“The Aquino government is trying to cover up the reasons for yesterday’s protests with its over-the-top comments.”
This was the statement of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno in response to comments made by key government officials about yesterday’s people’s protests and transport strike, saying the government is not serious in addressing the root cause of the protests.
Department of Transportation and Communication Sec. Mar Roxas branded the protests yesterday as “perwisyo (a menace)” while presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda tweeted that protestors are “onion-skinned” for reacting to Roxas’s statement.
“These comments are funny, but they were made to obscure the demands made by the protests. They want the protests to be the topic, rather than the cause of the protests,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.
“The point of belittling and demonizing the protests is to evade the demands of the Filipino workers, transport workers and poor people on the issue of oil,” he added.
Yesterday’s protests carried the demands for an immediate P9.00 rollback in the per liter prices of oil, the removal of the VAT in petroleum products, and the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law.
“We were also condemning the collusion between the Aquino government and the Big 3 oil companies. The government’s statements yesterday and today only prove that we are right,” Labog said.
“Look: It’s the government who’s doing the talking, trying to obscure the issues raised by yesterday’s protests. The Aquino government is letting the Big 3 go scot-free in the process. The government is serving as the oil cartel’s first line of defense,” he added.
KMU said that Malacañang’s reactions show that the government does not intend to address the demands raised by the protestors.
“The Aquino government keeps saying that the protests are a failure. It has continuously failed the Filipino workers and people who are seeking immediate relief from the high and still-soaring prices of petroleum products,” said Labog.
“That is why our protests will continue in the coming months. The Aquino government is not doing anything to alleviate our suffering from the Big 3’s overpricing and profiteering schemes,” he added. Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU Chairperson
