SUNWEST Inc.’s controversial P289-million road dike project in Barangay Tagumpay, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. (Jerry Alcayde)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Nineteen security guards assigned to the allegedly anomalous multi-million flood control projects by Sunwest Inc. in Naujan and Bongabong towns in Oriental Mindoro have filed individual complaints before the Department of Labor and Employment against their security agency for alleged non-payment of back wages.
Roderick F. Tamacay, DOLE-Oriental Mindoro chief, said they have endorsed the complaints to the National Labor Relations Commission in Laguna after mediation proceedings failed to yield settlement between CJ Security Agency and the complainants.
Tamacay said CJ Security Agency has an existing contract with Sunwest Inc., the construction company linked to former Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
CJ Security supplied Sunwest with the needed personnel to protect equipment and other assets at projects sites in Barangay Tagumpay in Naujan and Barangay San Isidro in Bongabong.
Tamacay said the employer appeared during the first conciliation meeting held last Nov. 19 with four security guards who initially filed complaints.
But when 15 more security guards filed similar complaints, their employer reportedly snubbed the 30-day mandatory mediation proceedings, prompting Tamacay to refer the matter to the National Labor Relations Commission in Laguna, the appropriate labor entity to hear formal arbitration proceedings.
A security guard said more colleagues – more or less 100 – will file complaints before the DOLE.
CJ Security has yet to issue any statement.