KARAPATAN condemns the arbitrary arrest of two Southern Tagalog trade union organizers on October 27, 2024.
Arrested in Makati City were Gavino Panganiban, Director for Campaigns of the Kilusang Mayo Uno-affiliated Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK), and Maritess David, a labor organizer of the Organized Labor Association in Line Industries and Agriculture-Kilusang Mayo Uno (Olalia-KMU). David faces trumped-up charges of murder while Panganiban faces charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
David’s case stems from the Bloody Sunday raids on the former office of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa sa Engklabo in 2021 where the arresting team planted several firearms and explosives before serving their search warrant.
Since yesterday afternoon, KARAPATAN paralegals and David’s family have also been illegally blocked by elements of the Philippine National Police from entering the rented house in Makati, where the two were arrested, to safekeep the personal belongings of both David and Panganiban. No warrants have been issued to search the said house.
KARAPATAN decries these intensifying attacks against organized labor and demands the release of Panganiban and David and the dropping of all trumped-up charges against them. Now, more than ever, when workers’ hard-earned rights to organize unions, receive living wages, and enjoy regular employment are under attack, upstanding unionists like Panganiban and David should be supported instead of being red-tagged, harassed and threatened, slapped with trumped-up cases and unjustly detained.