The Kilusang Mayo Uno – Southern Mindanao Region, through its Trade Union and Human Rights desk, received a report yesterday of a grave threat to the life of Vicente “Boy” Barrios, President of Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (NAMASUFA) in Compostela, Compostela Valley Province.

An armed, bonneted man wearing a corduroy jacket forcibly entered the house of Boy Barrios in Purok 2, Valencia , Brgy New Alegria, Compostela, Compostela Valley Province around 9:30 pm on Saturday, June 10, 2006. According to the accounts of witnesses, he carried a long firearm while a companion waited and watched outside of Barrios’ house.

Boy and his wife were in their room at the time of the incident. His two in-laws, also present, panicked with fear and ran into the room to hide with Boy and his wife. The armed man said nothing and left.

“This incident is one in a series of harassments, grave threat, and intimidation of our union leaders, particularly on the banana plantations of Compostela managed by the Soriano-owned Fresh Banana Agricultural Corporation,” Omar Bantayan, Secretary General of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao said. “Wherever new unions are formed and workers are asserting their rights, this pattern of harassment emerges in a futile attempt to discourage the workers from organizing. The Armed Forces themselves have engaged in union busting activities.”

Bantayan was referring to the recent findings of the International Labor Solidarity Mission (ILSM) which investigated the involvement of the 36th and 28th Infantry Battalions-Philippine Army in union busting in Compostela during their 2004 and 2005 operations respectively. The ILSM was hosted in Southern Mindanao by the Nonoy Librado Development Foundation from May 2-5, 2006.

NAMASUFA was registered with the Department of Labor and Employment in mid-August 2005.

Barrios was called for questioning by the 28th IB in September, and accused of organizing for the New Peoples Army on the false grounds that NAMASUFA was organized by rebels. During the same month, the military called a meeting of the workers inside the packing plant, and told them not to move forward with their union, that the company will close, and that their union is ‘Leftist.’

The days leading up to the incident, Boy was warned by a union member who heard that plans were falling into place to kill him. This incident is the latest in a series of threats to Boy’s life which began in December 2005 after the union filed a money claim with the Department of Labor and Employment for non-payment of COLA, holiday pay, service incentive, and non-wage benefits. Idelfonso Lendio, the contractor under FBAC at Packing Plant 90, was removed from his position as a result of the case during the course of which it was discovered that Lendio was operating without a license. New Alegria Barangay Captain Jesus Jamero is the relative of Lendio, and contractor at Packing Plant 92 where the workers recently registered their union—Packing Plant 92 Workers’ Union. The organizing drive at Packing Plant 92, near to Barrios’ house, is being assisted by NAMASUFA.