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Philex eviction continues

BAGUIO CITY (Apr.1) — Residents of Brgy. Padcal in Tuba, Benguet condemned Philex Mining Company’s eviction actions against them in a press conference this week saying that the move is a violation of their rights.

Residents said that Philex management started cutting off their electricity and water supply on the first weeks of March. Philex personnel were allegedly accompanied by the local police when they implemented “Oplan Putol”.

On Feb. 21, residents filed a petition for the issuance of a writ of Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order after the cutting-off activities of Philex. They pointed out that the status of their employer-employee relationship with the company was yet to gain finality. After the company retrenched many of its workers between September and October 2003, they filed an illegal retrenchment case against Philex at the National Labor Relations Commission-Cordillera Administrative Region (NLRC-CAR). The Labor Arbiter issued a decision in favor of the company after which the retrenched workers appealed it to NLRC Manila.

Judge Fernando Cabato of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 62 denied the petition stating that the workers have already received their quitclaim. The decision also argued that the workers’ petition of TRO was baseless since they failed to present evident facts

The residents filed another petition for TRO through their counsel Baguio City Councilor Atty. Faustino Olowan on March 29. They alleged that the company decieved them and forced them to sign quitclaim documents. They said that they had no other choice but to sign because they had no money that time. They stated that they did not get their salaries for several months so they went to the accounting department where they were told will not receive anything unless they will sign the quitclaim paper.

They criticized the company for acting as if it were above the law, including Judge Cabato for allegedly favoring Philex and not taking into consideration the ongoing labor dispute between them and the company.

Philex gave the residents until April 15 to leave the mine camp. Residents revealed that the company said it will forcibly evict them after the said date. Mrs. Teresita Manzano, one of the affected residents said that they will seek the help of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Benguet and officials of Brgy. Padcal. # Aldwin Quitasol for NORDIS

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