Group urges Congress to probe killing of labor leaders

“We believe this is an extrajudicial killing for his work as a labor organizer,” Rene Magtubo, national chairman of the Partido Manggagawa, said of the fatal attack on his group’s vice chairman, Dennis Sequeña. (Photo from the Facebook account of Rene Magtubo)

MANILA, Philippines — A workers’ group called for a congressional inquiry into the killing of labor leaders after another union organizer was shot dead in Cavite by unidentified assailants on Sunday.

Rene Magtubo, national chairman of the Partido Manggagawa (PM), made the call shortly after the killing of his group’s vice chairman, Dennis Sequeña.

“Dennis is a community leader and has no personal enemies. We believe this is an extrajudicial killing for his work as a labor organizer,” Magtubo said. “He was active in assisting Cavite workers facing labor problems and advising workers who are unionizing as a means to improve wages and working conditions.”

On Sunday morning, Sequeña was shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen while he was attending a meeting of workers in Barangay Bunga in Tanza.

Sequeña was brought to General Trias Maternity and Pediatric Hospital, where he died.

In December last year, the Nagkaisa labor coalition expressed alarm over the killings and harassment of union leaders.

At the time, PM said that its union organizers received threats while attempting to organize workers at the export processing zones in Cavite and in Cebu.

Apart from Sequeña, former Kilusang Mayo Uno-Caraga head Linus Cubol was also gunned down by unknown assailants in his furniture shop in Agusan del Norte in November.

In July, assailants failed on their attempt on Jessilou Candungod, the vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)