Group calls on Malacanang to implement dismissal order on NPO officials

The militant group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on Malacanang to implement the dismissal order by the Ombudsman on six officials of the National Printing Office (NPO) who are currently overseeing the printing of ballots for the coming elections. Recently the Ombudsman released a decision dated September 15, 2015, denying the motion for reconsideration (MR) of the axed NPO officers.

“With the junking of the MR, there is no more alibi for Malacanang to refuse to execute the dismissal order. The six NPO officers must be dismissed immediately, in fact they should have been removed yesterday. Instead these corrupt officials are now administering the ballot printing thus casting doubt on the credibility of the elections,” argued Wilson Fortaleza, spokesperson of PM which is running in the elections as a partylist group.

In a decision dated July 24, 2015 and signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Jose Ronald Bersales and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the court found the officials “guilty of grave misconduct” in connection with the anomalous printing of travel clearance certificates of the National Bureau of Investigation worth P1.9 million on Nov. 18, 2010.

Dismissed in the order were Emmanuel Andaya, NPO director; Sylvia Banda, chief administrative officer; Josefina Samson, printing operations chief; Antonio Sillona, printing operations chief; Bernadette Lagumen, supervising administrative officer; and Ma. Gracia Enriquez, printing operations assistant chief. 

NPO employees led by Mario Adarlo, former head of the labor union, started the call for the axing of the NPO officials. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo also supported the demand for the dismissal of the NPO officials to ensure clean and honest elections. There is also a change.org petition calling for the implementation of the dismissal order.

“We ask Malacanang: Daang matuwid or double standard? When political enemies are involved, Ombudsman decisions are immediately implemented by the administration. But when favored officials are implicated, dismissal orders are ignored despite black-and-white rules that say decisions are immediately executory despite the pendency of MR’s,” Fortaleza explained.

He added “Is there something being cooked at the NPO that corrupt and dismissed officials now oversee the much-delayed ballot printing and remain in their posts under the protection of Malacanang?”

“It is high time to appoint new NPO officials with clean records of public service. Further, the mandate of the NPO must be respected instead of its work outsourced to private printing contractors,” Fortaleza ended.

February 18, 2016

PALEA attends NLRC hearing but will raise dispute to ILO

Press Release

May 16, 2011

PALEA

The officers of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) attended the hearing of the labor dispute with Philippine Airlines (PAL) concerning the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) at the National Labor Relations Commission this afternoon. However on Wednesday, PALEA will push through with filing a complaint at the International Labor Organization for violation of conventions on freedom of association, collective bargaining and the right to strike.

“The fight continues. We will exhaust all avenues in order to protect the regular jobs and improve the working conditions of PAL employees. The Philippines is party to international conventions that protect the rights of workers to form unions, negotiate CBA’s and hold strikes. But with government connivance, PAL is trying to bust PALEA through its outsourcing plan and is prolonging a 12-year CBA moratorium by refusing to negotiate,” Rivera explained.

This morning PALEA joined other supporters in the filing of the nomination of its lawyer Atty. Marlon Manuel for the post of Ombudman. “After the disaster of Merceditas Gutierrez, it is high time that the post of Ombudsman is assumed by a person of principles and resolve. Atty. Manuel’s track record of lawyering for farmers and workers fighting against giant companies such as San Miguel and PAL speaks for itself. PALEA might lose a brilliant counsel but the country will gain a competent Ombudsman,” Rivera elaborated. Atty. Manuel accompanied the PALEA officers in the NLRC hearing this afternoon.

On Thursday, the House Labor Committee investigates the labor dispute at PAL. PALEA and Partido ng Manggagawa will mobilize its members for the hearing. “The hearing will be an opportunity for PALEA to confront PAL in a venue that is open to the public and media. In this arena, PAL management will be forced to argue its case in the glare of media cameras and lawmakers questions. We are prepared for this confrontation with PAL management,” Rivera asserted.

PAL employee files case at Ombudsman and House Ethics Committee

Press Release
PALEA
January 17, 2011

Philippine Airlines employee Sarah Bonnin-Ocampo and the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) today filed complaints at the Ombudsman and the House Ethics Committee against Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay of the party-list Alliance of Volunteer Educators.

They trooped to the Office of the Ombudsman by 10:00 a.m. and then to the Batasang Pambansa by 1:00 p.m. The cases allege that Magsaysay is guilty of grave slander, serious misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a high ranking public official and direct solicitation of personal favor or gain using his office. Atty. Bernadette Carrasco, legal counsel for Ocampo, said that the Ombudsman case is a criminal complaint while the Ethics Committee case is an administrative one.

“We wish that Sarah’s fight for justice will blaze a trail in the struggle for workers’ dignity. Service workers in the airline industry and call centers among others suffer indignities in the workplace through no fault of their own but receive no protection from their employers or the government. There are many more Sarahs who need support and protection against abusive officials and insensitive customers,” insisted Ginalyn Licayan, head of the PALEA Women’s Committee.

Meanwhile the labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) declared its support for Ocampo’s fight for justice and a contingent from PM joined PALEA members in the activities today.

“Sarah’s fight is the fight of all working women. We call on women workers and women advocates to stand up in support of Sarah against sexism and for dignity,” said Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary-general. PM and women’s groups participated in a forum this afternoon. In the forum “Stand Up Against Sexism and Abuse of Working Women and Men” held at a restaurant in Quezon City, PM, PALEA and other groups discussed a coordinated campaign for “Justice for Sarah Ocampo, Justice for Women Workers.”

Miranda also questioned Magsaysay’s credentials as a supposed party-list representative. “Magsaysay’s abusive behavior towards a woman employee exposes his pretensions as a representative of the marginalized. What underrepresented sector exactly does Magsaysay’s Alliance of Voluntary Educators speak for? It appears that Magsaysay as an advocate of the marginalized is as fictional as Mikey Arroyo being a representative of tricycle drivers,” she added.

“We call on incoming Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Sixto Brillantes to reform the accreditation process for party-list groups. The last Comelec was universally condemned for accrediting and proclaiming bogus and fake party-list groups in contravention of landmark Supreme Court guidelines,” Miranda asserted.

PALEA women employees picket AVE party-list representative – for sexist arrogance

PRESS RELEASE
PALEA
11 January 2011

Women and men members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) held a picket-rally this morning at the residence of Alliance of Volunteers Educators (AVE) Party-List Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay in Greenhills. This is to protest against his unbecoming conduct when he publicly shouted sexist remarks and threatened PALEA member Sarah Bonnin Ocampo with dismissal on 17 December last year.

The group, which included Ocampo, assembled around 10:00 am in front of Club Filipino together with members of the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM). PAL employee Ocampo alleges that Magsaysay threatened her with dismissal from work and of being a “menopausal bitch” in an incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport boarding area.

“We would like to seek justice for all aviation workers who are constantly experiencing disrespect and abuse from airline customers especially abusive politicians and government officials but have chosen to remain silent for fear of reprisal,” explained Ginalyn Licayan, head of PALEA’s Women Committee.

Ocampo plans to file both civil and criminal cases against the party-list representative. Despite being harassed by mysterious phone calls, she shall pursue the case with the full support of the PALEA, PM and various women groups which have expressed their indignation.

“Mr. Magsaysay represents those obnoxious politicians who shamelessly wield their positions with utmost arrogance against ordinary employees. Calling our co-employee names such as ‘menopausal bitch’ is the epitome of rudeness and sexism, totally embarrassing for a so-called ‘public servant.’ Naturingan pa siyang representante ng sektor ng edukasyon!” added Licayan.

“Government officials, especially the likes of Mr. Magsaysay should realize that workers are human beings who deserve respect. It is truly an embarrassment that a number of ‘public servants’ in our country do not know how to conduct themselves accordingly. Bagamat may patakaran ang Civil Service Commission laban sa ganitong kondukta ng mga empleyado maging ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno, they can easily get away with it. Because government itself is complacent, as if arrogance is the acceptable mark of a true blue government official, which should not be the case,” asserted PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda.

“We cannot continue to allow government officials to use their position in maligning workers, especially those who undermine women workers’ right to be free from discrimination and sexism,” said Licayan.