This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 26, August 7-13, 2005
LABOR WATCH
Lepanto Files Raps vs Mayor for ‘Assisting’ Workers
Mining giant Lepanto Consolidated, beset by a two-month old strike, filed
charges of corrupt practices under Republic Act 3019 against the Mankayan mayor
and his secretary because they gave the striking workers permit to rally.
BY Artemio A. Dumlao
La Trinidad, Benguet— Lepanto
Consolidated Mining Company (Lepanto) has filed charges of corrupt practices
under Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) against Mankayan
Mayor Manalo Galuten and his secretary, Panelo Ambas, for allegedly assisting
the striking workers, thereby causing “considerable damage” against the mining
giant. Lepanto’s Atty. Ronald
Recidoro filed on July 27 charges against Galuten and Ambas before the Office of
the Ombudsman for Northern Luzon. In its complaint, Lepanto
stated that the local government of Mankayan had been virtually obstructing the
arrest of labor leaders. Recidoro accused the respondents of personally filing
the bail bond in behalf of the arrested workers. Galuten and Ambas
reportedly “failed to observe the exacting standards of personal conduct of
public officials and employees in the discharge and execution of official
duties.” Also mentioned in the
complaint was the mayor’s issuance of a permit to rally for the workers on July
23, which Recidoro said favored the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU). Recidoro
claimed “the permit authorized the strikers to enter the Lepanto’s
administrative office to stage a mass action in front of the Lepanto General
Office — a private property beyond the realm of respondent’s power and
jurisdiction.” In the rally, however, LEU
officers read the permit to fellow workers, supporters and company
representatives present (lawyers Weldy Manlong and Mark Maranes). The permit
only allowed the workers to hold a program “in front of the General Office,” and
not inside the administrative office as Lepanto claimed. Lepanto said that the
mayor’s permit was issued without consulting or acquiring Lepanto’s consent to
the proposed rally. In an interview, LEU
spokesperson and auditor Ronald Maslian said Lepanto had no reason to vent its
ire on Galuten and Ambas. “As the mayor of this town
he was well aware of his actions when he issued the permit, and he recognizes
our (workers) right to freedom of expression which our Constitution guarantees,”
Maslian said. Northern Dispatch/Posted by Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat