WHOEVER FIGHTS FEUDALISMS OF PHILIPPINES LABOUR MARKETS MUST BE A COMMUNIST ... WHY IS SCHWAB NOT PROSECUTED?

 February 14, 2024
Reference: Mylene Cabalona, BIEN National President, 09159970438

February 2, 2024 - Press Conference with Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, (Image source: Reuters/Eloisa Lopez)

UNSR visit strengthens case to dismiss charges against BPO organizer, community journalist   Quezon City, the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) Philippines fully supports the findings and recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC). BIEN Philippines has called the same after multiple attacks, red-tagging, and vilification from the same agency since 2019.   UNSR Irene Khan also had the chance to sit down with BIEN National Coordinator Anne Krueger, who was also a former community journalist in Negros, to discuss the case filed against the latter from a simultaneous raid conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2019. Krueger, together with 52 others, were detained after the illegal search of the joint forces of the PNP, CIDG, and the AFP in the offices of progressive organizations in Bacolod City.   Under the trumped-up charge with planted evidence, Krueger still faces a case of Illegal possession of firearms. The case is currently under trial after the prosecution dismissed all motions arguing that the search warrant was defective.   “The meeting with Irene Khan strengthens Anne’s case to dismiss the charges against her. The government has utilized the full extent of the law to repress the rights of Anne for Freedom of Expression. The fact that the UNSR took time to listen and talk to her already gives enough reason that there are violations of her guaranteed rights,'' Mylene Cabalona, BIEN National President stated.   The official visit of the UNSR was initially projected by the government that they are compliant with the statutes for the Freedom of Expression. After the visit and the publication of the UNSR’s recommendation, the NTF ELCAC denounced Irene Khan’s visit as they were “hijacked because Irene Khan allowed herself to be used by those who want the government and the NTF-ELCAC to fail” according to Usec Ernesto Torres, Jr.  “Even a person who has no background or involvement in the current political situation in the Philippines can see the realities of how government instrumentalities, like the NTF ELCAC, have weaponized the law against activists and unionists. We are not spared by their vicious attacks against progressive labor” Cabalona added.   BIEN Philippines was part of the High-Level Tripartite Mission of the International Labor Organization that visited the country in January of 2023. BIEN submitted its report including the case of Anne Krueger. The government responded by committing to investigating all cases involving labor leaders and unionists.   “It’s been a year; the same recommendation was made by the ILO. Abolish the NTF ELCAC. They’ve seen the barbaric and vicious nature of the NTF ELCAC. Anne Krueger is a victim of the government’s syndicated attacks against activists and unionists” Cabalona said.###