Philippines

Valentine Day police assault
Dozens of pickets were injured when four trade unionists including two leaders were arrested on 14 February after police and security staff attacked demonstrators with broken blocks at the Manila Hotel.

After the hotel’s management refused to negotiate a fresh collective bargaining agreement, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) ordered the workers back to work on 11 February. Next day, 12 employees were arrested when picketing outside the hotel. However labour leader Crispin Beltran pointed out, “The police were not deputised by the NLRC to enforce the return to work order and picketing is a universally recognised right whether or not a company is on strike.”
The police pressed no charges.