On Labor Day, Kapatid, a group of relatives and friends of political prisoners, called for the immediate release of 32 political prisoners from the labor sector. According to the group, union organizers and unionists were imprisoned for fabricated cases because of their fight for decent work, fair wages, and other labor rights.

“If the Marcos government is serious about honoring workers this May 1, it must immediately release labor organizers and trade unionists who remain behind bars,” Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim said.

The group questioned the Marcos regime’s claim that it values and protects Filipino workers, while repression against the sector continues.

“They are PIDL–persons illegally deprived of liberty. They are not criminals but union organizers and human rights defenders falsely charged with non-bailable cases like explosives possession,” Lim said. All these cases are based only on planted evidence, she said.

Of the 32 political prisoners, 16 are members of Kilusang Mayo Uno; nine are from the island of Negros with seven of them members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers; three are from Courage; and the rest are from other labor organizations. There are currently 748 political prisoners in the Philippines.

Kapatid joined the workers’ demonstration on May 1 near Mendiola.