Press Release
February 2, 2009

Pia: Senate to probe Hanjin shipyard deaths Feb. 3

The much-anticipated Senate inquiry on the rising incidents of deaths of Filipino workers at the controversial shipyard project of Hanjin Heavy Industries Inc. at the Subic Freeport will finally push through on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Senator Pia S. Cayetano, author of Philippine Senate Resolution No. 807 which prompted the inquiry by the senate labor committee chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, hopes tomorrow's public hearing will help shed light on the cause of the string of deaths, as well as the reported inaction of government agencies responsible for enforcing labor standards and occupational safety measures at the shipyard.

The death toll has reportedly reached 19 based on Hanjin's official records since 2006. Except for the latest casualty, a Korean national who worked as a foreman and died last Jan. 25, all the fatalities from vehicular and work-related accidents at the shipyard were Filipino laborers. The latest Filipino casualty is Raldon Del Rosario, who died only two days earlier on Jan. 23.

Last December, the lady senator filed a resolution and delivered a privilege speech to call the chamber's attention following the deaths of two Filipino workers within a week's span in November. The victims then, Philip Albino Mendoza and Jose Vener Gil, were the 16th and 17th casualties at the shipyard, respectively.

Still, Cayetano notes that an unofficial account by a labor-support group in Subic places a bigger death toll at 24, including stay-in workers who reportedly died from malaria.

The lady senator also took the floor last January 21 to denounce the interference of South Korean ambassador Joong-Kyung on the authority of the Senate to conduct legislative inquiries. In his letter dated December 23, 2008, the Korean envoy warned Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile of "substantial and negative repercussions" should Hanjin become the subject of a Senate inquiry.

She likewise downplayed fears an investigation will discourage foreign investments, lead to more layoffs and compound the already gloomy unemployment scenario brought about by the global financial crisis.

"Some quarters have been trying to gloss over the deaths by praising the massive employment being generated by the project, like we have resigned ourselves to the fate that for every thousand Filipinos being employed there, one or two will die."

"I have nothing against foreign investments and nothing against Koreans per se. I welcome the fact that they're coming in to bring jobs and much-needed capital. But I believe that it is the government's responsibility to create an atmosphere that should encourage business investments and at the same time ensure strict compliance with our laws, regardless of whether you're a Filipino or foreigner."

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