DINALUPIHAN, Bataan- Friends and relatives of a victim in an explosion and fire at an oil rig in America last November 16 held a prayer-rally here on Friday afternoon seeking justice for the death of the Filipino welder.
Those attending Mass at the St. Baptist Church wore yellow and white T-shirts marked “Justice for Grand Isle Shipyard Filipino Workers! Justice for Avelino Tajonera!”
After the 4 p.m. Mass specially held for Tajonera of barangay Bentor here, speakers, mostly teachers, took turns in giving support for the quest for justice of the victim’s wife Edna, a public elementary school teacher.
Edna and her three children, two teenaged boys and a girl, arrived November 21 at a hospital in Louisiana in the United States where her husband Avelino died November 23.
They have not returned since then, waiting for the outcome of the investigation surrounding the death of Avelino.
“ito ay isang pinakamalaking human rights violation case ng Filipino workers sa America,” said Elaine Carr, Fil-Am lawyer of Tajonera.
She said that they were still investigating what happened and as soon as the investigation is finished, they will file a case against whoever was responsible. Three Filipino workers, including Tajonera, died in the oil rig.
“Hindi kami papayag na hindi sila mabigyan ng katarungan,” Carr said.
“Justice ang hiling sapagka’t hindi pinahalagahan ang kanilang buhay ng kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan at sapagka’t hindi sana nangyari ito kung hindi sila inabuso at inalipin,” the lawyer said.
Jae Donnelly, another American lawyer, said Filipino workers in the shipyard in America were not paid minimum wage and some work seven days a week at 12 hours a day or 180 hours a week that she said was dangerous.
“We believe they work in unsafe condition,” Donnelly said.
Carr said that based on their initial investigation, there is a grave safety issue involved. “Dapat sagutin kung bakit ang mga Pilipino workers ay nasa Black Elk platform na maraming violations at hindi sila dapat nandoon dahil wala ito sa kanilang kontrata,” she said.
“Dapat tulungan sila ng pamahalaan, suportahan at manindigan,” Carr said, appealing to the Philippine government.
She said that Tajonera’s family has not received benefits. “Wala pang benepisyo sapagka’t amin pang iniimbistigahan at pagkatapos, papanagutin namin ang dapat managot.”
Gila Garcia represented her father Gov. Enrique Garcia in the prayer-rally. “Susuportahan namin si Mrs. Edna Tajonera sa kanyang laban,” she said.
Alfredo Tajonera, eldest brother of victim, thanked the two lawyers and those who attended the occasion.
A group of elementary school pupils and teachers in a dance number showed their support for the widow who in a phone patch from Louisiana expressed her gratitude.
