Missing trade union organizer reunites with family; blames police for illegal detention and physical injuries

Association of Democratic Labor Organization (ADLO-Kilusang Mayo Uno) trade union organizer Arturo Macalalag, reported “missing” for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon reunited with his family last night.

KMU and Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) dispatched a quick reaction and paralegal team to check on Macalalag at the Makati City Police Station at around 7 pm last night, five hours after Macalalag’s last contact with his colleagues from ADLO-KMU.

ADLO members were alerted on Macalalag’s situation after he failed to appear in a meeting for the federation's preparation for the upcoming May Day celebration.

His colleagues tried to contact him through his mobile number but were unable to. Before they lost contact with Macalalag, he was able to tell them that he was in the vicinity of Mantrade in Makati City .

After a few minutes, an unidentified caller informed the members of ADLO-KMU that Macalalag is in a police precint.

The quick reaction team confirmed at the Makati Police Station that Macalalag was arrested and detained at the Southern Police District (SPD) Station 3 at Evangelista St. in Bgy. Bangkal.

He was apprehended by a mobile patrol along Walter Mart and was forcibly taken to Station 3. While at the station, he was harassed and interrogated by police and intelligence agents. He was physically assaulted and held at gunpoint by his captors. After failing to extract information from Macalalag, the police released him at around 9 pm.