Authorities in the Philippines are abusing their legal system as a means to repress workers' rights. A new court case against 33 labour-rights activists and factory workers is politically motivated and aimed at suppressing labour rights in the country...The workers, most of whom are women...organised a strike in their factories in September 2006 to protest against the factories' refusal to negotiate for a collective bargaining agreement...Following the violence, both unions sued the police and the security guards. Around the same time, the police also filed criminal charges against the 33 activists, accusing them of violence on the same occasion. [refers to Chong Won Fashion]