ITF road transport workers demand end to violence and impunity in Philippines

The ITF road transport section steering committee meeting in Belgium last week condemned the murder of Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin and announced actions to end the violence against trade unionists in the Philippines.

Petalcorin was shot as he was leaving his home to go to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Davao City, Philippines, on 2 July 2013. Petalcorin had previously filed a corruption case against Benjamin Gro, LTFRB regional director. Of the three co-complainants, two have now been shot dead and a third narrowly survived a grenade attack.

There have been some developments in the case – the mayor of Davao city publicly declared that the case will be investigated thoroughly, and police have identified the suspect. However, Petalcorin is the sixth transport unionist murdered since President Aquino was elected on an anti-corruption ticket in 2010, and the ITF and affiliates are keen to see justice done.

The unions called for the Aquino government to investigate the corruption claims and bring the perpetrators to justice, and called on the ITF and global affiliates to raise awareness of the situation for unionists in the Philippines. Affiliates further promised to support a campaign bringing together transport unions in the Philippines calling for an end to impunity and the killing of transport workers.

ITF inland transport section secretary Mac Urata said “This is the second wave of extra-judicial murders in the Philippine despite widespread international condemnation, including a high level delegation from the International Labour Organization in 2009. The culture of impunity is unacceptable and must stop once and for all. We fully support our affiliate in the Philippines under attack.”

Read the road transport workers' section steering committee resolution below.

Sign the LabourStart petition and join us in telling the Aquino government to end this culture of impunity.