NEWS AT A GLANCE

POW release is a two-way process — Ka Roger

A March 14 statement of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said that family of Pfc Ronel Lemeño, a prisoner of war (POW) of the  New People's Army (NPA) in Camarines Sur, called for the immediate suspension of military operations (SOMO) in the province.

According to the statement, Lemeño's fiancee Irene Agno had expressed concern on the continued operations by the Philippine Army's 42nd and 31st Infantry Battalions and 9th Scout Ranger Company in the province in an interview over Naga City-based radio station DZLL last week.

In a separate interview with the same radio station, CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal assured Agno that Lemeño, as well as his fellow POW Lt. Ronaldo Fedelino, are being treated well by their NPA custodians.

Lemeño and Fedelino were captured in an ambush at Barangay Bataan, Tinambac last March 2.

Rosal however said that the release of POWs is "a two-way process." He said that the "speedy release of the two depends primarily on the how soon the Arroyo government will initiate negotiations and come to terms with the NDF (National Democratic Front) over the release."

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No compromise on justice

“Offering virtual freedom for big thieves like Estrada to enjoy house arrest is totally a mockery of justice!” Thus said the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) March 12 in reaction to the joint Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and El Shaddai statement of allowing Joseph Estrada to enjoy virtual house arrest is acceptable in the light of ‘charity and compassion.’

“Christian compassion requires no compromise on justice,” Rev. Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, OFM, PCPR national co-chairperson said. “We oppose compromises in the Estrada plunder case, we refuse Malacañang’s manipulations in distorting our sense of humanitarian concerns to justify extra-special privileges for Estrada.”

Arcebuche, however, clarified that humanitarian treatment such as much-needed medical treatment for prisoners in very specific cases may be offered.

He also said that the Arroyo government “virtually allowed” a house arrest for the ousted president “in the hope of earning votes from Estrada’s supporters.” PCPR further accused Malacañang of using religious groups to project an illusion of Arroyo’s popularity such as the March 16 luncheon meeting at the palace. 

Arcebuche was one of the complainants in Plunderwatch’s charges against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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RFM-Swift workers demand DTI probe on ‘misleading’ Swift products 

Striking workers of RFM-Swift Foods, Inc. in Cabuyao, Laguna called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in a statement March 15 to investigate and, if possible, penalize the company for its alleged sale of uncertified products.

RFM-Swift Meat Workers Union president Fabian Cantalejo said that since the Cabuyao plant had stopped its operations after their strike on November 2001, “the company continued production of Swift meat products in eight toll packing subcontracted companies in various places which operations are not equal to the quality RFM-SFI produces which is of ISO (International Standards Organization (ISO) 9002 certified quality.”

"This is a very grave betrayal of the Filipino consumers’ trust,” Cantalejo said. “It is unfair both to the consumers and to us…who have worked for 20 years to achieve the quality that has earned ISO 9002 certification.” 

Strikers also questioned how the DTI seemed to allow the sale of the products produced under uncertified plants.

Strikers were set to stage a camp-out this week in front of the DTI office to push acting secretary Purisima De Jesus into facing the workers' questions and allegations.

Meanwhile, the same statement said that RFM-Swift CEO Jose Concepcion III and the rest of the management have refused to negotiate with the union. The statement also said the management has not complied with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) decisions of April 16 and September 26, 2003 instructing the company to give the workers’ unpaid 13^th month pay and November 2001 salary, respectively. 

Based on the Kilusang Mayo Uno records, the lock-out in 2001 has affected 300, who worked for the company for 20 years, or over 1,500 families. RFM-SFI workers staged the strike on the ground of alleged unfair labor practice when the management refused to enter collective bargaining negotiations (CBNs), retrenched 150 workers and dismissed active union officers during CBNs. 

  Bulatlat.com

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