Labor group hits ‘illegal’ arrest of 2 members

MANILA, Philippines - The labor group Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) condemned yesterday the allegedly illegal arrest of two of its organizers last Dec. 3.

Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano were arrested by “officers without proper identification, they were not properly informed of the reason for their arrest and were deprived of legal counsel during interrogation,” Courage president Ferdinand Gaite said.

He alleged that the two men were handcuffed and blindfolded with towels and handkerchiefs and brought to Daet, Camarines Norte, where they are currently detained.

They had been charged before the Labo, Camarines Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 64 with five counts of murder, one count of theft and one count of frustrated murder for their alleged involvement in an ambush by New People’s Army rebels on soldiers in Labo on April 29, 2011, Gaite said.

He said Vegas and Camposano could not have participated in the ambush because the two had been with them in Metro Manila preparing for the Labor Day rallies on May 1, 2011.

Gaite said they are victims of fabricated charges and harassment intended to intimidate government workers. At the time of their arrest, the two men were involved in a protest by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority employees who are calling on the agency to release their benefits under a 2012 collective negotiation agreement, he said.

The militant group Kilusang Mayo Uno called on the government to release Vegas and Camposano “immediately and unconditionally.”