A Case of CPP-NPA-NDF Infiltration in the Labor Sector

On June 15, 2009, 100 employees of DOLE Philippines (DOLEFIL) assembled at the plaza of Barangay Cannery, Polomolok, South Cotabato and marched toward the Amado Kadena-National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AK-NAFLU-KMU) main office where they launched a protest rally. The protesters demanded from the management the immediate release of the 400-peso monthly rice allowance for each KMU member and the ouster of their Chairman. The protesters then hurled tomatoes and rotten eggs at the said office in show of defiance to the management. Earlier, DOLEFIL management had already released ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php 1,700,000.00) to AK-NAFLU-KMU for the rice allowance of around 4,000 Labor Union members as part of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Several employee benefits were even converted to cash and awarded to the Labor Union but none of these ever reached the disgruntled employees.

AK-NAFLU-KMU and its equivalent CPP Legal Front Organizations in the labor sector are the real threats to the security of multi-national companies in the country. Their modus operandi include infiltration in the rank and file employees of a targeted company and the establishment of labor unions or the infiltration of an existing employees’ organization and transforming it on the process into a militant labor group. They would later arouse the sentiments of these employees through issues on wages and benefits that they are supposed to receive then later on organize them for mass mobilizations such as labor strikes and protest rallies.

Aside from crippling the operations of these companies through prolonged labor strikes, the NPA unit that operates within these areas also collects extortion fees from these companies under the guise of “revolutionary taxation”. Non-compliance and refusal to pay could mean violent repercussions such as harassments against security personnel, killings, burning of equipment and bombings of vital installations. Such is the case of DOLE Philippines which has been targeted for violent actions by NPA rebels since its labor union was infiltrated by communist-linked KMU members.

Some of the violent reprisals by the NPA against DOLEFIL:

• June 27, 2005 – Killing of a Security Officer and his wife
• March 5, 2007 – Looting and burning of two (2) container vans
• July 24 2008 – Burning of a palletizing equipment; killing of a Barangay official and the wounding of three (3) policemen
• August 29 2009 – Burning of two (2) container vans
• September 7,2009 –Burning of a service van
• September 19, 2009 – Burning of two (2) heavy equipment vehicles
• November 18, 2009 – Killing of a Security Officer
• November 28, 2009 – Burning of a container van
• January 7, 2010 – Burning of a Backhoe and the cutting down of 4,500 banana trees
• March 27, 2010 – Burning of four (4) Backhoe Trucks
• April 5, 2010 –Burning of one (1) unit boom spray truck

Moreover, funds of AK-NAMFLU-KMU were also funneled to the communist rebels operating in the said province. Meanwhile, a number of other companies share the same predicament; however these cases were left unreported to local authorities for fear of reprisals. At present, the NPA through its conduits from the CPP’s Legal Front Organizations continue to carry out large-scale extortion activities targeting multi-national companies in the country. These companies need to take proactive measures before it’s too late. So beware! Your company could be the next victim.

- Malayang Filipino

(photo courtesy of bulatlat.com)