Japan Group Releases Report on Killings in Philippines

Case 15 : Jesus “Buth” Servida94

Background Information:

【victim】Jesus “Buth” Servida (36 years old, male)

A former worker of Yazaki-EMI,

External organizer of Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Emi Yazaki (SM-EMI)

Leader of the Solidarity of Cavite Workers

【Incident】 Mr. Servida was shot dead by a lone assassin in front of Gate 2 of the Japanese-owned Yazaki-EMI in Cavite, Southern Tagalog on December 11, 2006. Servida was killed instantly when hit in the face and mouth; while his companion Joel Sale sustained gunshot wounds.

Prior to the Killing

Mr. Servida worked at Yazaki-EMI for 14 years as an operator in the production section and became an officer of the union Kristong Manggagawa sa EMI (KM-EMI) of the Yazaki-EMI.

However, because of allegations that KM-EMI was influenced by Governor Ireneo Maliksi’s “No Union, No Strike” policy, an intra-union dispute started in 2002.

Mr. Servida was dismissed by the management on December 20, 2005 together with twenty-seven other workers who were known to be in opposition to the older company union Kristong Manggagawa sa EMI (KM-EMI). Among those dismissed was former union president Gerardo Cristobal. They then established a new union named Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Emi Yazaki (SM-EMI).

Servida’s dismissal along with three former leaders of KM-EMI was the height of the intra-union dispute in which management opposed the new union (SM-EMI) and supported the former union (KM-EMI). Although management opposed SM-EMI, they won the certification election in June 2006 which allowed them to enter into labor negotiations with Yazaki. In spite of the dismissal, Mr. Servida served as an external organizer of the SM-EMI union.

Mr. Servida was also acting as the leader of the “Solidarity of Cavite Workers” an alliance of labor organizations and unions based in Rosario, Cavite. Ms. Servida was known to be active in giving trainings and helping employees from other companies to form unions. His former colleagues told us, “All unions in Cavite were relying on Servida”.

Circumstances of the Killing

On December 11, 2006 at around 6 a.m. in the morning, Michael Omedes, Jesus “Buth” Servida, Jeminiano Retutar and Joel Sale were in a jeep to deliver vegetables at Gate 2 EMI YAZAKI. After parking the jeep in front of the gate, Mr. Servida was shot as he got out of the driver’s seat of his car in front of the company entrance gate early on the morning, around 6:18 a.m. The perpetrator is said to have used a .45-caliber pistol.

Harassment

According to his former colleague, Mr. Servida was under surveillance prior to his killing. His former colleagues told HRN, “In our meeting, he was always saying that ‘somebody is watching me, even my family’…”

In April 28, 2006, an assassination was attempted on former union president Gerardo Cristobal who was ambushed near the Yazaki-EMI plant. The gunman in Cristobal’s attack was identified as Romeo Lara, a policeman and a member of the Cavite Civil Security Unit headed by Chief Larry Reyes. The Cavite Civil Security Unit is known to work with Cavite Governor Ireneo Maliksi. The suspect in Cristobal’s case argued that Cristobal was the one who ambushed him, and he had just defended himself. The suspect was not convicted.

Mr. Servida’s colleague suspected that the killing of Mr. Servida and the ambush of the Mr. Cristobal were linked.

Investigation and Prosecution

To date, there is no update in Servida’s case as no one has been able to identify the shooter who was holding an umbrella and wearing a raincoat. The colleagues claimed that it took long time for the police to come to the crime scene, and no sincere investigation has been taken place in this case.

Another Killing

On March 10, 2008, Mr. Cristobal was shot and killed by identified assailants.

6.　Killing of a Child who was Named an NPA Member

Background Information:

Case 16: Grecil Galacio95

【Victim】Grecil Galacio (9-year-old female)

Second grade student at SimSimen Elementary School in New Bataan

【Incident】Grecil was killed around 8 am on March 31, 2007 near her home in Purok 6, Barangay Kahayag in New Bataan in Compostela Valley Province, Mindanao.

【Perpetrators】The perpetrators were allegedly the elements of 67th Infantry Brigade of the AFP.