Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno slammed Malacañang today for claiming that the government is not helpless against non-stop oil price hikes, saying the Palace is using evidence that shows otherwise.
Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte made the statement in defending the Aquino government against criticisms that it is “helpless” in stopping oil price hikes.
“Merely holding dialogues with transport groups and giving meager and temporary fuel subsidies are proof that the Aquino government is indeed helpless in stopping oil price hikes,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.
“It is plain to see that dialogues and dole-outs will not stop oil price increases. The Aquino government is resorting to lies to avoid doing what it has to do, that is junk the Oil Deregulation Law,” he added.
“The government has made itself helpless against oil price increases through this law, which makes price adjustments the sole decision of profit-greedy companies,” he said.
KMU reiterated its call for the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law, so the government can stop the overpricing of petroleum products and control oil prices.
“The government will only stop being helpless against oil price hikes and even overpricing the moment it junks the Oil Deregulation Law and regulates the price of oil products,” Labog said.
“Under existing laws, the government has no power to step into the pricing of oil, despite the immense importance of this commodity to the economy,” he added.
The labor center vowed to hold bigger protests in the coming days to protest the overpricing in petroleum products and push for the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law.
“The Palace’s lies only prove that the Aquino government has no intention whatsoever to give immediate relief to the Filipino workers and people by stopping the overpricing of oil products, removing the VAT from petroleum prices and junking the Oil Deregulation Law,” he said.
“We are further angered by these lies. We vow to hold bigger protests in the coming days. Perhaps it’s time the country’s tranport groups seriously study the possibility of holding a transport strike,” he added. Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU Chairperson
