511A Unicentre

Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6
CANADA

April 19, 2011

His Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III

President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +011-63-2-734-7084
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80

Dear President Aquino:

CUPE 4600, the union of teaching assistants and Contract Instructors at Carleton University in
Ottawa, Canada, is deeply concened with the recent murder of Celito Baccay, labour leader and
union official at Maeno Giken Workers Organization-Independent (MAGIKWO-Ind.) at First
Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE) in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines.

Baccay was gunned down on March 8, 2011 while driving his motorcycle home from an
overtime shift at the factory. The police blotter showed that the responding officers found one
empty shell from a .9 mm pistol on the scene. As of this writing, the provincial police in Cavite
have not issued a report of their own investigation on the said killing.

Baccay had been engaged in a lengthy union certification struggle at the Maeno Giken Inc.
factory and was considered by his colleagues as a strong advocate for workers in the factory.

In January, 2010 members of our union participated in a CUPE Global Justice solidarity tour
sponsored by ACT and COURAGE, two unions in the Philippines. Part of our tour was meeting
with workers and union officials who worked in the Cavite Export Processing Zone. They told us
of the harassment and intimidation of people trying to organize unions. These actions included
kidnappings and attempted murder.
We are therefore extremely worried that this type of intimidation continues in your country We
had hoped that this practice would no longer happen after your election as President.

In 2009 a High-Level International Labour Organization (ILO) Mission visited the Philippines
and made a series of recommendations to address the wave of extra-judicial killings, human
rights violations and anti-union activity that plagued the country. The Mission heard from worker
representatives in the Cavite Export Processing Zone who described the anti-union policies and
practices in the Zone.

The ILO, in its report, urged the government to make “all efforts to ensure that workers may
exercise their trade union rights in a climate free from violence, threats and fear.” The ILO also
“urge[d] the Government to take all necessary measures so as to ensure that the investigation and
judicial examination of all pending allegations of extrajudicial killings, attempted murder,
abduction and attempted abduction advance successfully and without delay…”

We respectfully ask that your government:

• conduct an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the murder of Celito
Baccay;
• file criminal charges against the perpetrators without delay;
• ensure the protection of the families and co-unionists of Celito Baccay;
• investigate reports of harassment and surveillance of labour leaders and members of
MAGIKWO-Ind.; and
• use all available means to protect the rights of the workers in Maeno Giken Inc. to
freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Respectfully yours,

Priscillia Lefebvre
Vice-President
CUPE 4600

cc:

Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales

Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com

Director General Raul Bacalzo

Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2724 8763
Tel: +63 2 726 4361/4366/8763
E-mail: ruth_cossid@yahoo.com

Honorable Leila de Lima

Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila, PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph
doj.delima@gmail.com

Hon. Rosalinda Baldoz

Secretary
Department of Labor and Employment
7/F DOLE Building,
Intramuros Manila NCR 1002
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 527 2131
E-mail: secrdb@dole.gov.ph

Atty. Lilia B. De Lima

Director-General
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
Office of the Director-General
6/F PEZA Bldg. , Roxas Blvd. Cor. San Luis St.
Pasay City
Tel: (+63 2) 551-34-54 to 55
Fax: (+63 2) 891-63-80
Email: dglbl@peza.gov.ph
info@peza.gov.ph