A labor coalition on Monday, March 29, asked the inter-agency committee on extra-judicial killings (EJKs) to investigate the March 28 death of Dandy Miguel, vice chairperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno’s Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU).
Miguel was gunned down at around 8:45 p.m. on March 28 by an unidentified gunman riding a motorcycle in Barangay Canlubang in Calamba, Laguna.
The call was made by the Nagkakaisa Labor Coalition in a statement issued on Monday, March 29.
It claimed there are now over 50 trade unionists who have been gunned down since the start of the administration of President Duterte.
“We remind the authorities of its responsibility to investigate, prosecute and convict the authors of these atrocities,” Nagkakaisa said.
“As such, we call on the AO 35 committee (Administrative Order (AO) 35 Inter-Agency Committee on on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right of Life, Liberty and Security of Persons) to act with dispatch and thoroughly investigate this crime,” it added.
It described Miguel’s killing as “abhorable and has no place in a civilized society.”
“Worse, this barbarity is now happening on a regular basis. Enough! These killings must be stopped immediately,” it stressed.
Early Monday morning, March 29, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to determine if Miguel’s killing could be investigated by the inter-agency committee on EJKs.
“If there's any indication that Miguel's death had something to do with his being a labor leader, the AO 35 committee will include his case for investigation,” Guevarra said.