A workers’ rights NGO criticized today the prohibitions imposed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, which it said are repressive of urban poor communities and are part of the government’s response to Filipinos’ restiveness amidst the soaring prices of petroleum and other products.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) said the prohibitions laid down by Remulla under the so-called “Safer Cities Initiative” – such as drinking along the streets, holding karaoke sessions, and going out of homes beyond 10:00 in the evening – affect the poor disproportionately, as shown by the 24,000 arrested in the first two days of the initiative.

“Poor Filipinos are understandably becoming restive because of the high prices of petroleum products, the increasing cost of living, and widespread joblessness. Instead of addressing their legitimate economic concerns, the Marcos Jr government is power-tripping and trying to repress them,” said Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

CTUHR pointed out that the prohibitions are discriminatory towards the poor, who are the ones who drink along the streets, hold karaoke sessions that are heard by their neighbors, are seen as dangerous for going out at night, and are the prime targets of police arrests. It also said that these bans continue former President Rodrigo Duterte’s depiction of the urban poor as criminals.

“Remulla’s prohibitions are discriminatory and repressive towards the urban poor.  We are calling these out, and we are calling on everyone concerned about human rights to call these out, as these may be a prelude to greater repression,” Deligente added.

The labor NGO condemned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr who, Remulla said, ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to step up law enforcement to supposedly make Filipinos feel safer. It also criticized the increased deployment of police forces in commercial centers, transportation hubs, streets and even schools.

“We have every reason to believe that beyond crime, what the government wants to curb is poor Filipinos’ collective discussions and efforts to demand policy changes. This is something we have learned from the Duterte regime: the government starts with attacking populations it depicts as criminals but soon moves into quelling legitimate dissent,” Deligente added.

CTUHR also said that the repression of the urban poor contrasts sharply with the government’s inability to bring big-time criminals to justice, citing Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is accused of committing crimes against humanity in relation to Duterte’s murderous war on drugs.