Pasay bus firm hits back at labor group

The management of Philtranco bus company took exception to a labor group’s allegation that the firearms and grenade recently found by the police in its employees’ quarters were “planted evidence” intended to harass union leaders with criminal charges.

“It is not true that the management conspired with the Pasay City police,” said Marvin Mesias, Philtranco’s legal counsel, said on Wednesday. “The result of the implementation of the search warrant should speak for itself.”
The lawyer was referring to the search conducted by the Pasay police on the Philtranco bus terminal on Apelo Cruz Street on June 9, where officers came with a search warrant issued by Judge Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan of Pasay Regional Trial Court-Branch 111.

The discovery of three firearms and a grenade in the employees’ quarters led to the arrest of 27 workers, including Jose Jessie Olivar, president of Philtranco Workers Union-Association of Genuine Labor Organizations (Aglo).

A day after the search, Aglo spokesperson Nick Elman denounced the mass arrests as a form of harassment by the management in view of the upcoming union elections, and alleged that the seized weapons were just planted evidence.
But Mesias stressed that Philtranco “respects the right of its employees to self-organization and we support such union activities.”

The transport firm also assured the public that the incident would not result in a shortage of Philtranco drivers and conductors, and that it continued to extend assistance to the families of the arrested employees.