MANILA, Philippines – Not a national hero but a traitor.
This was how the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) described President Rodrigo Duterte on National Heroes’ Day.
According to KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog, even the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill had been watered down, it could still favor the workers in their fight for regularization had Duterte not vetoed it.
“Para sa’min hindi siya bayani, traydor sa [mamamayang] paggawa katulad ng kanyang pag-veto sa SOT na isa sa kanyang landmark vision,” Labog said in an interview.
“Ang nangyare, binaliktad niya yung kanyang pagtatangi tungo sa malalaking negosyante lokal at dayuhan at tinalikuran niya ang kanyang pangako sa mga manggagawa,” he added.
Labog said that the passing of the SOT bill in the country has long been overdue. Duterte promised to end contractualization in the country during the presidential campaign in May 2016.
Labor groups gathered on National Hero’s Day to protest the Duterte administration’s veto of the security tenure bill. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
Labog stressed that the main agenda as to why various labor groups gathered on National Heroes’ Day was to denounce the administration’s move to throw out the SOT bill.
“Masyado na itong watered down, lasug-lasug na yung natirang bill pero sana kung pinirmahan niya ito malamang mayroon konting awa na magagamit ang manggaawa upang muling itaguyod ang pakikibaka par sa regularisayon na malaking bilang ng manggawang kontrakwal,” he said.
“Kung magpapasa man ng security of tenure bill ang gobyerno ni Presidente Duterte, ito ay mas higit na mababa, higit na basura kumpara sa kanyang [pag-veto],” Labog added.
Duterte vetoed the SOT bill on the last week of July or just a day before it was scheduled to lapse.
In his veto message, Duterte said: “I stand by my firm commitment to protect the workers’ right to security of tenure by eradicating all forms of abusive employment practices.”
READ: Duterte vetoes Security of Tenure bill
Labog also said that Duterte could not be considered as a national hero for “selling out” the country to China and for siding with the businessmen instead of the workers.
“Paano magiging isang bayani ang isang tao na binebenta ang kalayaan ng ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng absolute sell-out sa bayang Tsina at tila tumutungo na sa pagiging isang republika ng Tsina ang ating bayan,” he said.
Duterte’s warm ties with China had long been criticized by the public, particularly on the topic of the controversial West Philippine Sea.