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Lepanto workers back mayor vs. company raps

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Aug. 3) —­ The Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) supported Mankayan Mayor Manalo Galuten who was charged with corrupt practices under Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) by the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCLCo) for allegedly assisting the striking workers, thereby causing considerable damage against the mining giant.

The same complaints were also filed against Panelo Ambas, Galuten’s secretary. Lepanto’s Atty. Ronald Recidoro filed charges against Galuten and Ambas before the Office of the Ombudsman for Northern Luzon.

The mayor’s issuance of a permit to rally for the workers on July 23 was mentioned in the complaint, which Recidoro said favored the 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 its statement dated August 4, the LEU said that Galuten only acted as a “true public servant when he let the people of Mankayan exercise their right to assembly”, adding that the mayor instead recognized the legitimacy and correctness of the activity.

Lepanto stated in its complaint filed on July 27 that the local government of Mankayan also had been virtually obstructing the arrest of labor leaders. Recidoro also accused the respondents of personally filing the bail bond in behalf of the arrested workers. Galuten and Ambas, Lepanto further insisted in its complaint, “failed to observe the exacting standards of personal conduct of public officials and employees in the discharge and execution of official duties”.

In the said rally, however, LEU officers read the permit to fellow workers, supporters, and company representatives present (Atty. Weldy Manlong and Atty. Mark Maranes), where it is stated that the permit only allows the workers to hold a program “in front of the General Office”, and not inside the administrative office f 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 that Lepanto had no reason at all to vent its ire towards officials of the local government, and to Galuten in particular.

“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”, he said.

The LEU said that it is the management who should be sued for the non-remittance of SSS contributions, PAG-IBIG funds, including the release of some benefits. # Ace Alegre and Joseph Pangket for NORDIS

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