Labor chief slapped with technical malversation raps

A government employees’ group filed a graft case yesterday against outgoing Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas for alleged technical malversation of P1 million intended for the commissary of the Department of Labor and Employment Employees Union (DOLEEU).

The Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage), in a statement, said the amount was withdrawn upon Sto. Tomas’ orders and was deposited in a DOLE bank account which the group said was not covered by the audit of the Commission on Audit.

According to Courage, the fund was created by virtue of a collective negotiation agreement (CAN) signed between the DOLEEU and the DOLE in December 2004.

In the same complaint, filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, Courage also accused Sto. Tomas of union-busting by organizing another labor union at the DOLE last Feb. 15 despite the DOLEEU being the sole representative of DOLE employees and with the negotiation agreement still in effect.

Courage also accused Sto. Tomas of unjustly refusing to release the cash incentives due DOLE employees based on the agreement. The group claimed that Sto. Tomas refused to release the incentives because Courage — as the mother union of DOLEEU — is "left-leaning."

"For the same reason, Sto. Tomas unjustly refused to release cash incentives due the employees based on their (agreement) since December 2005 citing further that said money would only go to funding of rallies and have nothing to do with the DOLE and everything to do with destabilization," Courage said in a statement.

In addition, Courage also accused Sto. Tomas of bribery for allegedly receiving favors from Nestle Philippines, which had a pending labor case with DOLE. The group said Sto. Tomas later issued a return to work order.

Courage said the complaint filed with the Ombudsman is their "send-off" gift to Sto. Tomas, who had resigned as labor secretary and was appointed as chairwoman of the Development Bank of the Philippines.

"For making our lives more miserable and for disregarding our union rights, we will never forget her and will hound her with cases wherever she may be," Courage said.