Labor group backs Laguesma confirmation

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s oldest labor group yesterday expressed support for the confirmation of Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma by the Commission on Appointment (CA).

Laguesma is a respected official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), according to the Federation of Free Workers (FFW).

“He has a good grasp of labor relations since the administrations of former presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada,” FFW president Sonny Matula said in a statement.

Laguesma is set to face the CA again on Wednesday after it deferred the deliberations on his appointment last week.

Laguesma served as director and undersecretary of DOLE before he was appointed labor chief during Estrada’s term.

“He was among the good men in the DOLE, who ensured that workers would not get the short end of the bargain,” Matula said.