Bus firm workers in labor row hit police

Some 200 striking workers of a bus firm picketed police headquarters in Caloocan City Friday and accused a ranking police officer of conniving with the bus owners in violently dispersing them last Monday.

Pinagkaisang Lakas ng Manggagawa ng Mina’s Transit Corporation (PIGLAS-Mina’s) spokesman Romeo Sadje told The STAR that 13 workers were injured in that confrontation.

Newly-installed police chief, Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, said he has relieved Superintendent Romulo Ramos, Station 1 commander, pending investigation of allegations he received a certain sum of money from one Crispin Oviedo, owner of Mina’s Transit Corporation (MTC) with address at Zabarte, Camarin, Bukid Area, Caloocan City in exchange for harassing the striking MTC employees at the picket line.

Sadje said their protest stemmed from the illegal lockout carried out by the Oviedo family against them since October last year.

Documents shown by Sadje showed MTC was incorporated on April 19, 1989. In May 14, 2000, the Oviedos, except Crispin who was replaced by a certain Anthony Puzon, also incorporated Fermina’s Express Corporation allegedly in an effort to circumvent the law and expel the legitimate bus workers.

The bus workers carrying streamers denouncing Ramos and his men, caught policemen by surprise when they stormed the headquarters at around 12 noon Friday.

Sadje and Rogelio Soluta, KMU council member, who met with Mantele at the latter’s office, claimed Ramos, members of the local Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), the city hall’s Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management (DPSTM) and armed men on board two buses violently dispersed them with tear gas, stones, empty bottles and guns on two occasions, on Dec. 13 and last Monday, March 19.

The displaced bus workers also questioned the presence of Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo’s men in the DPSTM who were with the policemen when they violently broke the picket line.

Soluta said Mantele agreed to bring their representatives to the city hall for a dialogue with the owners witnessed by Malonzo on Monday, March 26. – Jerry Botial