BAYAN Cavite: No votes for Maliksi

IMUS CITY, Philippines – “Zero votes for Maliksi” is the battlecry of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in Cavite.

The progressive group held a 3-part rally on May 7, Tuesday, in the most vote-rich cities of the province — namely Dasmarinas, Imus, and Bacoor — to condemn the alleged human rights violations against workers in the province that were committed by Imus congressman Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi when he was governor.

Maliksi, endorsed by President Benigno Aquino III, is running for governor again. He was governor from 2001 to 2010. This year, he is challenging re-electionist Governor Jonvic Remulla, whose father — former Cavite governor Juanito Remulla — gave Maliksi his political break in the 1980s.

Under the leadership of Ka Manny Asuncion of Solidarity Cavite Workers (SCW), the rallyists urged the people of Cavite not to vote for Maliksi as governor in this year’s elections.

Labor issues

Cavite has an industrial zone in Carmona. Other huge factories are also located in different parts of the province. However, Maliksi is known for lobbying the “No Union, No Strike Policy” otherwise known as NUNS. This has been his stance since he became Cavite governor in 2001.

Under the guise of industrial peace, the policy is allegedly aimed at attracting more investors by assuring company owners that no unions and no strikes will be permitted.

The group also condemned the killings of labor unions in the province. According to them, from 2006 to 2011, 3 union leaders were killed in the province. Labor unionists Jesus Buth Servida and Gerry Cristobal were killed in 2006 and 2008, respectively. Celito Baccay, another union leader in a steel factory in Dasmariñas, was killed in 2011. The families and friends of these laborers believed their deaths were work-related.

Maliksi’s camp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Not Remulla supporters

The group clarified that condemning Maliksi does not mean they are in favor of Maliksi’s rival.

“We’re not endorsing Jonvic Remulla, we’re challenging him” to provide a leadership that protect workers’ rights, Manny Asuncion said in Filipino. 

Bayan’s negative campaign against Maliksi is, however, effectively an endorsement of Remulla. It’s a one-on-one battle for the governorship of Cavite in 2013. 

Cavite has the second biggest voters’ population among provinces, with 1,789,438 this midterm polls. – Rappler.com

Tricia Villaluz is a Rappler Ambassador. Follow her on Twitter for real-time updates.

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