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On the launching of "Labor
for Lacson 2004", a citizens' movement composed of
labor unions and organizations urging Sen. Panfilo Lacson to run for
President on 2004.
12 February 2003, Sulo Hotel, Quezon City
TODAY, AS THE GOVERNMENT PREPARES for the outbreak of another world
war, close to a million overseas Filipino workers are trembling with
fear and are in danger of losing their jobs-however temporary. Here
at home, a few thousands have already been served notice of work suspensions
in anticipation of a shooting war between the US-led invasion force
and the people of Iraq. If US President George W. Bush makes good his
promise to eliminate Saddam Hussein, then we may have no need at all
for an Absentee Voting Law nor of an acceptable Anti-Money Laundering
Act in that part of the Persian Gulf.
The Filipino workers are also engaged in a silent but an equally brutal
kind of war. Close to 5 million Filipinos are unemployed. More than
10 million are underemployed or are working less than 40 hours a week.
Of the 24 million workers registered with the Social Security System,
only about 8 million are active members or have work throughout the
year that would allow them to pay their regular monthly contributions.
Those who have work are in constant danger of losing their jobs due
to retrenchment, illegal dismissals, privatisation or outright company
closures. Government employees are not any better. The world of work
has become difficult, dangerous and depressing.
To the trade union movement falls the historic task of fighting for
the cause of labor. Whether it is raising wages, saving jobs, increasing
productivity, improving social security benefits' or simply protecting
workers from the abuses of their employers, the trade union movement
has collectively proven equal to the task. The obstacles, the problems
and the challenges are getting harder everyday we must seize every opportunity
to save jobs, to save what is left of our industries and to put the
country on the road to economic recovery.
Today is one such opportunity. We have surveyed the political landscape
and we have found an ally. In such a short time, he has supported in
the halls of the Senate the cause of labor. In the controversial PIATCO
deal, he picked up the cause of the workers even as his colleagues concentrated
their fire on the abuses and corruption of capital. He has made common
cause with the plight of our Overseas Filipino Workers in their desire
to vote and send unhampered hard earned money to their families. He
fought with us in the battle to abolish the PPA. For one whose education,
training and professional work was with the military, he has shown us
where his heart lies: for the poor and the downtrodden. Truly, he is
one of us.
Thus, we have come together today, to urge the Hon. Senator Panfilo
M. Lacson to run for the highest office our people can offer so that
he will be in a position to serve more of our countrymen. With all modesty,
we have come together to sincerely manifest our support for Sen. Lacson
should he finally decide to run for the presidency in 2004.
Lacson is for labor. Labor is for Lacson. Mabuhay ang Manggagawang
Pilipino!
Antonio Policarpio, Chairman, Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center (LMLC)/
Roberto Oca, Jr., National President, Pambansang Diwa ng Manggagawang
Pilipino (PDMP) / Ernesto Arellano, President, National Federation of
Labor-National Confederation of Labor (NCL) / Carlito Rallistan, President,
Association of Democratic Labor Organization (ADLO) / Frank Mero, President,
Automotive Industry Workers Alliance (AIWA) I Arnel Lejada, Executive
Director, Labor Rights Advocacy and Welfare Center / David Diwa, Jr.,
Vice-President, National Labor Union (NLU) & Executive Director,
Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center (LMLC)
Antonio Policarpio, Chairman, Lakas Manggagawa Labor
Center (LMLC) / Roberto Oca, Jr. National President, Pambansang Diwa
ng Manggagawang Pilipino (PDMP) / Ernesto Arellano, President, National
Federation of Labor-National Confederation of Labor (NCL)
Eulogio Lerum, President, National Labor Union (NLU)/
Carlito Rallistan, President, Association of Democratic Labor Organization
(ADLO) / Norberto Alenzuela, President, Philippine National Unions Council
(PNUC)/ Oscar Aceron, President, Alyansa ng Malayang Obrero (AMO)/ Rodolfo
Ladiao, United Filipino Workers Solidarity (UFWS)/ Alexander Barrientos,
President, Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) / Antonio
Cedilla, President, Association of Free Democratic Labor Unions (ADFLU)
/ Atty. Pedro de Quiroz, Secretary General, Philippine Transport and
General Workers Organization (PTGWO-Oca) / Salvador Purisima, Secretary
General, Philippine Labor Unity Movement Federation (PLUM)
Atty. Alfredo Bentulan, (Security Guards Secretary General,
Alyansa ng Lapiang Security Guards (ALAS)/ Frank Mero (Automotive),
Chairman, Automotive Industry Workers Alliance (AIWA) / Eduardo Oredina
(In-flight & Ground Crew Service Providers), Convenor, Aviation
Industry Alliance/ Paul de Quiroz (Port Workers), Vice-President, Associated
Workers Union (AWU)/ Jerry Tan (Banking), Chairman, Banks, Insurance
& Finance Unions (BIFU)
Tony Brenches, Convenor, Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa
Welprint Services-Independent / Exequiel Nidea, President, PS Bank Employees
Union (PSBEU)/ Prof. Gloria Agato, President, Central Colleges of the
Philippines Faculty & Non-Academic Personnel Employees Association
(CCPFNPEA)/ Babylin Tero, President, Adamson University Faculty &
Employees Association (AUFEA) / Demosthenes Agan, President, Miascor
Workers Union (MWU)/ Retie Socrates, President, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines
Post-Mix Employees Union (Manila)! Danny Balunes, President, Coca-Cola
Bottlers Philippines Daily & Monthy-Paid Workers Union (San Pedro,
Laguna) / Rey Reyes, President, Coca-Cola Bottles Philippines Post-Mix
Employees Union (Las Pinas-Calamba, Laguna)
Arnel Lejada (Independent Unions), Executive Director,
Labor Rights Advocacy & Welfare Center (LRAWC) / Leodegario Lubiano
(Construction Workers), President, Construction Workers Solidarity,
Inc. / Ronaldo Tuazon (Communications & Postal Workers)! Chairman,
Sikhay Foundation, Inc.
Ernesto Abille (Unemployed), President, National Union
of the Unemployed in the Philippines / Rogelio Estrella (Informal Sector),
Chairman, Masa ng Edsa (Vendors & Unemployed-Pasay City)
Contact Person: David Diwa, Jr.,
Tel. No. (632) 715-2752 / 0916-307-2448
E-mail: d_diwasg@yahoo. corn / Fax No. (632) 681-9827
3199 Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, Manila
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