Authorities, protesters face off in Manila Labor Day demonstration

Tensions flared between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) during the Labor Day protest held in Manila on Friday.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," the altercation occurred on Roxas Boulevard when the police blocked the protesters’ path on their way to the US Embassy.

Video from the PNP showed one of the protesters punching a policeman.

“Ngayon po, medyo nang labis po dahil may panununtok na, may pangahampas ng kawayan sa ulo. Sugatan po ang ating pulis at yung cellphone po ay nahablot,” a police officer said.

(Now, they have gone too far. They have thrown punches, and someone hit us with a bamboo on the head. Our policeman was injured and had his cellphone snatched.)

The victim has since undergone a CT scan to assess the extent of his injuries.

Despite this, the Kilusang Mayo Uno insisted that its members did not initiate the violence.

“Malinaw naman na hindi kami ang nanguna sa gulo. Pero sinasabing nila nanuntok, wala kaming sinusuntok ng mga pulis dyan dahil sila pangunahin yung nagugulo sa aming araw na ito ng pagawa,” said KMU Vice Chair Lito Luces.

(It is clear that we didn’t incite violence first. But whoever they said threw a punch, we didn’t punch any police officers there because they are the primary ones causing fights with us on Labor Day.)

Tensions also heightened after authorities began blasting water at the protesters.

Meanwhile, labor and transport groups also organized their own protests along España Boulevard in Manila.

However, they were also blocked by police forces with concrete barriers, steel barriers, and container vans acting as barricades, obstructing their path towards the Malacañang Palace.

“Kinokondena namin ang paghaharang. Ibig sabihin yan, ayaw na marinig mismo ng mga taga-Malacanang ang hinaing ng mga magagawa at taong bayan,” KMU Chairperson Emeritus Elmer Labog said.

(We are condemning the obstruction. This means that the people in Malacañang is refusing to hear the calls of the workers and the masses.)

“Actually, wala naman pong goal na ganoon na hindi sila makalapit sa Mendiola. Ang goal po natin ay panatalihing peaceful po yung pagkilos na mangyayaring araw,” added National Capital Region Police Office Chief Police Major General Anthony Aberin.

(Actually, there really is no goal to block them from approaching Mendiola. Our goal is to keep the protests today peaceful.)

The Association of Genuine Labor Organizations also organized a protest to call for additional protection and benefits for laborers, for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to leave his post, and to put a stop to Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.

Despite altercations, PNP noted that protests held in Metro Manila for 2026 Labor Day were generally peaceful and orderly.

Meanwhile, similar Labor Day protests were conducted in other areas in the country such as Baguio. –Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/NB, GMA News