The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) condemns the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police for arresting two labor organizers working in the Southern Tagalog region over planted evidence and trumped-up charges, and is calling for the organizers’ immediate release.

Gavino Panganiban, director for campaigns of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK), regional chapter of national labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First Movement), and Maritess David, labor organizer of the Organized Labor Association in Line Industry and Agriculture (OLALIA), a national federation also belonging to the KMU, were arrested on October 27, in Pililia St., Brgy. Valenzuela, Makati City.

Reports say the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) and the Philippine National Police’s Southern Police District (SPD) carried out the arrest, using arrest warrants against Panganiban that stemmed from supposed murder and attempted murder charges and against David that stemmed from supposed illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Warrants against Panganiban were reportedly issued by Infanta and Gumaca courts, while the warrant against David was reportedly issued by a Sta. Rosa City court.

PAMANTIK has condemned the arrest of Panganiban and David and has clarified that the charges against David were based on a police raid on the former office of the Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Engklabo (Alliance of Enclave Workers) in Brgy. Market Area, Santa Rosa City, Laguna on March 30, 2021.

The raid was carried out under the watchful eye of labor and human rights organizations, occurring just weeks after the March 7, 2021 Bloody Sunday operations in the region. Labor and human rights organizations immediately condemned the March 30, 2021 raid and stated that police and military operatives planted a high quantity of firearms, ammunitions and explosives during that raid.

Panganiban and David are the newest additions to the long list of labor organizers and activists who have been arrested and imprisoned based on trumped-up charges. To date, 28 labor organizers and activists are in prison because of planted evidence, fabricated charges, and snail-paced legal processes. Most of them were arrested under the Rodrigo Duterte regime, but the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr did not lift a finger to release them from prison, and has imprisoned more labor organizers and activists.

The arrest of Panganiban and David is yet another proof of violations of workers’ right to freedom of association and other basic labor and human rights that the International Labour Organization and other international bodies have repeatedly condemned. Labor organizers and activists should be free from state reprisal, and no less than President Marcos Jr should make statements and take actions to make this a reality.