Police break up picket outside Coke
POLICEMEN broke up a picket and arrested ten protesters in front of CocaCola Bottlers Philippines Incorporated at McArthur Highway, Barangay Bago Aplaya, Davao City for blocking the company trucks and not allowing these to pass through.
In a spot report from Talomo Police Station 3, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Police Senior Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan said that the 10 arrested protesters were subject for inquest proceedings for grave coercion and violation of article 151 or the Resistance and Disobedience to a person in authority
Initially, Talomo PS received an information around 5:50 a.m. from the security personnel of Coca Cola Femsa that a rally was being conducted by former workers assigned as delivery sales assistant of the company outside their establishment.
Based on the report, the workers were under the Work Expert Agency and led by a certain Jorma Bantayan alias Ting of Kilusang Maggagawa ng Coca Cola (Kimaco).
Responding to the report, duty officers of the police station led by Police Chief Inspector Ronal L. Lao, the Station Commander together with Special Weapons and Tactics and City Peace and Security Company (CPSC) went to the areas and based on their initial investigation, the workers were supported by Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) organization with KMU representative identified as Bobby Pablo.
“The group assembled and staged a protest action
regarding the change of workers under work expert agency to newly hired BMPC Agency or BMirk Multipurpose Cooperative. Said protesters illegally blocked the two gates refusing the truck to get out of the premise,” the police report said.
Despite an attempt to peacefully settle the dispute, the protesters allegedly refused to cooperate with the peace officers and even became aggressive, putting up a blockade on the gates of FEMSA, impeding the movement of products.
“[They] resisted and disobeyed from responding peace officers which resulted to arrest of some workers or protesters and now under the custody of this office for proper disposition,” the report added.
The arrested were Renaldo Amani, 24; Michael Ulan-ulan, 22; Bryan Falera, 22; Ricardo Sales, 36; Romel Calacat,29; Antony Bayawan,22; Jessie Montecillo,29; Alvin Buccat,29; Sustines Bantayan,45; and Ian Debalde, 24.
With the tension aroused between the picketeers and the security forces during the protest, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded demonstrators to adhere to the law or face charges. JCR (For full story visit www.sunstar.com. ph/davao/)