Labor leader sees ‘no hope’ SOT bill will become law

MANILA, Philippines — A labor leader has lost hope that the campaign promise of President Duterte to end contractualization would be fulfilled anymore.

Labor leader Leody De Guzman said this as various labor groups slammed the move of Duterte to veto the security tenure bill in late July.

“Ang tingin namin parang wala nang pag-asa dito sa gobyerno na ito na iyong pangako ay matupad pa dahil sa kanyang pinakitang pagveto doon sa isang senate bill na halos pabor na pabor na nga sa mga kapitalsista,” De Guzman said on Monday in an ambush interview.

“Pero ang gusto nila ay more contractualization pa para sa mga kapitalista bago niya ito pirmahan. Ibig sabihin, itong gobyernong ito ay tuta ng mga negosyante, ito ay tuta ng mga kapitalista,” he added.

According to De Guzman, the convergence of some hundreds of protesters proved that the public could no longer trust the government when it comes to protecting the workers in the country.

Among the groups that participated in the rally were Anakbayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kadamay, Courage, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, and party-list groups ACT Teachers, Gabriela, and Bayan Muna.

De Guzman also gave Duterte a negative 50 rating when it comes to the President’s policies and actions for the workers.

“Negative 50. Negative kasi mas pinalalala niya yung kalagayan ng mga manggagawa, hindi niya pinanatili, hindi niya inangat,” De Guzman said.

“Sa halip na nagmaintain o umangat, mas bababa pa yung kalagayan, mas nagiging mahirap pa ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawang Pilipino kaya ang grado ko, sorry Mr. President, ay negative 50,” he added.

While the country celebrates National Heroes’ Day, De Guzman said that he could not consider Duterte as a national hero given the rating that he gave.

He also said that the state of the country may become worse than the time of former dictator and President Ferdinand Marcos.

“Hindi pwede na ang isang negative, na nagpalala sa kalagayan ng mga manggagawa at ng sambayanang Pilipino sa kabuuan ay maging bayani,” De Guzman said.

“Tingin ko ang tutunguhin ng Pangulong Duterte ay walang pagkakaiba sa inabot, o malamang mas higit pa, sa inabot ni Pangulong Marcos noon, kaya hindi pwedeng maging hero si President Duterte,” he added.