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Scores hurt, arrested from violent dispersal by police and NutriAsia guards

July 30, 2018/in News /by Kodao Productions

Nineteen NutriAsia workers and supporters were arrested as 100 elements of the Meycauyan Police and security guards dispersed the picketline just outside the factory in Marilao, Bulacan.

In a phone interview with Bulatlat, NutriAsia worker William Espiritu said the violence started at around 3. pm. today, July 31.

While an ecumenical prayer by some 300 workers and supporters was being held, company security guards started pushing the workers using police’s shields. After a few minutes, the policemen and guards hit the protesters with rattan sticks and threw stones at them.

“They kept on striking us, even as we raised our hands,” Espiritu said. “They did not have any mercy.”

Espiritu said a dialogue between the management and their union was scheduled today. “We were ready to dismantle our picket if need be. Our only demand is to reinstate all the dismissed workers,” he said in Filipino.

One of the supporters of NutriAsia workers hit by the police. (Photo courtesy of Anakbayan)

One of the supporters, identified as Leticia Espino, a member of Kadamay from Pandi, Bulacan was among those hurt. A photograph posted by Anakbayan shows blood all over Espino’s mouth, spilling on her scarf and blouse.

Two others, Espiritu said, were brought to the hospital in critical condition. At least 20 more were wounded and given first aid.

Nineteen were arrested and brought to Meycauayan Police Station, according to Karra Taggaoa, spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students (LFS). Among those arrested were Anakbayan Secretary General Einstein Recedes and LFS Secretary General Mark Quinto.

After the arrests and beatings, Espiritu said the policemen and security guards destroyed the workers’ makeshift tents and confiscated their laptops, cellphones, bags containing cash and personal belongings.

Espiritu said at least 20 motorcycles and some bicycles owned by NutriAsia workers were also taken by policemen and security guards and brought inside the NutriAsia compound.

NutriAsia workers began their strike on June 2 after management dismissed 50 workers. The NurtiAsia workers are also demanding regularization.

Journalists hurt, arrested

Also apprehended were journalists covering the incident.

Rhea Padilla, national coordinator of Altermidya, said one of their volunteers, Hiyas Saturay sent her a message informing her that she and her colleagues Eric Tandoc, Avon Ang, Psalty Caluza were being taken by policemen.

A campus journalist, Jon Angelo Bonifacio of the Scientia publication of the College of Science of UP, was also arrested.

The five were among the 19 arrested and are currently detained at the Meycauayan Police Station.

Another journalist, Rosemarie Alcaraz of Radyo Natin Guimba, was hurt when NutriAsia security guards hit her with rattan sticks and pushed her away. While filming the dispersal, a policeman hit her camera, a Canon 70D.

“They knew that I’m a journalist. I’m wearing my ID,” Alcaraz told Bulatlat.

Kodao reporter Joseph Cuevas was also told by a company guard to stop filming or his camera would be destroyed.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the arrest of the five journalists, the attack on Alcaraz and threat against Cuevas.

“We denounce the security personnel of NutriAsia for deliberately targeting journalists and the Bulacan police not only for failing to prevent or stop this outrage from happening but, even worse, arresting five colleagues, making false claims about them, and then preventing other journalists from inquiring after them and covering their detention,” the NUJP in a statement said.

The group demanded the release of the five detained journalists by the Meycauayan police and forget plans of filing trumped up criminal charges against the journalists.

The NUJP likewise called on Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde to initiate an immediate investigation into this clear abuse of authority by his subordinates.

Kodao tried to interview NutriAsia guards after the dispersal and arrests but was refused. At the Meycauayan PNP station, the Kodao team was told to leave the precinct when it inquired about the arrested journalists. # (Len Olea/Bulatlat and Raymund B. Villanueva/Kodao)

On its 32nd anniversary: NUJP members attacked by Nutriasia guards July 30, 2018

July 30, 2018/in Statements/Releases /by Kodao Productions

(UPDATED) On its 32nd anniversary: NUJP members attacked by Nutriasia guards, arrested
July 30, 2018

As the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines marked the 32nd anniversary of our founding, a number of our members, including the deputy secretary general of our Nueva Ecija chapter, were attacked, threatened and arrested as they covered the violent dispersal of striking workers at the NutriAsia factory in Marilao, Bulacan Monday afternoon.

We denounce the security personnel of NutriAsia for deliberately targeting journalists and the Bulacan police not only for failing to prevent or stop this outrage from happening but, even worse, arresting five colleagues, making false claims about them, and then preventing other journalists from inquiring after them and covering their detention.

