DOLE execs hail late labor leader

CEBU, Philippines - Current and former chiefs of the Department of Labor and Employment have given their respective eulogies for the late labor leader, Atty. Democrito Mendoza, in a necrological service the other night.

    Current labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and former secretaries Nieves Confesor, Patricia Sto. Tomas, Marianito Roque, and Bienvenido Laguesma only had praises for Mendoza.

“Ka Kito has touched the lives of so many Filipino workers. We certainly owe him so much. He is the Lapu-Lapu and Bonifacio of the labor movement,” said Laguesma.

Confesor said Mendoza was offered several times as DOLE secretary by several presidents but he would always decline.

“His mission is different. His mission was not politics; his mission is not government. His mission was the united labor front,” said Confesor.

For Sto. Tomas, Mendoza was her favorite labor leader.

The late labor leader, Roque also said, was not only fighting for workers’ rights but also for the preservation of employment.

Baldoz for her part said Mendoza had championed the cause of millions of Filipino workers.

Aside from the DOLE officials, President Benigno Aquino III also visited the wake of Mendoza, whom he described as a true labor leader and a guerilla warrior.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Franklin Drilon, former Senator Richard Gordon, former TESDA chief Joel Villanueva, former Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez also visited the wake with other local politicians.

Mendoza, 92, will be buried today in his home in Liloan, Cebu.

He left 17 children, 60 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. — (FREEMAN)