RELIEVE AND PROSECUTE ABUSIVE PHILPOST OFFICIAL - COURAGE

Submitted by courage_phil on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 06:14.

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QUEZON CITY – COURAGE, the militant
national center of government employees, announced today its support to the embattled
employees of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) who pressed for legal
charges against Director Oscar Lazo, the Philpost Asst. Post Master General for
Human Resource Development and Training. COURAGE also calls for an immediate
and impartial investigation of the case and the sacking of Lazo.

 

During a consultation with COURAGE,
Kapisanan ng mga Kawani ng Koreo sa Pilipinas (KKKP) President Tirso
Paglicawan, Jr and Philpost Rank-and–File Employees Association (PRAFEA)
President Manuel Rama narrated their complaints against Lazo whom they claimed
gravely threatened them inside the premises of Philpost last July 28.

 

Paglicawan accused Lazo of grave
slander by deed, grave coercion and unjust vexation. “I was supposed to meet
Manuel Rama at the Visitor’s lounge letter carrier section, Manila Central Post
Office at around 10 AM last July 28 since we are scheduled to attend a dialogue
at the Central Mail Exchange in Pasay. While I was waiting for Rama at the
lounge, Director Lazo grabbed and forcibly dragged me outside of the Post
Office,” said Paglicawan.

 

Paglicawan also added that Lazo was
shouting at him to heed his orders since he is just his subordinate while he
was being yanked down the stairs of the Philpost entrance.

 

Upon witnessing the incident, Rama
immediately tried to stop Lazo in pulling his co-employee. “I calmly explained
to Director Lazo that what he did to Paglicawan was very degrading. Instead of
being pacified, Lazo pointed his gun at me. Hinamon
akong magbarilan na lang daw kami. He shamelessly harassed us in front of
other Philpost employees,” stated Rama.

 

Paglicawan and Rama instantly proceeded
to the Lawton Police Outpost to formally file legal charges against Lazo.

 

The two leaders believed that the
Philpost management is doing every means to silence them. A movement of Postal
employees was formed two months ago to lead their campaign for the immediate
release of their various unpaid benefits. Several protest actions and press
conferences related to their concerns were also held by the employees.

 

Meanwhile, COURAGE denounced the
Philpost management’s brazen acts to gag any legitimate dissent from the
employees. “We are terribly appalled with the management’s insensitivity
towards the issues of the Postal employees. The way they answer the employees’
reasonable demands only shows that they are desperately trying to hide
something fishy. It seems that all the anomalies and corruption cases fired at
them are true. The alleged mismanagement practices have bled the agency P500
million in just two years and has consequently resulted in the deprivation of
the employees benefits,” explained Ferdinand Gaite, COURAGE National President.

 

COURAGE vowed that they will support
the Postal employees and their campaign to improve the Postal services. “We
will also bring this case to Congress. We cannot tolerate how the Philpost
management unjustly treats their employees nor we’ll remain silent amidst the
widespread corruption perpetuated by the agency’s top honchos,” added
Gaite.   #