CALL FOR URGENT ACTION
UA Date: January 28, 2004

Justice for the arbitrary and illegal termination
of Bombo Radio Tacloban employees!

Condemn the inutility of the NLRC and the continuing harassments
by the Bombo Radio management!

Tacloban City - The broadcasters and employees of Bombo Radio Tacloban have been waiting for barely a year now to attain rightful justice for the illegal shutdown of operations and firing of employees of the said radio station last March 12, 2003.

Until this date, the Bombo Radio management continued harassing the Bombo Radio Tacloban Employees Union. Instead of hearing out the legitimate employee's demands, which propelled them to set up the union and the picket, Mr. Rogelio Florete is now out to pin down Union members by criminalizing them.

It is like adding insult to injury, the NLRC in a decision handed down last January 8, first declares the workers picket as illegal then barely a few days later the Bombo Radio management, in a gesture of pure harassment filed a case of grave coercion against Union members seeking to imprison them and deny them their rights.

The following officers and members who are facing criminal charges:
a) Allan Amistoso - union president
b) Lindo Villarin - union treasurer
c) Nestor Martinez - BOD
d) Mark Morallos - BOD
e) Roy Tolibas - BOD
f) Alberto Palmaira - BOD
g) Fe Talacay - member
h) Noel Makabingkil - member
i) Joseph Ancheta - member
j) Emrick Talacay - member
k) Jonathan Rosal - member

All the Bombo radio employees had to do in order to deserve this string of vicious and relentless attacks was to ORGANIZE A UNION - a basic right guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution and international labor standards.

This is clearly one of the violent attacks against Press Freedom, which apparently had been systematic under the present Arroyo regime.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

In this regard, we appeal to you to send letters, emails or fax messages to the authorities in the Philippines urging them to:

1. Immediately accord justice to the arbitrarily and illegally terminated employees of Bombo Radio Tacloban. Stand for the review of the NLRC Fourth Division's decision, in favor of the employees.

2. Guarantee workers' basic rights to just wages, security of tenure and humane working conditions. Encourage both congressmen and senators to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the Bombo Radio Tacloban situation, in order that no similar violations are committed in the future. The House of Representatives must also review current laws, which are inimical to workers' rights.

3. Hold Mr. Florete and Newsounds Broadcasting Network liable for this gross violation of workers' rights. They must be held responsible for the deliberate act of terminating workers.

4. Stop media repression. Gather the support of legislators against this systematic attack on Bombo newscasters and commentators by the management.

Addresses:

Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Office of the President, Republic of the Philippines
New Executive Building, Malacañang Palace Compound, J.P. Laurel Street,
San Miguel, Manila, Philippines
Tel no.: +632 564 1451 to 60; +632 735 6201 to 10
Fax no.: +632 929 3968
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Hon. Victor A. Domingo
Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas
New Executive Building, Malacañang Palace Compound, J.P. Laurel Street,
San Miguel, Manila, Philippines
Fax no.: +632 735 8243; +632 736 6218
Tel no.: +632 735 6113

Hon. Roy V. Señeres
Chairman and Presiding Commissioner
National Labor Relations Commission
PPSTA Bldg., Banaue Avenue, cor. P. Florentino Streets
Quezon City
Tel no.: +632 743 3407; +632 742 3408
Email: [email protected]

Hon. Gerardo C. Nograles
Presiding Commissioner
NLRC Fourth Division
Cebu City

Hon. Jeselito B. Latoja
Regional Arbitration Branch 8
Trece Martirez Street, Tacloban City
6500 Leyte

Hon. Patricia A. Sto. Tomas
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
DOLE Building, Intramuros, Manila
Tel no.: +632 527 2116; +632 527 2118
Tel. Fax.: +632 527 2120; +632 527 3494
Email: [email protected]

Hon. Saturnino Ocampo
Representative, BAYAN MUNA Party-List
SW-616, House of Representatives, Constitutional Hills 1119, Quezon City
Tel Fax no.: +632 931 5911
Email Address: [email protected]

Hon. Jose C. De Venecia
Speaker of the House of Representatives
MB-2 Constitutional Hills 1119, Quezon City
Tel no.: +632 931 5071 to 73
Tel Fax: +632 931 6437

Hon. Carlos M. Padilla
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
VIP-G Constitutional Hills 1119, Quezon City
Tel Fax no.: +632 931 5691
Email Address: [email protected]

Hon. Ted Failon
Representative, First District of Leyte
SW-416, House of Representatives, Constitutional Hills 1119, Quezon City
Tel no.: +632 931 6119; local 7257
Email Address: [email protected]

Hon. Trinidad "Ebbie" Apostol
Representative, Second District of Leyte
NW-308, House of Representatives, Constitutional Hills 1119, Quezon City
Tel Fax no.: +632 931 5415; local 7347

Sen. Robert S. Jaworski, Sr.
Chairperson, Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources
Rm. 512, GSIS Building, Financial Center
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Tel Fax: +632 552 6781; +632 552 6776
Email Address: [email protected]

Sen. Francis N. Pangilinan
Chairperson, Committee on Justice and Human Rights
Rm. 526, GSIS Building, Financial Center
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Tel Fax: +632 552 6748; +632 552 6747; local 6515
Email Address: [email protected]

Sen. Vicente Sotto III
Chairperson, Committee on Public Information and Mass Media
Rm. 510, GSIS Building, Financial Center
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Tel Fax: +632 552 6775; +632 552 5255; local 5565; 5566

Sen. Noli L. de Castro
Chairperson, Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources
Rm. 517, GSIS Building, Financial Center
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Tel Fax: +632 552 6787; +632 552 6761; local 5543; 5544; 5584