FILE PHOTO: Labor leader Elmer Labog. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Activists and progressive groups on Thursday called on the newly sworn-in Chief Executive Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to undo former President Rodrigo Duterte’s policies.
Labor leader and 2022 senatorial candidate Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog warned that if Marcos Jr. adopts Duterte’s bloody “drug war” and embraces Duterte’s wage and labor policies, many Filipinos would suffer.
Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte have vowed to continue advancing the achievements of the Duterte administration.
“Kami ay nandito para kondenahin ang statement ni Bongbong Marcos na ipagpapatuloy at ipalalaganap ang mga naging patakaran ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte,” Labog said in an interview with INQUIRER.net at Plaza Miranda where his group and other activists held a demonstration.
“Nanganganib ang sambayanan kapag ang mga patakarang ito ang mga pinangakong ipagpapatuloy ni Bongbong Marcos,” he added.
(We’re here to condemn Bongbong Marcos’ earlier statement, promising to continue and strengthen the policies of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The welfare of the Filipino people will be at risk if he fulfills his promise to continue these policies.)
READ: It’s official: Bongbong Marcos sworn in as PH’s 17th President
Labog further explained, “Ito po ay mapanganib. Ibig ko pong sabihin niyan ay imposisyon ng wage freeze policy ang matinding kontraktwalisasyon at siyempre, ipagpapatuloy ng trade union and human rights violations.”
(It’s dangerous because the imposition of a wage freeze policy triggers intensified contractualization; of course, the policies will continue to cause trade union and human rights violations.)
He also said that the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) request to resume its probe into Duterte’s drug war points to a neglect of the Filipino people’s rights.
“Napakaraming naging biktima sa usapin ng karapatang pantao lalong lalo na sa extrajudicial killings kaya malinaw na mayroong call ang ICC hinggil sa naging krimen nito ni Presidente Duterte,” Labog stressed.
(Many have fallen victim to human rights violations under the Duterte administration, especially extrajudicial killings. The ICC’s call to reopen the investigation on this crime committed by President Duterte is clear.)
‘Fight not over’
Labog reiterated that the fight would not end even after the Marcos Jr.-Sara Duterte victory in the May 9 polls has attained finality.
“Ito po ay aming paninindigan, isang commitment na ipagpapatuloy ang laban upang paunlarin ang ating ekonomiya. Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng manggagawa at mamamayan,” he said.
(This is our stance, a commitment to continue fighting to improve the country’s economy. To fight for the rights of the workers and the Filipino people.)
He then underscored, “Magpapatuloy ang laban hanggang sa makamit ang tunay na kalayaang demokrasya sa ating Inang Bayan.”
(The fight continues until we achieve real democratic freedom in our motherland.)
Labog, the chairman of independent labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, ran for senator under the slate of former Vice President Leni Robredo. He, however, failed to clinch a spot in the so-called Magic 12.
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