Labor organizer and activist Benjamin “Banjo” Cordero was dismissed for the frustrated homicide raps by the San Mateo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 77 on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
The San Mateo RTC through Judge Aquil Tamano dismissed Cordero’s case due to the complainant’s non-appearance in several hearings since the case started last year, according to Defend Jobs Philippines.
“Doon sa apat na pag dinig na iyon ay never umattend yung mga nag file ng kaso o yung mga complainant,” Cordero affirmed in an interview with Manila Today.
Cordero hailed the court’s decision; however, noted that labor activists are still being targeted for protesting labor rights, campaign for sustainable jobs and livable wages alongside the right to organize.
“Wala namang pagbabago kasi simula nang sampahan ako ng kaso, hindi naman ako tumigil. Nagpatuloy pa rin yung trabaho ko sa gawaing pag-oorganisa sa hanay ng mga manggagawa so wala namang pagbabago,” Cordero added.
“Kung may nabago man, siguro mas napatibay yung paniniwala na dapat magpatuloy,” he added.
Cordero is the chairperson for Sandigang Manggagawa ng Quezon City (SMQC) and serves as campaign director for Defend Jobs Philippines.
‘Extensive, coordinated, and national’ operations vs. labor leaders
Cordero said that there are “extensive, coordinated, and national” crackdowns against labor leaders in the country.
DJP seconded, noting that these were in fact “politically motivated” to silence labor activists.
Cordero was arrested by armed and non-uniformed personnel in his home in Batasan Hills last October 2022. Such an arrest transpired despite the Supreme Court issuance of using body-worn cameras among law enforcement operations last 2021.
On October 25 last year, Cordero was arrested in his home in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, along with his co-accused Ricardo Cruz, Danilo Acayen Sr., Amor Reyes Acayen Sr., Melvin Pacadar Cabangan for the allegations.
He also shared that for the first time, he met two of the four co-accused in the case namely Danilo Acayen Sr. and Ricardo Cruz.
“Maliban sa akin ay may iba nang nahuli, sinampahan ng gawa-gawang kaso, kinulong. Maliban diyan, marami nang nauna pang nawala, dinukot, marami nang lider-manggagawa ang pinatay,” Cordero added.
Last September 29, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) organizer Jude Fernandez was gunned down in his home in Binangonan, Rizal by elements of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) alleging that he “fought back” upon serving him the search warrant.
KMU noted that Fernandez is the 72nd victim of labor-related killings since 2016, and the fourth after the January 2023 ILO High Level Tripartite Mission. Other slain labor activists include Dandy Miguel, Manny Asuncion, Alex Dolorosa and many others.
In the National Capital Region, labor organizers Mark Ryan Cruz, Jaymie Gregorio Jr., Romina Astudillo, and Joel Demate of the Human Rights Day 7 are still behind prison bars since their arrest in December 2020. Cordero’s fellow organizer in SMQC Bob Reyes is also still detained since June 2018. These activists share the similar pattern of arrest and charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives during the Duterte administration.
“It is crucial to highlight the gravity of the situation, as the government’s pressure on labor activists continues to undermine the pursuit of social justice and worker empowerment,” DJP added in their statement.
On the other hand, Cordero is open to filing counter-charges against PNP-CIDG and those responsible for his unjust arrest.
“Pinag-uusapan namin yan ng abogado kung mag fi-file ng counter charges pero dahil provisional yung dismissal na in-approve kanina, aantayin namin ang dalawang taon siguro para mag file ng counter charges,“ Cordero said.
Following his acquittal, Cordero hoped for more workers, including the urban poor, would become conscious and organized.
