March to Mendiola kicks off Labor Day

MANILA, Philippines – Militant groups are expected to gather at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila Tuesday in commemoration of Labor Day.

The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) said around 1,000 of its members would join the “Sakbayan ng Maralita”, a caravan of urban poor people whose march will start from a relocation site in Montalban Rizal, and will pass by the Aquino family’s ancestral home at Times Street in Quezon City and then to Welcome Rotonda, heading towards Mendiola.

At 8 a.m. members of Kadamay, led by the Montalban Relocatees Alliance, will join other urban poor groups from Caloocan, Payatas and Commonwealth at the Litex Road in Quezon City, as they
make their way to Times Street with a makeshift coffin.

Gloria Arellano, Kadamay secretary-general, said the casket represented their condemnation of the death of a resident from Silverio Compound during the recent violent demolition in the area.

“Simbolo umano ito ng pambubusabos na nararanasan nila na halos katumbas na rin ng kamatayan,” the group said.

At 1 p.m. the group will join other members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno to stage another program at the Plaza Miranda before heading towards Mendiola.

Kadamay said other groups such as the Alyansa ng Mamamayan sa Silverio-Kadamay-NCR, Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon, etc. are also expected to gather at Mendiola later this day.

At 3 p.m., militant groups are scheduled. to burn an effigy of President Benigno Aquino III.