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We didn’t start the fire!

By Lepanto Employees Union

July 24, 2005

Past noon of July 23, 2005, we, the officers and members of the Lepanto Employees Union (LEU) together with our supporters were to proceed in front of the General Office to end our march-rally when we were stranded at Gate 3 because Lepanto’s Atty. Weldy Manlong with the PNP under the command of Col. Ernesto Gaab did not allow us to enter despite a 2-hour dialogue. We were to have our lunch at the Union Hall.

We had the permit to conduct the march-rally approved by no other than our beloved mayor of Mankayan Manalo Galuten and our activity was legal under the prevailing law. That the PNP and Atty. Manlong should know.

When we showed the said permit to these people, they showed no respect for the local government unit and instead arrogantly refused to honor the permit.

The hungry workers opened the gates without plans and intentions to hurt people especially the PNP. When the workers succeeded in passing through the gates, they fix their ranks to proceeded to the union hall. But Col. Gaab fired his service pistol.

We were not intimidated by the gunshot, instead, we continued down the road leading to our union hall. Suddenly, these PNP elements hurled stones at us, hurting our companions. When we tried to defend ourselves, the PNP started firing their guns frightening us, especially the women.

With confidence, we can prove that we, the workers did not start the disturbance. We held our activity in accordance with the law. It was the PNP members and their officers who made the situation worse.

As for the incident at Tubo, we held a dialogue with the PNP through Major Brent Madjaco where we told him our plan to close the gate symbolically. We policed our members and officers and warned them not to do untoward actions because we still are peaceful people.

We are condemning the violent incident that happened at the gate 3 at Paco, Mankayan. We also denounce the abuse of PNP power through their unlawful interference in the labor dispute between us and the management of LCMC.

What happened could have been prevented had Atty. Manlong respected the legally processed permit that we showed him and had the PNP done its real duty of preserving peace and order and not initiating the untoward incident.

Pull out the PMG-PNP from Mankayan!
Struggle for a just and reasonable Collective Bargaining Agreement!
Long live the Lepanto Employees Union! #

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