New Zealand Government assured Dennis Maga will not be arrested

“These are positive developments regarding the safe return of Dennis Maga from his speaking tour in New Zealand. But despite the assurance from the Philippine authorities, we are taking this with a grain of salt.”

This was the reaction of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center on the news about the assurance made by Philippine authorities to the New Zealand government regarding the possible arrest of Dennis Maga, spokesperson of the Free Ka Bel Movement and Secretary-General of the ANGLO-KMU, upon his arrival here in the Philippines.

“We appreciate the effort of our brothers and sisters from the trade union movement in New Zealand, especially from the National Distribution Union (NDU), to pressure Prime Minister Helen Clark to inquire regarding the case of Dennis. The NDU invited Dennis to do a speaking tour and discuss the human and labor rights situation in the Philippines, with particular focus on the illegal detention case of Ka Bel, to various fora in New Zealand,” said Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU.

“But despite the promise, we are well aware on how this regime thinks, since you have people like Raul and Norberto Gonzales. He may not be arrested upon his arrival, but the possibility of trumping charges against Dennis and then arresting him based on such charges is very real. Remember what they did to Ka Bel, arresting him based on a more than 2-decade warrant of arrest,” opined Labog.

“We are now discussing with Dennis and the brothers and sisters from NDU regarding his return. The National leadership of the KMU, along with a team of lawyers shall be part of the committee to welcome him back,” ended Labog.