Laguna labor leader nabbed for extortion

STA. ROSA, laguna – Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation arrested a self-proclaimed labor leader in Laguna in an entrapment operation after extorting money from a hauling company in exchange for not filing a labor case against them, an NBI official said.

Lawyer Olivo Eboy Ramos, NBI Laguna District Office chief identified the labor leader as Lilioso Cayosa also known as “Leo,” 51, residing at Block 18, Lot 41 Southway Fairway, NMS, Landayan San Pedro, Laguna.

Ramos said Cayosa introduced himself as the national president of Samahan ng Lahat ng Manggagawang Independiente (Salamin) to all the companies located in Laguna.

He said the entrapment ensued when Cayosa started to harass the San Antonio Haulers, Inc., a company formerly known as Blaida’s Trucking and Megamart.

“Ang modus operandi ni Cayosa ay magre-represent bilang adviser ng mga empleyado ng kumpanya tapos siya ang mag-i-initiate ng pag-papa-file ng labor case sa National Labor Relations Commission at sikretong maki­kipag negotiate sa company kapalit ang malaking halaga para iatras nya ang kaso,” Ramos said.

Ramos said the suspect demanded P.5 million, but he reduced it to P120,000 in exchange for industrial peace inside the company.

According to Ramos, during Cayosa’s term as labor adviser, he initiated labor cases against the San Antonio Haulers Inc. and he filed four cases before the National Labor Relations Commission, but all were dismissed.

Ramos said Cayosa’s four labor cases he was handling were already dismissed while another one is still pending at the Court of Appeals (CA).

In August 2008, despite not being an employee of San Antonio Haulers, Cayosa was able to form Salamin-San Antonio Haulers and have it registered before the Department of Labor and Employment, Region IV in Calamba City, Ramos said.

However, in September, the union members filed a resolution before the DOLE-Calamba, Laguna stating that Cayosa is no longer recognized as their labor adviser and in turn nominating another person to that position.

Ramos conducted an entrapment operation and arrested Cayosa after receiving the marked money inside a known fastfood store in San Pedro, Laguna last Thursday.

NBI-LAGDO operatives brought Cayosa to the Prosecutor’s Office in San Pedro, Laguna for inquest proceedings for the case of robbery extortion.

He is now detained at the NBI-Laguna detention cell.