Labor dispute blamed for ambush of 5 Compostela Valley labor chiefs

DAVAO CITY – The prevailing labor dispute at the banana plantation in Compostela Valley was seen as the motive behind the ambush last Friday of five labor union leaders in the town of Compostela, Compostela Valley.

"We believe that the incident, more than it is criminal in nature, is ultimately a desperate attempt to stifle the militancy of the these workers under their genuine  union have advocated in all of Compostela Valley," said the fact-finding mission that probed into the attack on the five labor leaders in Compostela Valley.

The fact-finding mission, composed of representatives from the local church, academe, labor groups and other human rights advocates was immediately sent to Compostela Valley last Dec. 16, a day after the five victims were ambushed by unidentified men. Two unidentified armed men on board a black motorcyle waylaid the group of Vicente Barrios, president of the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (NAMASUFA), and his group including other union officers Andres Lagare, Aldin Cortez, Doniglenn Sundon and Jerson Lastimosa. Lastimosa died from serious gunshot wounds while undergoing treatment at the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City where the victims were brought.

The local police unit in Compostela Valley stressed that the incident resulted from the labor dispute between the banana farm management and workers in the area.

It was learned that Barrios and the other victims were deeply involved in protecting the human rights of the thousands of banana workers in the area, not only those affiliated with NAMASUFA but also with other banana plantations in the past few years. The same fact-finding mission said that Barrios and his group were able to assert for the implementation of the minimum wages for the workers as mandated by law.

They were also able to hold the workers’ claim their years of underpayment, unpaid benefits, and incentives aside from the wage increase.

The mission likewise believed that Barrios could be the main target of the ambush as he had been receiving death threats for the past several months.