Virador and Basilio came over to convince the military to let them pass. In the history of labor day rallies, the Tibungco checkpoint manned by Task Force Davao used to be where the strictest inspection and security alert took place. It was also the last stop before workers finally entered Davao city.
NOT GLORIA. Workers consider life harder and harsher under President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)
“They asked where we were heading, how many we were, who were the leaders, how many and what vehicles we were using,” he said.
When the workers were stopped in Panabo, police forces listed Blas’s name. The inspection, the police said, was an order from a higher unit.
Blas said the males were asked to get out of the buses while the females’ bags and belongings were checked during the inspection. Each inspection lasted for about 20 minutes, delaying their arrival for their 1 o’ clock activity.
Domingo Diguma, member of Davao Marsman Labor Union in Sto.Tomas (Damlu), said their bus was also inspected for firearms. Diguma, 52, came along with the 400 workers from Sto. Tomas and Panabo.
Blas’s and Diguma’s groups arrived at the assembly place in Freedom Park at around 2pm.
WORKERS from across Davao region are calling for the 125-peso across- the- board wage increase to cope with the increase of prices of rice, fuel and other basic commodities. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)
The road checkpoints happened not only during Labor Day but also during Bonifacio day, according to Blas and Diguma. Bonifacio, whose day has been celebrated in the country on November 30, is an icon for workers. Workers usually hold big mobilizations on this date, putting police and military forces on high alert.
The previous year Diguma recalled having been stopped five times on their way to Davao city for the May 1 rally. Police put up checkpoints in Panabo, Tagum, Lasang, Bunawan before they reached the main checkpoint of Task Force Davao in Tibungco.
“The police and military were very angry. There were always checkpoints in almost every road we passed,” Diguma said.
Diguma said that the police and soldiers did not want the workers to enter the city for fear that they would only bring trouble. When workers introduced themselves as members of Kilusang Mayo Uno (Kmu), police accused them of being terrorists.
Once, a military found a few documents inside his bag during an inspection. But Diguma said his notebook only contained their labor union’s demands addressed to their company.
Blas also said that before their trip to Davao city for the May 1 activity last year, the 1102nd police provincial mobile group delayed them in Nabunturan.
