Colmenares hits Malacañang’s ‘anti-worker’, ‘pro-capitalist’ remark

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang’s statement that anti-government protests scare away foreign investors shows that the Duterte administration is “pro-capitalists” and “anti-workers,” Bayan Muna chairman and opposition senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares said Wednesday.

“Ang pinaka-crucial na statement na nagpapakita na pro-capitalist at anti-worker si Presidente ay ’yung statement na ‘yun, na ang pagpoprotesta ng manggagawa para ibasura ang kontraktwalisasyon at itaas ang sahod ay nag-scare daw ng foreign investors,” Colmenares told INQUIRER.net in an interview at Plaza Miranda on Labor Day.

“Diyan mo talaga makita ang tunay na kulay ni President Duterte. Gusto niya na hindi i-exercise ng mga manggagawa ang kanilang Constitutional rights in favor of business, to think foreign business pa,” he added.

Colmenares was reacting to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s statement on Labor Day, saying that anti-government protests of labor groups could “scare away foreign investors,”

READ: Palace: Anti-government protests may spook foreign investors

Panelo likewise said labor groups “seem to ignore the pro-labor initiatives of the President that resulted in him signing into laws beneficial to our workers.”

Colmenares, however, said Panelo’s claim that the Duterte administration is “pro-labor” was invalidated by the President’s failure to fulfill his campaign promise to end the contractualization of workers.

“Mali ang Malacañang, dahil number one pangako ni Presidente ang kontraktwalisasyon ay ibasura ngunit hanggang ngayon wala. Ano pa man ang sabihin ng Malacañang na pro-labor sila ay doon pa lang that claim is already destroyed,” he stressed.

Colmenares also claimed that the supposed crisis on water, power and the high prices of commodities justify labor groups’ call for an increase in wages.

“Sabi nila wala namang supervening events to justify the increase in wages. Ang tanong ko sa Malakanyang is this: Nothing is going right in this country today. May krisis sa tubig, krisis sa kuryente, krisis sa mahal na gasolina, krisis sa mababa na sahod at mataas na presyo (ng bilihin). Hindi pa ba supervening events ‘yan to justify ang pagtaas ng sahod?” he said. /gsg

READ: Influx of Chinese workers, ‘endo’ decried at Labor Day rally