The group Justice for Kentex Workers Alliance on Monday said the suspension of Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian over the massive fire that killed more than 70 people may have been motivated by politics.
“Nagulat kami na sinuspinde na agad si Gatchalian nang hindi man lang kinakasuhan sina (Mar) Roxas, (Labor Secretary Rosalinda) Baldoz at iba pa,” Ammied Rada, the group’s coordinator said. “Hindi matanggal sa isip namin na pamumulitika kaugnay ng nalalapit na eleksyon ang dahilan ng desisyon at hindi ang pagkakamit ng katarungan para sa mahigit 72 namatay na manggagawa.”
(We were surprised when Gatchalian was immediately suspended while Roxas and Baldoz were not charged. We can’t help but think that politics and the upcoming elections have something to do with the decision and not about getting justice for the 72 workers killed in the fire.)
The group said it is “concerned (nababahala)” with the decision of the Ombudsman directing the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to serve the dismissal order against him.
On Friday, the Court of Appeals granted Gatchalian a temporary restraining order against his dismissal.
READ: Gatchalian: No way I’m stepping down
Gatchalian and other local officials were charged with grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty for issuing a business permit to Kentex Manufacturing Corp. despite lacking a fire safety inspection certificate.
Gatchalian is a member of the National People’s Coalition and spokesperson of presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe. Meanwhile, former interior and local government secretary Mar Roxas is presidential bet of the ruling Liberal Party.
Rada said the case they filed before the Ombudsman last year asked that Baldoz, Roxas and the following officials be charged with administrative cases: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Metro Manila Director Alex Avila, Labor laws compliance officer Joseph Vedasto, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Director Ariel Barayuga, BFP Metro Manila Director Sergio Malupeng Soriano Jr., Valenzuela City Fire Marshal Mel Jose Lagan and Fire Safety Enforcement Section Chief Ed Groover Oculam.
READ: DOJ recommends raps vs Kentex execs, Valenzuela LGU, fire officials
He said it is clear that DOLE officials should be held accountable for issuing a certificate of compliance to the company.
“Hindi rin totoong ginawa lang ang naturang mga paglabag pagkatapos ng inspeksyon ng DOLE. Noon pa man, hindi na ligtas ang pabrika ng Kentex at nilalabag na ang mga karapatan ng mga manggagawa,” said Rada, whose relative died in the fire.
(It is also not true that the violations were made after the DOLE inspection. Even before that, the Kentex factory has been known as unsafe while the company has been violating the rights of its workers.)
He said the DILG is also at fault since it did not order the closure of the factory despite not getting a fire clearance. At the same time, the agency continued its practice of allowing factories to operate even if they only have temporary permits. This, according to Rada, has been the case since the term of the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Rada said the national government, not just the local government unit, should directly monitor the safety of workers.
“Kapag ipinaubaya sa lokal na pamahalaan, malaki ang posibilidad na magkaiba-iba ang pagpapatupad sa mga istandard sa kaligtasan sa lugar ng paggawa,” he said.
(If you give this responsibility to the local government, there is a huge possibility that the safety standards of each workplace will vary.) RAM