The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and the National Federation of Sugar Workers – Food and General Trade (NFSW – FGT) today welcomed the International Labor Organization for accepting its complaints against the Duterte regime for trade union repression and criminalization of labor rights of Philippine agricultural workers.

According to UMA chairperson, Antonio “Ka Tonying” Flores, both organizations submitted the joint complaint on June 22, 2021. And on the Governing Body’s 343rd Session in Geneva, November 2021, the joint complaint was discussed in the Report of the Committee on Freedom of Association.

Said complaint includes those 18 agricultural workers extra judicially killed during the Duterte regime. Sixteen of whom are members of the NFSW including nine killed during the Sagay massacre.

Other complaints include illegal arrests, detention and false criminal charges against more than 100 workers, human rights activists and unionists, including from the NFSW–FGT and UMA-affiliated unions, as well as numerous incidents of intimidation, harassment, red-tagging and threats against trade union members and leaders.

This includes Sr. Patricia Fox, UMA’s missionary volunteer who was charged by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) with illegally joining political activities making her an “undesirable alien” and ordering her deportation.

Another case is that of Ariel “Ka Ayik” Casilao, UMA’s vice chairperson, Anakpawis Party list national president, and former Congressman. He was accused by the police of usurpation of authority after being arrested on April 19, 2020 after coming to the aid of six volunteers from the Sagip Kanayuan’s relief operations who had been arrested and detained at the Norzagaray, Bulacan police station.

As such, the Committee urges the (Philippine) Government to provide a detailed reply to the

serious allegations of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, detention, threats, intimidation, harassment and red-tagging of trade unionists communicated by the UMA and the NFSW–FGT (including that of the ITF) and expects the Government to ensure that all of the above allegations will be rapidly investigated and perpetrators of violence against trade unionists identified and brought to justice, irrespective of whether they are private persons or State agents, so as to combat impunity and prevent the repetition of such acts. The Committee trusts that the Government will prioritize investigations into these serious incidents and requests it to keep it informed of the progress made in this regard, including the status of any cases initiated. The Committee also urges the Government to ensure the immediate release of any detained trade unionists, should their arrest or detention be connected to the legitimate exercise of their trade union rights.

UMA and NFSW considers this as complimentary to the International Criminal Court’s effort to investigate crimes against humanity against President Duterte and his accomplices in the drug war. At the same time, it urges the UNCHR to investigate the Duterte regime not only on the drug war but also on the killings and other human rights violations on Philippine activists and unionists.

Both organizations are also urging the Duterte regime to permit the ILO to conduct a high level mission to the country and for presidentiables in the coming elections who are truly sincere in upholding human and labor rights of the Filipino people and workers to support this call.

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Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
Federation of Agricultural Workers | Philippines