Republic of the Philippines HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Quezon City FIFTEENTH CONGRESS Second Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION No.

1861

Introduced by Rep. TEDDY A. CASIO

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT TO CONDUCT AN URGENT INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE CONTINUED THREATS AND INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE AIRLINES EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (PALEA) BY ALLEGED HIRED GOONS OF THE PHILIPPINE AIRLINES (PAL) MANAGEMENT WHEREAS, on October 29, 2011, goons allegedly sent by the Philippine Airlines (PAL) management attacked the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) protest camp at PALs Inflight Center near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2, hurting eight protesters and causing the death of bystander Arvin Macalalad who died from cardiac arrest as he was caught in the middle of the scuffle. PALEA members Froilan Tancinco, Ester Gonzaga, Tranquilino Simplico Jr., Noel Penetrante, Lover Manibo, Rosmar Elaurza, Pablito Leonardo and Ronald Salazar were reportedly injured; WHEREAS, Salazar, the designated camp manager, said around 50 men wearing helmets and shields alighted from an unidentified bus and attacked them before dawn in an attempt to dismantle their tents. PALEA members captured and brought one of the men, identified as Johnny de la Cruz, to a Pasay City police station where he admitted being hired by the PAL management. He was later brought to the Pasay City prosecutors office for inquest on charges of physical injury, malicious mischief and robbery; WHEREAS, in a statement, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) labor center said that the attack shows PAL owner Lucio Tans "desperation in trying to silence PAL workers who are fighting for their rights. He is showing a readiness to employ all means to remove the protesting workers from their camp site and make it appear that PAL operations have returned to normal; WHEREAS, PAL has denied hiring the goons, alleging that it is PALEA that is harrassing the company through its protest actions; WHEREAS, this is not the first time that a Lucio Tan company has figured in violent actions against its workers. A few years back, the Asia Brewery in Laguna was likewise the scene of violent attacks against its striking workers;

WHEREAS, given the raging dispute at PAL regarding its outsourcing scheme, it is imperative that the House of Representatives include, in its ongoing investigation, these related incidents of harassment and violence against PAL workers who have resorted to holding a protest camp outside the company premises to bring their issues to light; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Committee on Labor and Employment conduct an urgent inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the continued threats and incidents of violence against members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) by alleged hired goons of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) management. Adopted,

REP. TEDDY A. CASIO Bayan Muna Party-list