Picket clash at furniture firm leaves 19 people injured

CEBU, Philippines – Stones and cups of hot water were literally flying at midmorning yesterday outside a Mandaue City furniture firm, the subject of a workers’ picket for two weeks now.

When the steam subsided, 19 persons reported burns and injuries in different parts of their bodies. Both camps also ran to the Mandaue City Police Station 3 to report their version of the incident.

Involved are 13 striking workers of Chagrin Incorporated who are members of the Associated Labor Union (ALU). They clashed with several men led by Rene Gonzales and Jimmy Evangelista, who wanted to get inside the company’s premises. Gonzales and Evangelista reportedly hold supervisor positions at Chagrin.

Arnold Arcipe, representative of ALU, claimed that he and about 20 of his fellow striking workers were conducting a peaceful picket in front of Chagrin Inc. at about 10 a.m. yesterday when some 100 men allegedly headed by Gonzales and Evangelista arrived.

Arcipe claimed that when they prevented the group of Gonzales and Evangelista from getting inside the compound, they were stoned and attacked. Some of the striking workers were cooking their food before the violence erupted, so they retaliated by throwing hot water to their attackers.

Gonzales, 39, of Barangay Apas, Cebu City, was among the six workers of Chagrin Inc. who were hurt during the clash. The five others are Crisanto Pitogo, 42, and Nestor Cutab, 27, of Lamac, Consolacion; Riel Pocha, 34, of Tayud, Liloan; Issan Panchet, 20, of Tugas, Mambaling; and Samuel Dayondon, 40, of Yati, Liloan.

Arcipe also claimed that the striking workers and their supporters were also injured during the clash.

They were identified as Vicente Juario, 30, of Hipodromo; Cesar Dungog, 43, of Mambaling; Wilfredo Villamor, 57, of Basak, Mandaue City, Jimmy Mijares, 35, of Umapad, Mandaue; Benjamin Ando, 54, of Cabancalan, Mandaue; Noel Puracan, 48, and Desederio Gaal, 45, of Canduman, Mandaue; Rick Perez, 34, and Jerry Amistad, 46, of Lapu-Lapu City; Rizal Espinosa, 31, of Pacnaan, Mandaue; Ernesto Lofranco, 55, of Banilad, Mandaue; Rafael Irigan, 30, of Sogod, and Leonel Quiez, 36, of Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City.

The service vehicle of ALU-TUCP that was used by the striking workers was also damaged by the stones.

Arcipe claimed that among the persons who attacked the striking workers are employees of R & Y Auguousti, a sister company of Chagrin Inc. The ALU-TUCP had decided to picket the Chagrin Inc. after some of the workers of R & Y were terminated, and for some other labor laws violations. The workers said that they were never hired back after the company moved to Barangay Pagsabungan two months ago from Barangay Sangi, Lapu-Lapu City.

“Pwerting gubaa sa windshield sa among sakyanan sa ALU ug 13 usab sa mga nagpiket diri and nasamdan sa dihang gibato mi nila. Silang duha g’yud si Evangelista ug Gonzales ang nangulo ug nagsugo pagbato namo. Na-nagdala og mga bagpack ang mga tawo nga ilang gipangsugo pagbato namo,”Arcipe claimed.

He maintained that Chagrin Inc. and the R & Y Auguousti are related even if the company already changed its name. He said Chagrin took over the jobs of R&Y, adding that he secured proof that both companies are the same.

Among his evidence are the sales invoices which showed the name of “Chagrin Inc.” with its address in Barangay Pagsabungan. Underneath it is a small mark of the R& Y Auguosti with its main address in Paris, London.

“Ang sales invoice sad nagpamatuod nga ang produkto nga gikan pa sa Chagrin moagi pa na sa main office sa R &Y Auguosti sa Paris una moadto sa mga clients,”Arcipe added .

The legal department of the ALU-TUCP will be pressing charges against those who attacked and stoned their picket. — /JPM(FREEMAN NEWS)