Muling nanawagan si Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto sa kompanyang Regent Foods Corporation na bawiin ang isinampang reklamo laban sa 23 manggagawa na ikinulong dahil sa isinagawang protesta noong Nobyembre 9.
Sa Facebook post ng alkalde nitong Sabado, sinabi niyang hindi kriminal ang mga trabahador at ipinaglalaban nila ang pribilehiyong ipinagkait.
Mariin niyang kinondena ang ginawang hakbang ng naturang food firm.
“These people are not criminals; they do not have the goal of hurting you. They are fighting for what they believe to be just. You can continue with the labor dispute without sending the poor and powerless to jail! I condemn the misuse of your privileged position to suppress the rights of your protesting workers.” pahayag ni Sotto.
Nauna nang nakiusap ang mayor na i-urong ng Regent Food Corporation ang kaso subalit nagmatigas raw ang pamunuan nito.
Sagot ng kompanya sa opisyal, pagugulungin nila ang “judicial process”.
“I asked Regent to withdraw the charges against the 23… Yesterday, upon multiple follow-ups, Regent’s lawyer informed us that they would NOT withdraw the charges.”
“Technically, the complaints were filed by the private security, but the management have admitted that they are behind the complaints,” saad pa ni Sotto.
Binatikos din ng alkalde ang pang-aabusong ginawa ng kompanya sa hindi pag-re-regular ng mga manggagawa at pagbibigay ng kaukulang benepisyo.
Ayon kay Sotto, wala man siyang karapatan makisali sa labor issue, gagawin niya raw ang lahat para makalaya ang mga nakapiit na trabahador.
“When my constituents are being deprived of liberty as they fight for their rights as workers, I cannot sit around and do nothing… I talked to the 11 still inside, and assured them that I will personally make sure that they are out on bail by Monday,” pangako ng pinuno.
Nag-iwan siya ng paalala sa huling bahagi ng post.
“If you want to have a healthy relationship with our city, I highly suggest you rethink your position,” pagdidiin ni Sotto.
Maglalabas naman ng reaksyon ang RFC bukas, batay sa mensaheng ipinadala ng representante nila.
