Exec’s ouster demanded over ‘infiltration’ memo

MANILA, Philippines — Progressive groups tagged by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as communist fronts on Tuesday called for the ouster of the assistant interior secretary for public safety and security, saying he violated the law by interfering in workers’ right to self-organize.

At a joint press conference, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) said Assistant Interior Secretary Alexander Macario’s March 10 memorandum sowed fear among unionists who were only fighting for their welfare, decent wages and human rights.

“Macario’s order [to government agencies] to disaffiliate from legitimate groups and get the names of our members are against our rights and violate the law … We are calling for the revocation of the DILG memorandum, as well as the filing of disciplinary action against Macario,” said Santi Dasmariñas, Courage national president.

Both ACT and Courage had questioned the legality of Macario’s memorandum that identified the two organizations, both registered with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment, as “communist terror group[s]” without undergoing due process.

Dasmariñas cited former President Corazon Aquino’s Executive Order No. 180, which states: “Government authorities shall not interfere in the establishment, functioning or administration of government employees’ organizations.”

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite also slammed Bernardo Florece Jr., the DILG officer in charge, for stating that the groups’ reports of illegal arrests and the deaths of unionists and activists were “just in our imagination.”