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PNP disperses striking workers

MANKAYAN, Benguet (July 20) — At around 2:00 am of July 20, 2005, more than 70 members of the Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) of the Benguet Philippine National Police (PNP) under the command of Major Brent Madiaco attacked the peaceful picket line of around 150 striking workers of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC).

Prior to the incident, the workers who are members of the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) had been manning the picket line and had to prevent the PNP forces from bringing in food supplies and equipment for the scab workers inside the Nayak Twin Tunnels. The Tubo Collar Shaft of the company has since been malfunctioning.

The women who were at the picket pleaded to the policemen to respect their freedom to fight for their rights and tried to explain why they were staging a strike. Some women turned emotional and wept when Madiaco instructed his men to carry on with the dispersal.

Members of the PNP pulled and dragged the workers and the women despite their pleas not to hurt them. The policemen pushed the workers and women into the police vehicle. Some men and women freed themselves by jumping off the vehicle.

During the scuffle, worker Jerry Takinan was punched and wounded in the upper right lip by Mankayan Chief of Police Edward Aquintey. Takinan suffered a cut on his said lip.

Some of the workers’ clothings were torn when the police officers pulled them. One woman complained that her right breast was mashed by one policeman.

The PNP arrested Francisco Dida and Danilo Fag-ayan Dakilong at 3:00 am and brought them to the headquarters of the Benguet PMG in Camp Dennis Molintas in Abatan, in Buguias town. The arresting officers agreed to bring back the two arrested workers to Mankayan after the phone calls of the union’s lawyers and supporters.

The two workers were brought to Mankayan by Madiaco upon orders of Col. Ernesto Gaab of Camp Bado Dangwa. The rest of the workers prevented the police from proceeding to the said camp and held a negotiation with Madiaco which lasted for five hours. The workers and women had to literally beg for Madiaco’s consideration. Madiaco was forced to heed the worker’s pleas. As of this writing, no formal charges were filed against the two. # Aldwin Quitasol for NORDIS

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