Justice for murdered Filipino transport trade union leaders is one step closer, thanks to the efforts of the ITF affiliated Alliance for Progressive Labour (APL) and workers worldwide. Following meetings with the Philippine government this week, APL understands that Benjamin Go, the government official accused of allegedly orchestrating the murders, stands to be suspended from his role.
Antonio ‘Dodong’ Petalcorin was shot dead in July this year. His murder is suspected to be connected to his attempts to expose the alleged corrupt practices of Go, the director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Dodong’s transport union leader co-complainants were also attacked; Emil Rivera was shot dead on his doorstep, Carlos Cirilo only narrowly survived a grenade attack.
Kagi Lucman’s murder two weeks after Dodong’s was the sixth transport union leader killing since March 2012.
The APL lobbied the LTFRB on budget hearings back in September and met this week with the new LTFRB chairperson Winston Ginez. During the meeting, the APL heard that recommendations on the Dodong affair have been made to the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication.
The Filipino National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also shown interest in investigating the Dodong case, and while they have nothing on the Lucman shooting at this point, they have promised to delegate a central investigative team to follow up leads so far in the Dodong case.
ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton said: “We are pleased to see that the hard work of our affiliates, and of workers worldwide, is changing the situation in the Philippines. We will continue to stand by our affiliates, and to monitor the situation in the Philippines closely. We urge the government to resolve allegations of corruption quickly, and to act fast to ensure transport union workers in the Philippines can operate without fear, and address the continuing problem of killings and disappearances of trade union and political activists.”
