By Jigger J. Jerusalem
Correspondent .
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) national office is on the process of finishing its investigation on the complaint lodged by a group of indigenous people from Quezon, Bukidnon, who were recruited to work in a fish farm in Pangasinan.
Ronnie Rosero, CHR investigation division officer-in-charge, said last Friday that they have already sent an invitation to the fish farm’s owner Arian Hao so he can appear before their office and give his own statement on the accusation hurled against him by his former workers.
The group of 30 members of the Manobo-Pulangihon was recruited by one Danny Talisan, a fellow “lumad,” to work for Hao’s fish farm in Sual, Pangasinan.
They began working on May 12 and a few days into their job as fish feeders, problems began to arise, according to Jonathan Sampitan, one of the workers.
The “lumad” workers alleged that Hao did not fulfill his promise of giving them a monthly of P7,500 and to provide them with free food and lodging.
Sampitan said the living condition and the unfulfilled promise prompted them to escape more than two months after working in the fish farm.
Rosero said they have already assisted the group in executing their sworn statements in light of the alleged abuses they have gone through.
He said Talisan also went to their office to tell his side of the story, as he told CHR that he, too, became a victim as he was allegedly not allowed by Hao to leave Pangasinan after accompanying the workers to the fish farm.
Rosero said Hao has yet to visit their office so he could answer the allegations against him.
He added they are giving everyone a chance to give their own version of the alleged abuses being committed by the employer to his employees.
After gathering all the statements from those involved, Rosero said they will then make a recommendation that the lumad workers can use in filing formal charges before the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service.
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