Filipinos ‘collateral damage’ of Marcos-Duterte rumpus – labor group

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are going to be the collateral damage of the increasing political tension between the Marcos administration and the Dutertes, militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno said.

“Nagpapaligsahan ang mga pamilyang may madugong rekord kung sino ang hahawak sa poder sa mga susunod na taon. Ganyan lang kasimple, KMU said in a statement sent to reporters on Monday.

“Sino ang collateral damage? Ang manggagawa at mamamayan. Ito ang pinagkakaabalahan ng mga naghahari habang tumitindi ang kahirapan, kagutuman at inhustisya,”  

According to KMU, the fallout of the Marcos and Duterte families exposed to the public on Sunday is “a shame” to the Filipino people.

The labor group said that there is so much to deal with, including the need for a living wage, regular work, and respect for trade unions.

A quick response is also needed to the oil price spike, the food crisis, and mass transport, it said.

On Sunday, during the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte cussed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his inability to “keep up with the former administration, particularly with his father’s mandates in ceasing the illegal drug trade.

Meanwhile, when it was former President Rodrigo Duterte’s time to offer a speech at the Candle Light Prayer rally, he accused Marcos Jr. of drug addiction.

Officials from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency were quick to debunk the former chief executive’s claims, saying that Marcos “is not and was never” on its illegal narcotics watchlist.

The ongoing political strife between the two most powerful leaders of the country has increased even more following the dialogue to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the possibility of Duterte facing the investigators of the Hague-based International Criminal Court for his moot campaign against illegal drugs, which killed thousands of Filipinos who claimed to have fought during the drug stings spearheaded by law enforcement officials.

According to official figures, over 6,000 Filipinos have been killed in the crackdown on drug crime from July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2019. However, several human rights groups said the numbers are higher.

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