Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

URGENT ACTION (Philippines): Harassment, Intimidation and Arbitrary Arrest and Detention of Three Hanjin Workers

Background Information
Case:                               Arrest and Detention / Harassment       
Name of Victims:             Gilbert dela Peña, Renante Buccat, Benjamin Abenes, Jr.
Place of Incident:             Hanjin Shipyard, Subic Bay Freeport, Province of Zambales
Date of Incident:              May 17, 2011
Alleged Perpetrators:       Senior Managers of Hanjin led by Mr. Kim Yong and personnel of Hanjin     Police Security (HPS), apparently in connivance with the local police

Summary of Incident

Three contractual employees of a South Korean shipbuilding company, Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction, were harassed, maltreated, arrested and detained by alleged members of the company’s police security.

Gilbert dela Peña, 27; Renante Buccat, 45; and, Benjamin Abenes, Jr., 27, were about to enter the company premises at around 7:30am on May 17, 2011 when the identification scanner installed in the Hanjin’s main entrance did not recognize their electronic identification cards. They were surprised that their IDs were already blocked. But since the security personnel assigned at the gate already knew them, the three were permitted to enter. Before they proceeded to work, Mr. Sunquil Park, manager of Binitica manpower recruiting agency who enlisted Dela Peña, Buccat and Abenes for employment, immediately called them to his office. Mr. Sunquil told them that they were already terminated from work due to a series of protest actions conducted by their group. He added that they were no longer allowed inside Hanjin.  The company charged the three with trespassing since they allegedly forced their way inside Hanjin compound. Mr. Sunquil was referring to the peaceful assembly of the association of Hanjin workers during break time.  The three were members of the association.  

Dela Peña, Buccat and Abenes asked Mr. Sunquil to explain the grounds for their termination and the supposed trespassing case filed against them. The three said they were not aware of any termination order, hence they reported back to their work assignments.  In fact, their immediate superiors were expecting them to report for work.  Dela Peña, Buccat and Abenes also stressed that the Hanjin Police Security (HPS) allowed them to enter and they did not force their way in, as alleged by Mr. Sunquil.

FERDINAND E. MARCOS is not a hero to the Filipino people. His martial law regime sent hundreds of thousands to jail, made people 'desaparecidos'  because of their political beliefs.  He is now being elevated to become a "hero" and plans are afoot by his families and allies to have him interred in Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of Heroes).

Let our voices be heard: 'HINDI BAYANI SI MARCOS!  TUTULAN ANG PLANONG ILIPAT SIYA SA LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI! (Marcos is not a hero!  Protest the plan to transfer him to the Cemetery of Heroes!)

In Congress, Marcos crony Congressman Salvador Escudero, leads this campaign. The father of Senator Chiz Escudero has already gotten 204 members of Congress to sign the petition to have Marcos interred as a hero.

Money talks—especially in the Philippine socio-political cultural setting. This distortion of getting a brutal greedy dictator buried as a hero will happen unless the people speak out and shout: "No way."

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/viewpoints/viewpoints/view/20110408-330079/The-philandering-greedy-Marcos-a-bayani

What you can do:

1. Sign this petition. http://www.petitions24.com/marcos_is_not_a_hero_protest_the_plan_to_make_him_one

2. Forward this petition to others, here and abroad.

3. Post the link in your social networking sites or pages.

4. Write letters to the officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to members of the Philippine House of Representatives, the Senate and to President NoyNoy Aquino.

5. Our goal is to reach 500,000 signatures and send the petition to the authorities and the Office of the President, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

House Resolution No. 1135 that seeks the burial of the late Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is a shameless attempt to rehabilitate the image of a dictator and notorious human rights violator. It is also a move to re-write history in favor of Mr. Marcos.

The thousands of human rights victims are proof of the gross violations of human rights during the time of Mr. Marcos. The assassination of Ninoy Aquino is ample evidence of the bloody reign of the dictatorship. Mr. Marcos when he was alive denied any wrongdoing and his family continues to strut around peddling this blatant lie. Cronyism, corruption and human rights violations were the order of the day during that time of darkness.

We bury our dead at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to honor their heroism and bravery. We extol their selflessness and sacrifice for the motherland.

What outstanding feat did Marcos do to deserve a burial among our heroes? A string of fake medals? A long list of human rights violations? An unbridled and rapacious corruption?