Police secure DOLE for Labor Day protests

Police in Manila secured the Department of Labor and Employment in Intramuros Thursday in anticipation of Labor Day protests by militant groups.

The Manila Police District said the security stemmed from information that some of the protesters may hurl paint at the DOLE building, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported.

A group of militant laborers arrived at the DOLE past 10 a.m. but no violent confrontation was initially reported.

Earlier, militant workers bared a wish list for Labor Day after Malacañang hinted at "good news" for the labor sector on May 1.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno said it will not settle for anything less than a "significant" wage hike, and the junking of the 12-percent value-added tax on oil products.

"This is the good news that the Filipino workers and people want: a significant wage hike and the junking of the 12% Expanded Value-Added Tax on petroleum products. Anything less won’t quell our protests," KMU chairman Elmer Labog said in an article posted on the KMU website.




On Tuesday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda hinted President Benigno Aquino III will have "good news" to announce for this year’s Labor Day.

At a press briefing that day, Lacierda said some of the Cabinet officials "are firming up recommendations" to curb the gradual ascent of some of the commodity prices. He cited Aquino's fuel subsidy program — "Pantawid Pasada" —as one of the means to cushion the impact of rising prices of fuel products.

Lacierda, however, kept his lips sealed when asked if Aquino would announce a wage hike on May 1. He only said Malacañang will wait for the decision of the wage board before announcing anything regarding wages. — RSJ, GMA News

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