Posts

1SAMBAYAN endorses KMU leader Elmer Labog for the Senate

1SAMBAYAN has announced its inclusion of labor leader Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog in its list of candidates for the Senate.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the group has included the long-time Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairperson in its list of endorsees, along with fellow new addition, re-electionist Richard Gordon.

Labog joins 1SAMBAYAN’s earlier endorsees Neri Colmenares, Rep. Teddy Baguilat, Senator Leila de Lima, Chel Diokno, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Alex Lacson, Sonny Matula and Sonny Trillanes.

On his own Facebook page, Labog said he fervently thanks 1SAMBAYAN for the group’s official endorsement of his candidacy.

“Your support and trust compels me further to fight for meaningful change for the people,” Labog said.

“Together, we will carry on the fight for the interests and rights of the workers, farmers, drivers and the poor through faithful leadership,” he added.

Labog’s labor federation, the KMU, thanked 1SAMBAYAN for its warm welcome of Labog.

Labog’s fellow Makabayan candidate for the Senate Neri Colmenares also thanked 1SAMBAYAN for its trust on Labog and himself.

“Elmer ‘Ka Bong’ Labog will not fail the people. He is a respected labor leader of the country’s biggest movement for the rights of workers, the KMU. It is my honor to be with the one and only Bong worthy of the Senate,” Colmenares said.

Labog is in 1SAMBAYAN’s standard bearer Vice President Leni Robredo’s hometown of Naga City, visiting transport terminals and public markets on a campaign swing when he learned of 1SAMBAYAN’s official endorsement.

He joined the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide’s Bicol chapter in the city in protest actions against rising oil prices.

Labog reiterated his call for the removal of excise taxes on oil products he blames for making petroleum “unaffordable” amid global crude oil prices fluctuations triggered by the war in Eastern Europe. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Labog to Lacson: ‘You better withdraw, gossipmonger’

Senatorial candidate and labor leader Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog urged Senator Panfilo Lacson to withdraw from the presidential race if he persists on red-tagging rivals and other political groups.

In a tweet, Labog said the national elections seek to choose an inclusive president, including activists like him.

“Senator @iampinglacson, mag-withdraw ka na lang. Hindi ito eleksyon para sa Pambansang Marites,” Labog wrote. (You better withdraw. This is not an election to look for a National Gossipmonger.)

Labog added they can not endorse Lacson’s candidacy.

“Ayaw mo sa amin, mas ayaw namin sa iyo,” the Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson said. (You don’t like us, we don’t like you more.)

(From Labog’s FB page)

Labog was reacting to Lacson’s allegations that communists have infiltrated Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign for the presidency, urging his rival “to take appropriate actions” against it.

Activists, many of whom are supporting Robredo’s candidacy, have called Lacson’s statement as red-tagging.

The Makabayan bloc that is fielding Labog and Bayan Muna president Neri Colmenares in the race for the Senate are endorsing Robredo.

‘Lies’

Meanwhile, Robredo  denied allegations that she is forming a so-called coalition government with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“To be clear: This is a lie,” Robredo said.

The Vice President said her candidacy is open to everyone who is ready to work to improve the lives of Filipinos.

(From VP Robredo’s FB page.)

Robredo said the disinformation and (black) propaganda are targeting members of the uniformed services who are supporting her.

“You want to derail the People’s Campaign’s momentum? Try harder. Better yet, why not join us instead?” Robredo said.

‘No chance of winning’

The CPP for its part slammed Lacson, saying he is merely serving the “tyrant” Rodrigo Duterte’s scenario-building to justify the possibility of imposing martial law as a last resort option to secure power.

“The presidential candidate Lacson, who surely is aware that he has no chances of winning, is using his campaign as platform to serve as Duterte’s attack dog against the Robredo camp,” the CPP said in a statement.

The group said Lacson, a former police general and alleged martial law torturer under the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, is a veteran of red-tagging against activists and oppositionists.

The former fugitive was also reported to be behind the Rizal Day bombing of 2000 to derail the mounting protests against the then Joseph Estrada regime, the CPP added.

“For the record, neither the CPP nor the NDFP has forged any agreement with any of the political parties running in the May 2022 elections. Neither are the CPP or NDFP concerned with discussing a ‘coalition government’ at this time,” the CPP said.

“The NDFP, together with various peace advocates, have only publicly expressed hopes that the people will support a candidate that will resume peace negotiations with the NDFP in order to discuss the socioeconomic and political roots of the current civil war,” it added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

‘Ninanais din natin na mapasama ang champion ng karapatan ng mga manggagawa’

Malugod na tinanggap ng Makabayan Coalition ang ginawang pag-endorso ng 1Sambayan kay dating Bayan Muna Chairman Atty. Neri Colmenares sa Senado at sinabing malaking hakbang ito para labanan ang panunumbalik ng mga Marcos at pananatili ng mga Duterte sa pwesto sa darating na eleksyon.

“Aktibo naman si Atty. Neri sa 1Sambayan and even before that ang kanyang track record. Sa katunayan, ninanais din natin na mapasama hindi lang si Neri na dalhin ng 1Sambayan kundi ang champion ng karapatan ng mga manggagawa na si Ka Bong Labog na nasa ilalim ng Koalisyong Makabayan.”Rep. Carlos Zarate, Bayan Muna Partylist

‘Isiwalat ang modus operandi ng pekeng pagpapasuko ng PNP’

“Ipinapanawagan ng KMU na ilantad at labanan ng mga manggagawa ang ganitong aktibidad ng rehimeng Duterte at mga ahenteng militar at intelligence nito laban sa kilusang-paggawa. Nananawagan kami sa lahat ng biktima ng ganitong atake na ilahad ang kanilang mga kwento at isiwalat ang modus operandi ng pekeng pagpapasuko ng PNP.” Elmer Labog, Tagapangulo, Kilusang Mayo Uno

‘Secretary Lopez is acting like Pontious Pilate’

“Secretary Lopez is acting like Pontious Pilate, refusing government’s responsibility in ensuring safe mass transportation to hundreds of thousands of workers going to work under MECQ. Naghuhugas-kamay siya sa pananagutan ng gobyerno sa mga manggagawa.”

 Elmer “Bong” Labog

 Chairperson, Kilusang Mayo Uno

Carlo Francisco