Nueva Ecija chapter deputy secretary general Rosemarie Alcaraz was covering the ecumenical service and the violence that followed it for Radyo Natin-Guimba. As she took video of the dispersal, a guard advised her to go behind them. However, when she complied, she was struck on her right thigh with a truncheon, driving her to seek shelter in a makeshift hut erected by the striking workers.

Joseph Cuevas, reporter of Kodao Productions, on the other hand, was confronted by guards who threatened to destroy his camera unless he stopped filming.

Both reporters were wearing identification cards that clearly marked them as journalists.

Meanwhile, colleagues on the ground have confirmed that among the 19 persons arrested during the dispersal and its aftermath were Hiyas Saturay, Eric Tandoc, Avon Ang and Psalty Caluza, who were on coverage for AlterMidya, and Jon Angelo Bonifacio of the UP Diliman publication Scientia.

Kodao and AlterMiday are NUJP affiliates.

When Jola Diones-Mamangun of Kodao Productions went to the Meycauayan police station, she was denied access to documents. And when she asked about her arrested AlterMidya colleagues, was told that drugs and guns had been recovered from them, an obviously false and ridiculous claim.

Other colleagues also quoted Meycauyan chief of police Superintendent Santos Mera of claiming they needed permits before they could cover events at the police station.

The assault, threats and arrests of our colleagues is a clear attack on press freedom and highlights the increasing dangers journalists face in these increasingly troubled times.

We demand that the Meycauayan police immediately release Saturay, Tandoc, Ang, Caluza and Bonifacio. We demand just as strongly that they forget the ludicrous notion of filing trumped up criminal charges against our colleagues. It will surely backfire – and very badly – on you.

We likewise call on Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde to initiate an immediate investigation into this clear abuse of authority by his subordinates, particularly Mera, and impose the necessary sanctions.

It would bode ill for our already imperiled democracy if the very people sworn to serve and protect the citizenry are themselves responsible for violating our basic rights and liberties and flouting the law.

We will extend all possible assistance to our beleaguered colleagues in making sure those responsible for this assault are held accountable.

