Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and its allied groups denounced the cases filed against their leaders in connection with the demonstration held in Manila on May 1, International Workers’ Day. The leaders faced the Manila Prosecutor’s Office on May 26 over police complaints.

Renato Reyes Jr and Raymond Palatino of Bayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, or May One Movement) chair Jerome Adonis, and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston, or Unity of Drivers’ and Operators’ Associations Nationwide) chair Mody Floranda are among the subjects of the police complaint. They were charged with “illegal assembly,” in violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 or the Public Assembly Act of 1985 passed during the Marcos Sr dictatorship, and with public disorder under Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code (Tumults and Other Disturbances of Public Order).

Led by the National Wage Coalition on May 1, the march of thousands of toiling masses faced police repression. Despite protesters asserting their right to demonstrate at Mendiola, the large deployment of armed police, barbed wire, and fire trucks blocking the way forced them to hold their program at the intersection of Nicanor Reyes and Recto Avenue.

After the coalition’s unified program, KMU, AWU (All Workers’ Unity) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, led a march toward the US embassy. They called for an end to the US-Israel war of aggression against Iran, which has caused an unprecedented crisis in the Philippines and worldwide.

Bayan president Reyes said the complaints filed against them are another form of harassment. He said leaders like them are being charged to intimidate ordinary people and stop them from joining protest actions.

Adonis said the disturbance at the protest was not initiated by workers and the people but by the police when they blocked what would have been a peaceful march. He also condemned the police insistence that protests be held in “freedom parks,” far from government agencies.

Adonis also explained their group’s burning of an effigy on May 1. He said the activity is part of their program and their right to expression, insisting that “there is nothing unlawful there.”

“They very clearly aim to silence us. They want to prevent the broad public from hearing our demands. Thus these harassments, these crap cases against us,” Adonis said.