Filipinas: KMU News Release

27.Sep.03    Análisis y Noticias

Workers reject political plans of Angie Reyes, Bayani Fernando

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today expressed strong opposition to aspiring 2004 candidates Former Defense Chief Gen. Angelo Reyes and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Reyes recently confirmed his plans to run for public office while Fernando declared that he will vie for the vice president position hopefully under the Lakas-NUCD ticket.

The labor center said they will not support Reyes and Fernando as they both lacked the essential qualifications of a genuine pro-worker public servant. “We will even campaign against them. The voting public must be wise enough to eliminate Reyes and Fernando from their list of choices for 2004.”

KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod further said, “they are not worthy to receive the support and votes of workers. Both of them failed to prove that they are capable of carrying out remarkable reforms that will benefit workers and other poor sectors. They’re running for public office to satisfy their personal political and economic interests.

Maglunsod cited that Reyes’ record as a military man is a negative factor. “Being a known militarist, Reyes will only implement measures that will heighten political repression. When he was still with the AFP, he orchestrated numerous militarization campaign plans that violated, harmed and maimed thousands of innocent civilians in Mindanao. Once elected, he could advance his trigger happy ways and even restraint trade union activities and workers rights. Fernando on the other hand, earned notoriety among vendors and the urban poor sector because of his inconsiderate ways at the MMDA. Like Reyes, he is also brutal against the people.”