Militants to burn PNoy-on-Porsche effigy on May 1*
By Pia Gutierrez
ABS-CBN News
Posted at 04/30/2011
MANILA, Philippines - Less than 100 militant members of labor groups will be holding a vigil tonight (April 30) at the Quezon City Welcome Rotonda as preparation for Labor Day tomorrow.
Anakpawis Representative Joel Maglunsod said this is a way to encourage more support for the proposed 125 across-the-board wage increase a day before Labor Day.
Earlier, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) slammed President Aquino's Labor Day "gift" of non-wage benefits from Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Samuel Malunes, vice chair for federation affairs of KMU, said that this felt more like a slap in the face, saying the Aquino administration's refusal to grant a significant wage hike needed to cope with skyrocketing prices is cause for outrage.
"Ang kailangan namin dagdag na sweldo pambuhay sa pamilya namin," Malunes said.
The KMU has prepared a huge effigy of President Aquino sitting atop a Porsche car. Malunes said this will be publicly burned at a protest rally tomorrow to symbolize the public's disgust at Aquino's insensitivity to the plight of laborers.
Aquino bought himself a second-hand Porsche amidst his own calls for austerity. The incident caused his popularity ratings to drop.
Thousands are expected to join tomorrow's protests, with groups convening as early as 8 a.m. at Trabajo, Blumentritt, Paco and Moriones.
The groups will then march towards the Liwasang Bonifacio by noon before proceeding to Mendiola for a short program.
