Law office under tight military surveillance

Unverified reports that the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE), a law office to be found in E. Rodriguez Avenue corner D. Tuazon in Quezon City, servicing workers, is under the tight military surveillance was confirmed today as an Army intelligence officer assigned to gather information about the law office was apprehended by Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) security guards, in Taguig this afternoon.

Private First Class Rommel Felipe Santiago, Philippine Army was apprehended while riding his Honda XRM motorcycle with plate number NA 7258 by FTI security guards. Union officials of the Nagkakaisang Bisig ng Manggagawa sa FTI-ADLO-KMU reported to the guards on duty that they were being tailed by a yellow motorcycle since they left PLACE in Quezon City.

According to Jun Cruz, union president, he and his officials came from National Labor Reconciliation Council this morning then proceeded to PLACE to consult with their labor lawyer. When they left the law office in E. Rodriguez Avenue at around 11:30 am, they noticed that they were being tailed by two men riding a yellow motorcycle. The yellow motorcycle continued to follow the union vehicle to Taguig.

As they arrive at the FTI in Taguig, they immediately reported to the guards on duty of their situation and the guards responded. After a few minutes, police and security guards were able to apprehend the yellow motorcycle but only Pfc. Santiago was left.

According to the police blotter, Pfc. Santiago said that they were doing surveillance on the law office and the situation were the union officials were followed was a case of “mistaken identity.” Taguig police eventually released Pfc. Santiago when the Inspector General called the Taguig police and confirmed that Pfc. Santiago was on official duty.

“After the massacre of 6 workers in Novaliches, intimidation and harassment of workers continues,” said Elmer Labog, National Chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). “People who support the workers cause are being targeted, as what happened to the late Bishop Alberto Ramento, IFI, a staunch supporter of the workers of Hacienda Luisita. Even labor lawyers are not spared from surveillance, intimidation and harrasment.

“While big companies are able to big-shot lawyers, workers who are already hard-pressed of finding money to feed their families, find it even more difficult to hire lawyers to assist them in their legal cases. PLACE tries to help workers by providing legal service, but even this small service is now under threat,” opined Labog.

According to Labog, the cases handled by PLACE are all labor-related like cases of illegal dismissal, strikes and other similar cases. “When did the ISAFP became part of the Department of Labor and Employment,” quipped Labog. “This monitoring by the Army is definitely beyond labor-management relations.”

“The survivors of the victims of extra-judicial killings have testified that before the murders were committed, the victims were listed under the Order of Battle of the AFP and placed tight military surveillance,” stated Labog. “If any untoward incident was to happen to the lawyers and staff of PLACE, we shall hold the state-sponsored death squads as liable.”