Pampalasa, Pampa-ALSA

June 28, 2018/in Literary and Culture /by Kodao Productions

ni Rene Boy Abiva

_{Sa bayang mayaman sa utang at pait,}

_{pambulag ang artipisyal na linamnam at tamis}

_{upang ang mga karaniwang sikmura’y ‘di mag-alsa.}

_{Matamis na pampalasa ang humulma sa kabataan ni Ignas Dungrit}

_{na iiyak-iyak kung ‘di magkukulay dugo}

_{ang prinitong itlog ng manok o tinapa sa kanyang plato,}

_{dahilan upang magkanda-utang-utang ang kanyang inang kubrador ng huweteng}

_{ng Papa ketsap sa tindahan ni Aling Usyang.}

_{Minsa’y nakapatama ang ina ni Ignas,}

_{anong ligaya n’ ya noong una.}

_{Kaso, nang malamang kalot ang napagwagiang taya,}

_{anong sungit at bagsik ang kanyang simangot}

_{na nai-ukit sa kanyang gusgusing labi at mata.}

_{Gayundin si Manolito Lasenggo}

_{na madalas bugbugin ang kanyang labanderang asawa}

_{kung ‘di s’ya nito maipaghahanda ng sawsawang maasim-asim}

_{para sa paborito niyang pulutang tsitsarong kropek na tingi-tingi}

_{o tsitsarong Bulacan na tatlo ang sandaan}

_{na madalas n’ yang bilhin}

_{sa kumpareng tindero sa Amucao.}

_{Mapili pa naman ang gago, kung ‘alang Datu Puti’y Silver Swan ang hanap.}

_{Ayaw n’ya ng Rosas o Basi na gawa ng kanyang sariling bayan.}

_{Kaya ang halos magkubang asawa sa kalalaba,}

_{anong tatag na ini- uutangan ang mister}

_{sa talipapa ni Aling Talin.}

_{Minsa’y naningil ang matandang balo,}

_{at naabutan n’ya ang lasing na si Manolito}

_{himalang binayaran naman s’ya,}

_{binayaran s’ya ng matatalim na limang saksak}

_{na itinindig sa kanyang yayat at kulubot na dibdib.}

_{Dumating ang mga pulis upang siya’ y pasukuin,}

_{kaso nag-ala Rambo}

_{kaya ang kinalabasan, nabalitang nanlaban at patay.}

_{Pinagkakitaan ng mga artipisyal na pampalasa}

_{ang buhay at kapalaran nilang mga karaniwang tao}

_{mula sa pawis ng kubrador na ina ni Ignas Dungrit}

_{at sa labanderang asawa ni Manolito}

_{hanggang sa kamatayan ng balong si Aling Talin.}

_{Ibang usapin pa ang labis na halagang nakulimbat}

_{sa ‘sanlibo at limang daang mangagawa sa Marilao, Bulacan.}

_{At sa higit dalawang dekada ng pag-iral,}

_{buti pa ang kumpanyang pampalasa,}

_{literal na ang buhay ay masaya at masagana.}

_{E silang taga-gawa ng pampalasa,}

_{halos magpakamatay para lamang mabuhay.}

_{Nagtitiis sa mga barung-barong ng mga bayan-bayan.}

_{Nagtitiis sa buhay-dagang pamumuhay}

_{at kung kumahig ang dalawang paa at kamay,}

_{anong pilit-ligaya nilang sikmuraing lunukin}

_{ang nangingitim na kanin at pinakulong talbos ng kangkong}

_{o kamote na ‘ala man lang pampalasa ni asin.}

_{Subalit ‘di kayang pigilan ng artipisyal na pampalasa}

_{ang hangganan ng pait.}

_Pampa-ALSA.

_{Umabot sa sukdulan ang pagtitiis ng mga manggagawa.}

_{Hunyo 2 ay itinayo nila ang barikada.}

_{Paano ba naman kasi, sa daan-daang pwersa sa paggawa’y}

_{limandaan lamang ang regular at karamiha’y kontraktwal.}

_{Mababa pa ang sahod, ‘alang over-time pay at ‘alang benepisyo}

_{sa kung anu-anong kaltas ng kanilang amo.}

_{Habang ‘alang awang pinagtatanggal ang ilan sa kanilang nadisgrasya}

_{habang nasa paggawa}

_{kabilang ang mga nagtayo at nagbuo ng unyon.}

_{Nag-alsa ang mga tagapaglikha ng pampalasa.}

_{At agad nagsabwatan ang kapitalista at mga mamamatay-tao na pulis}

_{at yinusak-yusak ang hanay ng mga nagpoprotesta.}

_{Marami sa kanila ang umuwing sugatan at may biyak sa noo.}

_{Marami sa kanila ang tinutukan ng baril sa ulo.}

_{Marami sa kanila ang pasa sa katawan ang tinamo.}

_{Ngunit higit na mas marami ang gaya nila}

_{ang magkakapit-bisig sa nalalapit na SONA ng pangulo.}

_{Kakalantog ang mga lansangan}

_{mula sa kanilang kolektibong lakas at malay!}

_{May alab na namamayani sa kanilang puso}

_{na mas mainit pa sa nagbabagang punglo!}

_—-

_{Hunyo 16, 2018}

_{Lunsod ng Queson, Pilipinas}

CPP, Makabayan condemn violent dispersal of Nutriasia workers

June 16, 2018/in News /by Kodao Productions

By April Burcer

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives separately condemned the brutal dispersal of NutriAsia workers that led to the arrest of 20 people as well as the wounding of several strikers Thursday.

In separate statements, both organizations criticized the unnecessary use of force in dispersing the workers who have been holding a strike for 13 days to fight for regularization and better working conditions.

CPP said that “NutriAsia workers are demanding the regularization of more than a thousand contractual workers and the reinstatement of union leaders dismissed by the company.”

Out of the 1400 workers in NutriaAsia, only 100 of them are regular employees and the rest are employed by six subcontracting agencies, Jessie Gerola, chairperson of the union Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng NutriAsia said in an earlier interview.

The Makabayan bloc, composed of Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna, Antonio Tinio and France Castro of ACT Teachers, Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party, Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis and Sarah Elago of Kabataan party-list, on the other hand, called for an investigation on the contractualization policy and the working environment in NutriAsia.

“The workers are only asking to become regular employees of Nutriasia after working in the factory for as long as 15 years, but the company’s and court’s response is a violent dispersal,” the bloc said.

“The Party enjoins the broad masses of workers, students and other sectors to extend support and solidarity with the striking workers of Nutriasia, as well as workers in other companies, in their struggle to defend their right to regular jobs and for wage increases,” CPP wrote.

It started with a clap

News reports said that the strike was prompted by the dismissal of about 50 workers who participated in an earlier protest against the sacking of five union leaders along with their members.

The workers clapped as a way of condemning the termination of the union leaders without reasonable grounds, reports said.

Last February, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ordered NutriAsia and its three contractors –Alternative Network Resources Unlimited Multipurpose Cooperative, Serbiz Multipurpose Cooperative and B-Mirk Enterprises Corporation – to regularize 914 of their workers, which never happened.

NutriAsia is a large condiment company owned by Joselito Campos Jr. and known for its products such as Datu Puti vinegars and soy sauces, Mang Tomas all-purpose sauce, UFC ketchups, Jufran ketchup, and Golden Fiesta cooking oil.

Other activist organizations have also called for a boycott of all NutriAsia products while the labor dispute remain unresolved. #