Barely a month since Regent Foods Corporation (RFC) workers launched a strike, company-hired goons, guards, and members of the Philippine National Police violently broke in and dispersed the striking workers.
UPDATED: Fifteen strikers, two paralegal officers of labor group Defend Job Philippines and a bystander were arrested during the dispersal.
The seventeen arrested are the following:
- Melanie Dela Cruz
- Laarni Gabriel
- Enrico Ramos
- Christopher Distor
- Virulyn Vesuyan
- Aileen Batanon
- Alex Batso
- Gemma Alvarez
- Aldo Sanchez
- Crisanta Lagrisola
- Benjamin Israel
- Arnel Ocampo
- Edmund Timbal
- Cyril Pumaren
- Generoso Soliven
- Christopher Arañas
- Basilio Cudiamat
- Romel Agcaoili
- Antonio Regacho Jr.
- Bonifacio Ramirez
- Judy Salcedo
- Gerardo Gaddi (Defend Job Philippines)
- Carlo Levanta (Defend Job Philippines)
- Ronald Montilla (tricycle driver)
Defend Job Philippines (DJP) and Regent Food Workers Union (RFWU) decried the manhandling by the RFC management, the PNP and regent security guards for conducting an “illegal” dispersal as they have not shown any legal document and injunction order from the Labor Department.
In a press release posted by DJP, the dispersal came at a time when there is still an ongoing negotiation between the Union and the management before the Labor Department’s National Labor Relations Commission and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board.
The group also demands for the immediate release of the 17 arrested. The group will be filing counter-charges against the management.
