Redde Solidaridad dela Maquila Solidarity Network www maquilasolidarity.org April 15,2011 His Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino IIT President Republic of the Philippines Malacanang Palace JP Laurel Street, San Miguel Manila 1005 PHILIPPINES Fax: +63 2 736 1010 Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80 Dear President Aquino: We are writing to express our alarm concerning the recent murder of Philippines labour leader Celito Baccay, a 31-year-old union official at Maeno Giken Workers Organization-Independent (MAGIK WO-Ind.) at First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE) in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines. Baccay was gunned down on March 8 while driving his motoreycle 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 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.” Itis disheartening, therefore, to learn that with your new government, extra-judicial Killings and human rights violations continue unabated. ‘CANADA: 606 Shaw St, Toronto, ON MG 316 tl: 416-532-8584 fox: 416-532-7688 ‘mpuco: Sona Cruz #34, Colonia Roma Su, Cuouhtémoc, Ciudad de Meco, CP 066760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 have high hopes, Mr. President, that your new government will act promptly and decisively to address this grave human rights concern We ask that your government: © conduct an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the murder of Celito Baceay; 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 leaders and members of MAGIKWO-Ind.; and * use all available means to protect the rights of the workers in Maeno Giken Ine. to freedom of association and collective bargaining. ‘Thank you for your attention in this matter. Respectfully yours, Lyfida Yanz: Executive Director Maquila Solidarity Network ce: Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines Director General Raul Bacalzo, Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP) Honorable Leila de Lima, Secretary, Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippines Hon. Rosalinda Baldoz, Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippines Aity. Lilia B. De Lima, Director-General, Philippine Economie Zone Authority (PEZA)