Tension brewed again as workers and police clashed in the Cabuyao municipal grounds yesterday, February 6, at 5PM. While workers held a program in front of the municipal hall condemning the morning harassment in the Hanjin workers’ strike, some workers ran after and blocked a speeding maroon Toyota Revo carrying two of their detained Hanjin workers and five policemen.

“The police tried to escape with our comrades. Our comrades were detained and no charges were filed against them up to this hour. It’s against the law to take them away without informing us and our legal counsel. The police should know this,” said Lilibeth Ilaga, vice-president for organization of independent union Aniban ng Manggagawang Inaapi sa Hanjin Garments (AMIHAN).

Three workers from Hanjin Garments and one from Sensuous Lingerie Incorporated were earlier detained by the police after dispersing the first day of strike in Hanjin.

Ilaga continued, “Are they kidnapping the workers? Where will the police take them? Salvage them?”

Recognizing the Revo (with plate number XBX 131) being owned by Hanjin management, about 50 workers surrounded the vehicle and moved the program to the site. They lashed out on the outright connivance between Hanjin management and the police. They also demanded that their co-workers be sent back to the Cabuyao Police Station where they were taken.

Some 30 armed policemen, headed by Cabuyao Police Chief Superintendent Chito Bersaluna and Laguna Industrial Park Police Assistance Group (LIPPAG) Chief Marvin Saro, responded to the scene. A fire truck also came and aimed its hose on the workers.

The confrontation drew the attention of government employees, community members, and commuters.

The police reportedly claimed that the two detained will be taken to Biñan Regional Trial Court for inquest.

“For inquest? At this time of the day? And why not here in the Cabuyao Municipal Trial Court? You shouldn’t be doing this while the negotiation is on-going. And you (referring to Bersaluna and Saro) are supposed to be there,” one worker exclaimed.

An hour ago, PAMANTIK and KMU officials, Hanjin workers, and human rights workers started negotiating with Cabuyao vice-mayor Benjamin del Rosario for the immediate release of detained Hanjin workers and complained of police meddling on labor disputes. The mayor reportedly refused to attend the negotiation.

By 6PM, the police started to push the workers off the vehicle. The police were able to pull out the policemen inside and the two workers in their custody, Edison Alpiedam and Erica Lee Balane. They were brought back to the Cabuyao Police Station.

Workers reported that Christopher Capistrano and Gerald Daria, the other detained workers, were earlier taken out of the police station aboard a patrol car.

Continued harassment

The police continued dispersing the workers. Carmela Almayda, a supporting worker and union official from Sensuous Garments, suffered serious injuries after being pinned and kicked to the ground by 4 policemen.

“She was carried like an animal later on by the policemen,” reported her co-worker.

Randy Evangelista, who responded to cover the activity, was nabbed and detained by the police. Evangelista is the media liaison of Anakpawis Partylist national office.

On a separate incident, police mauled and detained Arnold Cerdo, union vice-president from Sensuous Lingerie. He was also detained with Evangelista.

Evangelista and Cerdo were later released without charges at 8PM.

The workers remained and held a vigil on the municipal grounds.