Wage, Civil Liberties and Freedom

Early this year, workers awaited the passage of bill seeking P125 legislated across the board wage hike in Senate. But now, the prospects for economic relief for workers are not getting well after the treacherous motion for reversal led by the House majority through Rep. Crispin 'Boying' Remulla.

We of the FREE KA BEL MOVEMENT (FKBM) are outraged that the wage hike bill authored by Anakpawis Rep. Cripin Beltran detained has been frozen again. We are also concerned that the Senate is now reportedly on the third reading of a dangerous bill that has grave implications on human rights.

Civil liberties, specifically workers' rights to form unions, wage, strikes and join militant rallies, will be further curtailed in the face of impending passage of the anti-terror bill principally authoredby Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. Given the escalating rate of political killings and persecution under the Arroyo watch, we are particularly concerned that illegal arrests and detention such as the case of KaBel will be even more brazen and widespread.

For almost a year now since the wave of illegal arrests under Arroyo's Proclamation 1017, Ka Bel has been detained on trumped up charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion. We certainly do not need a terrorbill that will further prolong his detention and victimize other political activists who may fall under the definition of being'terrorists' mainly because of their prominence in militant rallies advocating the impeachment and/or ouster of the fraudulent president.

FKBM demands the immediate and unconditional freedom of Ka Bel. TheArroyo government repeatedly betrays workers' interests as it blocks the passage of the wage hike bill and prolongs the unjust detention of Ka Bel. We ask the Senate to vote down the terror bill that aims to terrorize the people and suppress political dissent. We also challenge candidates vying for seats in Congress and Senate to push for a legislated wage increase both in Congress and Senate to prove that they are worthy of the workers' support. #

Dennis Maga
Spokesperson of Free Ka Bel Movement (FKBM) and
Secretary-General of Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine LaborOrganizations (ANGLO) -KMU