Capiz officials refer case of 16 maltreated workers to DOLE
ROXAS CITY – The Capiz provincial government under the leadership of Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr. and Pontevedra Mayor Steve Contreras have referred the case of 16 fishpond workers rescued from Occidental Mindoro to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The 16 survivors arrived safe and sound Wednesday night in which they were presented to the media at MVW Hotel and Restaurant.
Tanco said during the press conference that the workers are the local version of Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) who ventured for work across the sea but were maltreated and were not given their salaries.
Mayor Steve Contreras and brother Board Member Esteban “Nonoy” Contreras also assured to be of help once the aggrieved parties decided to go the court over their ordeal in Occidental Mindoro.
Chito Baldonado, one of the survivors, said that they were hired by a certain Tongtong Dellomos their “kasimanwa” whose daughter is also employed as maid of Mr. Romeo Gascon, owner of the fishpond where they worked.
According to Baldonado, Dellomos verbally contracted them to cultivate the fishpond in the amount of P6,500 per hectare for a total of 45 hectares to be cultivated. He said they were attracted with the offer since in Pontevedra they are only paid P1,500 per hectare.
Upon arrival at Occidental Mindoro, Baldonado said that they were given an advance payment in the amount of P10,000 by Gascon which they have divided among themselves.
One month later, they already cultivated 16 hectares but still they were not paid as they keep on reminding Gascon to give their salaries.
They were surprised to learn that last August 14, Friday night, their companion Jimmy Bacero of Intungkan, Pontevedra, Capiz was hacked and shot wounded by the alleged body guard of Gascon. The victim sustained wound on his face and was hospitalized.
Juanito Bulaan also said that before the incident, Gascon threatened to kill them all one-by-one and then they were stripped of their cellphones.
He added that they sought refuge to the house of Lydia Stewart where they stayed for several days before they were rescued by the provincial government through the help of Capiznon in the said place.
The incident of an alleged hostage taking of the 16 workers was denied by Santa Cruz police chief Gilbert San Juan over RMN-dyVR but he admitted that 15 workers sought refuge from fellow Capiceños after they run away from their employer.
Earlier, Tanco gave a financial assistance in the amount of P25,000 to the 16 workers who were reportedly hostaged by their employer in Occidental Mindoro.
Workers were identified as Jimmy Bacero of Brgy. Intongcan, Pontevedra; Chito Ballona, Juan and Romel Estorninos, Jose Villalobos, Juanito Bulaan, Micheal Bulan, Jonel Bustamante, Ricardo Inion, Jenmark Rubio, Elton Bacalinao, Jimmy Dilan, Willy Ballon, Jolly Ranco, and two other unidentified workers.
After the press conference, the 16 displaced workers were given relief goods as they were happy to be back home with their families.
Attended during the press conference were Provincial Administrator Zoe Herrera, Capiz Provincial Capitol Press Bureau Chief Edward Basilonia, Allen Hervias, Edmund de Asis, Ramon Atinon and several others.