Militant members of Defend Workers Southern Tagalog and the Organized Labor Association in Industries and Agriculture (OLALIA) gathered in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) along Padre Faura in Manila on Monday, November 6, 2023, to express their solidarity with Rhoel Alconera, a union officer of Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Workers union in Binan Laguna.
Alconera is currently facing charges related to the prevention and suppression of terrorist financing, brought by a former rebel returnee. He vehemently denies all charges pressed against him.
In addition to supporting Alconera, the group also voiced their concerns about issues such as the PUV (Public Utility Vehicle) phase-out, labor regularization, and the zero budget allocation for confidential funds.
Photographs captured the demonstrators in front of the Supreme Court in Manila, as they held up banners highlighting the issues they were protesting.
(Report & photography by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)