Hard lessons learned
From pier stand off
There is breakdown of law and order when those concerned do not respect and obey legitimate orders.
This was displayed in the last oakwook stand off in Manila when those who refused to vacate the danger zone at the Manila Peninsula were arrested, even including media people.
In developed countries, people have learned to respect and obey legitimate orders, enforced by lawmen , even if it took them years to learn and accept the saying that nobody is above the law.
We in Dumaguete have not reached that stage ,yet, and we are still in transition, therefore, we expect as lot of birth pains in development.
This was the case of the pier stand off one week ago, where in 50- or so displaced workers of the defunct old arrastre refused to obey a direct order by the National Labor Court NLRC to cease and desist from obstructing the PPA gates, which order was implemented by the sheriff with the help of the PNP.
In developed countries, one decisive blow could have finished the violators in mass arrests. But not in Dumaguete, relatively a city of gentle people. Our city authorities were not able to follow the NLRC order because it sported the sentimentalist and humanitarian approach which was easily overcome by the striking workers.
This was the first time an admission was made among the strikers, that they blatantly refused to follow legitimate orders by committing an illegal act, and worse, using children as their human shield, plus a barrage of flying broken bottles to the law enforcers.
LESSONS LEARNED.
Law enforcers were humble enough to admit too, that while they needed reinforcement in the front line, that they were not able to totally accomplished their mission .
It looked as though, the displaced workers were successful in partially dispersing the police instead ! Why? ---because of the maximum tolerance deployed by the PNP and whose action reflected that of the city authorities led by they mayor.
It was also their first time for our city PNP to disperse such kind of
public assembly in Dumaguete so much so that they did not expect such violent reaction from the picketers since ever since way back when, public assemblies, whether political or public affairs, were treated with dignity and respect. Their opinions were heard. No violence.
But from the point of view of the majority of our people, the PPA players were not able to deliver the goods Sadly it would seem that the strikers had MORE political will, than most of the implementers of the law.
But not this time anymore, says Mayor Perdices who was categorical in saying that while he deployed maximum tolerance policy, this time, after the motion for reconsideration was denied by the NLRC, Perdices said that he will have to implement the law, otherwise, he will be the one to resign.
And so after all said and done, it’s our turn to
---wait and see.
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:34 pm