Workers' march, rally on May 1 continue despite Defensor's warning of state of emergency

The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) warned Malacañang against preventing the workers from celebrating Labor Day on May 1.

"Nothing can stop us from holding our Labor Day rallies," said Josua Mata, APL Secretary General.

The labor group issued this statement after Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor warned yesterday that Malacañang would not hesitate to reimpose a state of emergency should the May 1 rallies escalate into armed violence.

"It's a lame excuse to prevent workers from staging massive protests on May 1. Workers will undoubtedly use May 1 to reiterate its call for the ouster of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and to present workers' anti-Charter Change sentiments," Mata said.

Mata said May 1 is a day for workers to express their indignation to this government. He said this President has condemned the labor sector to lurch from one crisis to the next.

APL earlier claimed that the government faces a jobs deficit of crisis proportions. The group said close to 11 million workers or 30% of the 32 million strong labor force were looking for work in 2005. This number included over four million jobless Filipinos - up from three million in 1998 that was considered a year of recession, and seven million underemployed workers.

"Defensor is clearly setting the stage for violent dispersal of marches and rallies on May 1. As far as we are concern, Labor Day is a legitimate venue for the workers to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of assembly," said Mata.

Mata explained that May 1 is revered as the day for workers to celebrate Labor Day just as March 8 is to women.

"We are warning Malacañang against disrupting the workers celebration of May 1 as they did in the dispersal of the women's march last March 8," said Mata.

Mata said violent dispersal of peaceful demonstrations is a sign that Gloria Arroyo will really not listen to the demands of workers and will continue to stifle legitimate political dissent that would result to more violations of human rights.