PM stands modern Andres Bonifacio in the fight for the rights and welfare of Filipino workers

 

Activism is not terrorism, must be understood intellectually, it's a Human Rights!

By Jun Enriquez (Pres., Manggagawang Media ng Mindanaw - MMM)

Iligan City - In a press statement released by the Partido Manggagawa (PM), dated November 30, Wednesday, said Filipino workers will never support any war even with the renewed assurance that the US will go side-by-side with the Philippines as provided under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), said Partido Manggagawa (PM) in a statement, following US Vice President Kamala Harris’ meeting with President Marcos last November 21, Monday. “We are for demilitarization and de-escalation of war threats in the West Philippine Sea and other regional flashpoints,” declared PM Chair Renato Magtubo, stating that the endless warmongerings between the two superpowers on WPS and Taiwan disputes do not serve the interest of the working people.

Magtubo argued that in every imperialist war, only foot soldiers and workers die in battle while the emperors and their generals partake with the booty. In the case of the Philippines, a war in the region is to the delight of giants whose agenda is global hegemony and control of trade routes. “Hence, we call on governments of both the US and China to back off, demilitarize the oceans and let the peace-loving people of Asia enjoy genuine cooperation in the region,” said Magtubo.

The group asserts that rather than annihilation, war is better waged against poverty and inequality especially at a time the world’s people are facing multiple crises in health, the economy, and climate. “In fact, Filipino workers have their own war to win - a Wage Increase for Wage Recovery or WIN WAR that the government of President Marcos must seriously address,” said Magtubo. PM has been calling for a wage increase of P100 across-the-board to recover lost value of wages due to soaring inflation.

PM leader Wilson Fortaleza, expressed concern on war and exploitation during the online forum commemorated the Bonifacio day celebration, November 30, Wednesday. He said the world is now on politics of control, the control of resources and nations, a global hegemony imperialism. But the Filipino workers have its own war, the war on poverty urging the government to provide more jobs and reasonable wages. Fortaleza said during the pre-colonial period, there was the existence of Maharlika type of governance, led by the Datus and Sultans, the so called, “Bayanihan” spirit, the native socialism united socially and economically despite cultural diversity.

Historically, there was a sharing of resources by the Maharlikans called “barter” economy without controlling. This represents the respects of each other’s culture, co-exists and living peacefully. The social conditions of peace was change into conflict situation, upon the coming of Spanish colonizers for the control of the Maharlikan people and exploit its resources, the reasons of the heavy resistance from revolution led by Andres Bonifacio.