Church vows vigilance in Duterte promise to end ‘endo’

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

A bishop on Wednesday said that they will keep tab on the promise of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to stop contractualization—or the practice of some companies of hiring employees for five months so that they will not provide security of tenure and benefits for them.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines–Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said that the Church will monitor how Duterte will quash contractualization as the practice remains rampant, particularly in big malls.

“Tignan natin, naghahanap tayo ng pruweba kung gaano siya kaseryoso. Kaya maganda yung hangarin, maganda yung pahayag pero titignan natin paano niya gagawin. Kaya mag-aantay pa tayo sa ngayon wala pang mga guidelines paano ba gagawin ito kung magpapasara siya ng mga company. Tignan natin sinong mga kumpanya ang ipapasara niya,” Pabillo said in a Veritas Patrol interview.

(Let’s see, we are looking for proof how serious he is on his promise. The intention is good as well as the pronouncement but let’s see how he would act on it. So let’s wait for it because as of now, he has yet to release guidelines on how it would be done, if he would shut down companies. Let’s see what companies he would shut down.)

Last Monday, Duterte warned companies to stop contractualization or else close shop.

READ: Rody tells firms: End ‘endo’ or close shop

“Stop contractualization. It will not do good to our country,” the President said.

“Don’t wait for me to catch you because I will be unforgiving. If I find you out, I’ll just simply close your plant. I can always find a thousand reasons to do it, believe me,” he added.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has earlier mandated the agency’s regional offices to stop processing applications for third-party labor contractors. RAM

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