For the second time, police officers violently dispersed the picketline of striking Pepmaco workers in Calamba, Laguna on August 19 at 11:30 a.m. Eighteen workers, including six women, were arbitrarily arrested and detained.

Police operatives perpetrated the dispersal while officials of the Pepmaco Workers’ Union were negotiating at the office of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board for the regularization of workers.

The arrest violates the Department of Justice Memorandum Circular 016 which prohibits the arbitary arrest of striking workers.

The first dispersal took place on June 28 wherein 12 workers were wounded. The strike was mounted on June 4 to demand workers’ regularization and the management’s compliance to safety standards.

The 18 workers were subsequently released on August 20. Despite the harassment of the Pepmaco management, workers continue to stand firm and pledged to reestablish their picketline.