Few days after complaining that their agency has not paid their wages for two months, the security guards at the Palace of Justice finally received partial payment of their overdue salaries.
Romeo Jamaybay, acting head guard of Blue Dozen Security Agency, said the agency only paid half month of their two months collectibles. The amount that they received was not enough to offset their accumulated debts for unpaid house rentals and basic needs that they credited from sari-sari stores in their neighborhood.
Jamaybay said the agency allegedly promised to fully pay the remaining one month and a half of unpaid salary on Monday.
The security guards earlier sought the assistance from the media to pressure their agency to pay their salaries. Blue Dozen Security Agency allegedly failed to pay the salaries of its guards since September because of the Supreme Court’s alleged failure to pay its bills.
The agency’s failure to pay the salary on time resulted to the guard’s threat to abandon their assignments for reasons that they no longer have money for their fares and meals.
“Sige nalang mi og pangutang, usahay kausa nalang mi mokaon dunganon ang pamahaw ug paniudto,” the guards said.
According to the guards, the situation is really hard for them because they have not also paid house rentals. They said sari-sari stores do not allow them credit anymore unless they could settle their unpaid accounts.
Blue Dozen Security Agency won in the bidding to supply security guards for the Palace of Justice in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. Jamaybay said have 12 guards at the Capitol, seven in Lapu-Lapu City, six in Mandaue City and three in Argao.
The agency started its four-year contract with the Supreme Court in 2004.
On top of delayed salaries, the guards are also complaining that the agency has not remitted their contributions to the Social Security System and that were not enrolled to PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig, which are mandatory under the law. — Fred P. Languido/LPM