PLDT calls Bello allegations baseless, fabricated

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) called as “baseless and fabricated” the allegations of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that one of the reasons why the company was being “bull-headed” in complying with a Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) order to regularize about 7,300 workers was because its “high-ranking officials” owned some of the agencies tapped to provide services to the telco giant.

In a statement on Thursday, PLDT said that “none” of the 38 service contractors it worked with were owned or managed by its officials. “The service contractors engaged by PLDT are bona fide corporations properly registered with Dole and SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission],” it said.—JOVIC YEE