Alleged armed men ROB, HARASS PICKETERS

MANILA, Philippines - Former Workers Of The Furniture Company R&Y Auguosti, Who Are Identified With Alu-Tucp, Yesterday Alleged That About 80 Armed Men Penetrated Their Picket Line Outside The Premises Of Chagrin Int'l In Barangay Pagsabungan, Mandaue City And Harassed And Robbed Them At Around 2:10 P.M. Yesterday.

They said the armed men arrived on board two dump trucks.

Arnold Arcipe, an official of the ALU-TUCP, said that heavily armed men wearing masks toting armalites and handguns harmed the workers who have been picketing for almost two months now.

Arcipe alleged that the armed forced the picketers to lie down with their faces on the ground. He said that when some workers resisted, the armed men struck them on the forehead and arms. Five of the workers were taken to the Mandaue City hospital for treatment, he said.

Some workers have alleged that the armed men took their cellular phones and some of their money.

They claimed tires of their motorcycles were also punctured.

They also alleged that the armed men took out machines from the factory. The company's security guards were unable to do anything.

"Klaro nga naay kalabutan ang management sa Chagrin kay sila man maoy nangunay sa pagpanguha," Arcipe said.

Union members accused the local police of being useless.

They claimed that as soon as the police arrived, all they did was interview them.

However, Basak police station chief P/Sr./Insp Ric Lomente denied the allegations made by the workers.

Lomente said that aside from his policemen, three mobile patrol cars of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) responded to the alarm but failed to arrest the suspects in a follow-up.

"Posibleng human na sa hitabo ni sila nanawag sa police kay imposible man sad nga di magukod sa atong kapolisan. Maayo man ug on foot patrol ni sila nga duna manggani dayoy tulo ka mobile patrol car nga naka-responde apan wa lang dyud makita pa ang mga suspetsado," Lomente said.

Ronald Baquiano, the legal counsel for Chagrin Intl would not comment on the incident.

Up to this moment ,striking workers believe that R&Y Auguosti and Chagrin Intl are of the same company and has just changed names.

The striking workers accuse management of being a run-away shop that follow unfair labor practices.

ALU in a press release yesterday said that efforts in resolving the labor dispute by both NCMB and the labor department are being pursued.

Management has allegedly refused to discuss and subscribe to what is supposed to be due the workers, among which are the 13th month pay, unpaid salaries, and other damages estimated to roughly total P12 million.

Although the management earlier expressed intention to settle the monetary issue, the union believed that the company is not sincere since it made the same assurance previously but did not fulfill its promise.

ALU said it is condemning the unfair labor acts and would appeal to President Benigno Aquino to step into the picture. (FREEMAN NEWS)