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What’s going on, PNP?

By Banwar

Last July 23, 2005, I was able to witness the march-rally conducted by the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) where they aired their demand for salary increase and grievances against the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo). I also witnessed the hostility shown by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) towards the rallyists.

The activity started at the Tubo gate. As I arrived at the site, I was stunned by the presence of the members of the PNP who were in full battle gear as if going to battle against the Iraqis. At first, I thought that they would be the pacifiers as their stand should be neutral in the issue between the LEU and the LCMCo but sorry for me, I was wrong as the next events would show. The activity at the Tubo gate was supposed to be a peaceful activity, a symbolic closing of the gate as the strikers’ way of the showing their firm stand on their demand for an increase in salary and benefits. Unfortunately, a barricade was formed by the police at the gate, barring the rallyists to perform the closing of the gate. But since it was to be a symbolic closing, the LEU members were insistent to go through with the activity. The trouble started when the police pushed back the people and barred them from performing the closing. The police also started to beat the rallyists with sticks, provoking the rallyists to fight back to protect themselves. A police officer was injured in the hustle. As the gate was being closed by the rallyists, a police officer at a nearby outpost stood up, loaded his M-14 rifle and pointed this towards the rallyists.

After the gate was closed, the rallyists marched towards the LCMCo main office. Again, as the group reached the area, PNP and Army personnel were scattered around the place and barricaded the gate barring the rallyists from entering the compound. Again, I wondered why they were in their full battle gear while the rallyists were unarmed. Because the police did not allow the rallyists to enter, negotiation between the LEU officials and LCMCo spokesperson was made. The LEU officials requested the people guarding the gate to open it and let the people pass through peacefully. They also assured them that the rallyists would not do any untoward move once they enter the compound, just a short program in front of the main office before proceeding to the employees’ union hall for lunch. Instead of agreeing with the LEU’s request, the police and the company spokesperson insisted on closing the gate going to the extent of positioning a fire truck and two big trucks along the entrance and telling the people to go away and not insist on entering the compound to avoid any further incidents like what happened in Tubo earlier. The negotiation lasted for hours and still they would not permit the rallyists in. The company spokesperson’s reasons and alibis together with the heat and hunger triggered the rallyists to force the gates open. Again, the police showed their hostility by beating the rallyists with their sticks, pointing their guns at them and driving the people back. When the rallyists were able to enter the compound, the police started to throw stones and cuttings of pipes at the rallyists. Another police officer was pinned down during the opening of the gate. He was one of those who insisted on beating the rallyists.

The planned program in front of the LCMCo main office did not push through as the personnel fled even before the rallyists entered the compound. During lunch, I had the opportunity to talk with the rallying employees and 1 learned something about the PNP’s conduct towards the rallyists.

According to one of the employees, since these armed forces were deployed in Mankayan and Lepanto, they began dispersing the strikers at their picket lines even during the awkward time of the night. Some even claim that the police would just arrest members of the LEU without warrant and detain them. Others even said that the police together with Atty. Manlong locked and even nailed the doors of the bunkhouses of the “discharged” employees making it impossible for them to enter their quarters.

Afler witnessing such behavior and learning of the conduct of the PNP towards the struggling Lepanto employees, I wonder what’s happening with our PNP?

Isn’t it that they should be the ones serving and protecting the Filipino people, most especially the civilians and masses? As a matter of fact, it is clearly stated in the Philippine Constitution under Article II Section 3 that the armed forces of this nation will serve as the protector of the people and the State. This is elaborated further under Article XVI Section 5 that the loyalty of these forces is to the people and the State meaning civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. But is seems that the PNP is not covered by this for what they have shown is contradictory to the law. It seems that the PNP is being used to oppress the employees, specially LEU members, while the forces support the LCMCo. Furthermore, the PNP violated the human rights of these employees by arresting and detaining them without the proper warrant and without any reasonable cause.

Is this the new trend nowadays of this so-called servant and protector of the people or shall we change the title to biased and inconsiderate puppets? We all know that warrantless arrests are illegal and detention without justifiable cause is also illegal

In the rally last Saturday (July 25) and in the on going strike, many people have seen how biased the PNP is. Isn’t it that you (the PNP and military personnel) should have a neutral stand and should be at the activity as peacekeepers? How come that what you have shown us is that you were siding with the company? You didn’t even show consideration to the struggling employees who were only demanding for their just and legitimate salary and benefits. Does the LCMCo hold supremacy over you and does your loyalty belong to the company and not to the people? Come on, you better resign now if you can’t perform your duty because what the people need are officers who will uphold their rights and not puppets or robots of those who oppress them. Wake up, it is the people to whom you owe respect and this means that you should serve the people in a way that they deserve to be paid back. What’s going on PNP? It is the people who should be served and protected, not the capitalists, for it is the people who are paying you. #

(The author is a student of Baguio City.)

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