Vico Sotto slams Regent Foods Corp. for ‘suppressing’ protesting workers

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Sunday spoke out against Regent Foods Corporation for its alleged suppression of the rights of its protesting workers.

In a Facebook post, Sotto told the food manufacturer that its relationship with the Pasig City government will be at risk if it does not drop the charges it filed against workers who went on strike on November 9.

“These people are not criminals; they do not have the goal of hurting you. They are fighting for what they believe to be just. You can continue with the labor dispute without sending the poor and powerless to jail!” the mayor said.

According to Sotto, Regent management “hired outside private security to disperse their employees on strike," causing violence to break out between security and the protesters.

Following the incident, 20 Regent workers, two members of another organization, and one tricycle driver—who Sotto said was only trying to see what was going on—were arrested.

“I asked Regent to withdraw the charges against the 23. Mr. Irwin See and Ms. Susan See separately asked me to give them some time to ask their board,” the mayor said.

“Technically, the complaints were filed by the private security, but the management have admitted that they are behind the complaints,” he added.

Sotto said he was informed by Regent on Saturday that they would not be withdrawing the charges against the 23 individuals.

The mayor reported that 12 out of the 23 arrested have posted bail, including the tricycle driver.

Sotto also assured the 11 who remain jailed that he “will personally make sure that they are out on bail by Monday.”

“As the Local Government, we cannot interfere with the labor issues at hand, as this is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor and Employment. However, when my constituents are being deprived of liberty as they fight for their rights as workers, I cannot sit around and do nothing,” he said.

Reached for comment, Regent Foods Corporation said they will issue an official statement in the next few days. —Julia Mari Ornedo and Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG, GMA News