BALANGA City: Some workers of Malaysian-owned firm Central One Bataan PH in Bagac town that was raided last October 31 for suspicion of being a POGO hub narrated what they described as traumatic experience they allegedly suffered in the hands of the raiding team led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.
The workers narrated their “ordeal” to the Joint Provincial Peace and Order Council, Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Provincial Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict meeting chaired by Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd Wednesday.
A worker claimed that the raiders at first did not immediately introduce who they were when they barged into their department.
“Hindi kasi namin alam kung sino sila during that time. Pinahinto nila ang ginagawa namin and first ipinataas nila ang mga kamay namin and the last thing na pinagawa nila sa amin pinapikit nila kami. Akala ko that’s the end na kasi tumagal ng more than an hour wala pa ding announcement from them kung sino sila and ano ang purpose nila,” she said in cracking voice.
She said that they were later told that the raid was to rescue them. “We are being rescued by them but our initial thought on what happened is we are not being saved and we are not being safe during that time. Ang mas nangibabaw pa nga sa amin ay takot at safe ba talaga kami sa kanila.”
A pregnant worker said she and other pregnant women felt maltreated. “Nang pagpasok na nila sa department namin, pinataas na nila mga kamay namin saka wala na daw titingin sa kanila. Syempre out of fear ng time na iyon, hindi na ako makahinga at ang tiyan ko is sobrang naninigas na.”
“Ipinataas ang kamay namin at wala raw titingin. Pinatingala kami tapos pinataas ang mga kamay habang tinututukan ng mahahabang baril. Parang trauma kasi sa akin ang nangyari kapag pinapaulit kung ano ang nangyari noong araw na iyon sorry po emotional ako kasi sobra ang naranasan namin tulad sa mga balita na nirescue kami,” another woman worker said.
“Kasi ang dapat kami ang nirescue sa kanila sa mga kamay nila. Kung paano mga naramdaman namin kung pano kami pinagtutukan ng mga baril na mahahaba na para kaming mga masasamang tao,” she continued.
“Bale iyon lang nakatorture sa isip ko kasi ngayon lang ako nakaranas ng ganon. Bale sigaw sila ng sigaw ng walang kikilos, taas ang kamay, walang gagamit ng Cp habang nakakatutok ang baril sa amin,” another worker told the council.
She said they were not permitted to call their relatives and they could not identify the raiders in the absence of nameplates and covered faces. A worker who was slapped by a PAOCC official also narrated his experience.
Garcia said they wanted to hear the side of PAOCC but that no representative whom they invited came. Officers of CIDG were thrown questions by members of the council mostly mayors and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
“Well, ang pinakamahalaga ‘yong nadinig natin sa ating mga kababayan. Ilan lamang ang nagsalita pero iyon ang general sentiment sa karamihan ng ating mga empleyado sa Central One. Nakakalungkot na ito ay nangyari sa sarili nilang bayan, kung saan sila nagtatrabaho. Malinaw sa kanila na wala silang ginagawang illegal and yet ganoon pa ang kanilang naranasan,” the governor said.
“Ang maabuso tulad ng ikinuwento nila ay nakakabahala. Kikilos ang ating pamahalaang panlalawigan kasama ang lahat ng ating opisyal syempre para mai-correct ito. Ayaw natin itong mangyari sa kahit kaninong Pilipino lalong- lalo na sa ating mga kababayan,” Garcia said.
“Meron bang ipapakita ang PAOCC na finally ebidensya nila na kung bakit illegal ang Central One. So, iyon ang kailangan nating malaman but we are hoping for the best alang-alang sa ating mga kababayan,” the governor said.
Central One Lawyer Cherry Ann Dela Cruz emphasized that the company is not POGO and no one was rescued.
“Wala pong sinagip na Filipino o foreign national man. Hindi ba kung kayo ay sasagip, kung may sinagip kayo iinterviewhin ninyo yung tao. Ang tanong dapat ‘biktima ba kayo o na-torture ba kayo? Nasaan ang torture chamber’. Ang search warrant naman na tungkol sa human trafficking at wala rin silang nasagip,” she said.
“Nag-invest kami ng malaki sa Bataan, kumuha kami ng maraming empleyado galing dito at siguro naman sa narinig niyo kanina, ang ibinibigay namin na benepisyo sa empleyado para lang ulitin ko kasi ilang beses namin itong sinabi hindi lumalabas sa balita. Ang bayad namin sa empleyado ay more than minimum wage. Ang pakain ng empleyado sa buong araw since 24 hours ang services namin ang pakain namin ay may apat na beses na buffet. Libre ang pakain sa empleyado,” Dela Cruz furthered.
“We provide a very good health care sa mga empleyado dahil medyo malayo ito na dinevelop itong area at alam ng kumpanya na mahirap pumunta sa lugar so we also provide transport. Meron kaming pick up and drop off point para mabilis at secure ang mga tao pagpapasok,” she continued.
Dela Cruz said they have also facilities for workers to stay especially those from far areas and for the foreign nationals. Central One, registered with the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan as business process outsourcing, has also sports facilities.
On the 41 foreign workers, she said that she and Congressman Albert Garcia helped them be freed by way of recognizance.
“Sa pagprocess ng piyansa, may iba’t ibang klase tulad ng cash bail, property bail at recognizance at ang pinakamahirap sa lahat ng ‘yan ay recognizance kasi inaako mo ang responsibilidad na siguraduhin na hindi makakatakas, hindi magtatago, hindi makakagawa ng kung anumang krimen,” Dela Cruz said.
“You take full responsibility for them so hindi ito intervention na lumalabs sa news. Hindi nag-intervene si Cong. Abet Garcia, nag-recognizance kami kasi isa sa mga requirement as much as I want to do recognizance myself. Kinakailangan mayroon pang ibang politician or official of government who will aid me in the recognizance,” she said.
“Ipinakiusap ko iyon kay Cong. Abet na dalawa kami mag-recognizance dahil naniniwala naman kami na wala kaming ginagawang illegal,” the lawyer explained. (30)
