Pampanga — The United Pilipinos Against Crime and Corruption (UPACC) is set to file graft, conflict-of-interest, and large-scale illegal recruitment cases against Magalang town Mayor Malu Paras-Lacson and several other local officials over their alleged involvement in recruiting workers to Chuangxing Steel Corp.
UPACC Chairperson Pyra Lucas said the planned cases stemmed from complaints filed by workers employed at Chuangxing through Kingsmen Manpower and Bantayan Manpower Agency.
The workers allegedly experienced mistreatment and violations of their labor rights.
Lucas said documents obtained by UPACC allegedly showed that Lacson and several other Magalang officials owned Kingsmen Manpower, which, she claimed, was not accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment.
The group also plans to pursue cases involving the alleged illegal reclassification of the land where Chuangxing Steel was built, as well as questions surrounding the mayor’s alleged unexplained wealth.
UPACC said it would provide legal assistance to workers who have filed complaints before the National Labor Relations Commission against Chuangxing Steel, Kingsmen and Bantayan Manpower Agency.
The group also said will prepare to shelter workers who receive threats in connection with their complaints.
Among those who sought UPACC’s assistance were workers Joseph Nambatac and Junil Lgmendio.
Nambatac reportedly suffered a permanent injury to his left hand, while Lgmendio continues to recover from a metal fragment in chest after both were involved in separate accidents at Chuangxing Steel.
They claimed that the companies involved failed to provide them with adequate assistance.
However, Lacson’s camp had not responded to text messages or calls as of press time to get their side regarding the issue.
Lacson had previously stated that they had long since let go of—or surrendered—their interests and shareholdings in Kingsmen.
Earlier, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs would issue a subpoena against Lacson after she failed to attend hearings into the alleged illegal operations of Chuangxing Steel, which reportedly placed the lives of nearly 400 workers at risk.
