BY GERARD NAVAL

WHILE lacking the usual heated and sometimes physical confrontation between labor protesters and policemen, the traditional Labor Day rallies yesterday were marked with the same call - 'Gloria, resign!'

The workers also called for a P125 across-the-board increase in wages and the scrapping of the value-added tax.

At the Don Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge near Malacañang, 2,000 members of the Manila Police District, in a surprise move, left their riot shields on the other side of the barricades to head off a confrontation with the protesters. They confined themselves to the sidelines.

"Ginawa po natin ito para maiwasan yung mga nangyari dati na nagkasakitan ang mga pulis at raliyista. Tutal nakakuha naman sila ng permit mula sa Manila City Hall para makapag-programa sila dito," said Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, MPD chief.

"Nagpapasalamat naman kami sa Manila City government at sa MPD dahil pinayagan nila kaming makapagsagawa ng programa dito ng walang pahirapan o pilitan na nangyari," said Leody de Guzman, chairman of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino.

Rep. Risa Hontiveros of the militant party-list group Akbayan said they do not recognize Arroyo as president because she failed in her mandate to provide Filipinos food and jobs and to protect human rights.

The Alliance of Progressive Labor said Arroyo's policies caused hardship for the labor sector.

"We march today to denounce the litany of crimes committed by the Arroyo regime against the working class. Through the years, the Arroyo regime has demonstrated its uncanny ability to deceive the working people," said Daniel Edralin, APL chairman.

The protesters at the Don Chino Roces bridge arrived in two batches, one from Metro Manila, and the other from Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan and other neighboring.

Combined, the two batches numbered from 5,000 to 6,000 protesters, according to police estimates. Rally organizers said the protesters totaled close to 10,000.

The protesters gathered in several, areas including Baclaran, Welcome rotunda at the boundary of Manila and Quezon, Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Makati City, Liwasang Bonifacio and at Taft and Quirino avenues.

Among participating labor groups were the Partido Manggagawa, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela, Health Alliance for Democracy, Bayan Muna and Sanlakas.

The first batch arrived around noon and dispersed two hours later after holding a program where they called for the resignation of Arroyo and all her appointed government officials.

"Ang kailangan naming ay ang pagpasa ng P125 across-the-board wage hike at ang pagbasura sa e-VAT at ang tax exemption para sa mga manggagawa. Ito ang mga nagpapahirap sa mga trabahante ng bayan," said PM secretary general Judy Ann Miranda.

The second batch led by KMU arrived shortly before 4 p.m. and held a program at the foot of the Mendiola bridge. The protesters also called for the ouster of the Arroyo administration.

"Workers are hungry and angry over the Arroyo government's callousness in addressing demands for wage hikes, price controls and significant economic reforms," said KMU national chairman Elmer Labog.

More than ever, the across-the-board wage hike is justified given the soaring prices of basic commodities and services, he said.

At the Welcome rotunda, protesters carried streamers with the message "Gubyernong Sindikato Buwagin."

The protesters called the 10 percent salary increase granted to government workers a gimmick.

"Isa lamang itong malaking palabas. Ang magbebenefit lamang nito ay yung may mga malalaking sahod na empleyado ng gobyerno at hindi yung mga common workers na siyang nakakaramdam ng hirap ng buhay," said De Guzman.

He said a government employe receiving a daily wage of P300 will get an increase of only P30 while one receiving P1,000 will get an increase of P100.

The Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) described the wage adjustment as a big joke.

"Payaso ata ang nasa Palasyo at nagpapatawa," said Courage chair Ferdie Gaite.

He said it is way below the P3,000 across-the-board hike they are seeking.

The Presidential Security Group kept a tight lid on the Palace complex although Arroyo was out of Malacañang most of the day.

Perhaps the memory of the incident about two weeks ago when some militant farmers gave the PSG the slip and succeeded in holding a lightning rally in front of the gate of the New Executive Building still rankled.

Mendiola street, where militant groups alternately held their programs while guarded by truckloads of policemen, was closed to traffic.

The part of Mendiola between the College of the Holy Spirit and V. Mapa High School was blocked by container vans, which hampered the flow of churchgoers who wanted to hear Mass at St. Jude Church.

Three container vans were placed on standby near the Nagtahan gate and jeep-loads of policemen guarded it.

At the Arlegui gate, container vans and barbed wires were also on standby and the PSG stopped each vehicle to check the bags of passengers.

It was through Arlegui gate that the militant farmers passed, by riding a jeepney plying the San Miguel-Quiapo route. They got off at the Arias gate where they unfurled placards and displayed slogans written on their bare chests.

The PNP downgraded its alert from red to normal after the rallies.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said the peaceful and orderly rallies were attributed to the dialogues conducted by police officials with the rally organizers days before the protest actions.