no sides and will not join any “fake people power.” “The
House of Labor does not support either the House of Polvoron or House of
Fentanyl, both of which are merely interested in retaining political power for
its own sake. In contrast, the House of Labor demands social justice and social
change,” explained Judy Miranda, PM secretary general.
Members
of PM joined the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition mobilization that assembled in front
of Ramon Magsaysay High School in Espana, Manila this morning. The workers then
marched to Mendiola at about 9 AM for a program that lasted until 12 noon.
PM
also held rallies in Cebu City and Bacolod City. In Cebu, PM members marched
around the city and held a program at Metro Gaisano in Colon St. In Bacolod,
farm workers and women’s groups affiliated to PM launched an indoor gathering
and later a march to the public plaza.
The
nationwide commemoration of Bonifacio Day by PM and Nagkaisa raised the call
for ending endo jobs, low wages and political dynasties. “The dominance of
political dynasties is a key factor in the mass poverty and economic
underdevelopment of the country. In the coming 2025 elections, we see the
perverse evolution of fat dynasties into obese ones and the almost total
capture of the partylist system—which was meant for representation by workers
and other marginalized sectors—by power-hungry trapos. I-endo ang dynasties ng
mga trapo hindi ang trabaho!” asserted Miranda.
She
added that “If Bonifacio were alive today, he would lead the Katipunan in a
fight to end political dynasties as a pathway for true independence and real
development.” Miranda pointed to stark contrast between the inaction of the
House of Representatives on the P150 wage hike bill and its fixation on Rodrigo
Duterte’s drug war and Sara Duterte’s confidential funds. “Of course, we want
Digong to be held accountable for the murder of alleged drug users and Inday
Sara for her plunder of people’s money. But we know that Congress is motivated
by factional infighting not good governance. And that is why Congress is deadma
to proposed reforms favorable to workers,” Miranda elaborated.
Other
demands highlighted by PM in the Bonifacio Day commemoration are Palestine
solidarity and climate justice. “Stop the genocide in Palestine and arrest
Banjamin Netanyahu. Robust not token funding by the Global North for climate
mitigation and adaptation in the Global South which is bearing the brunt of
climate change. These are our Christmas wishes,” Miranda concluded. ###
