Ahong vows legal assistance for worker killed in plant mishap

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan has vowed to provide legal aid to the family of the factory worker who died while working at a food and beverage plant in Mandaue City on June 2, 2022.Chan made the promise when he visited the wake of factory worker Stephen Corilla in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, June 9.During his visit, Chan assured Corilla’s family that he will provide a lawyer who will help in the legal battle they are set to wage against Universal Robina Corp. (URC), the owners of the plant where Corilla died in an accident.Last June 2, Corilla was cleaning the pulverizing machine of URC’s plant in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City when it accidentally turned on while he was still inside.Corilla sustained severe injuries which eventually led to his death.Social media rallyIn a related development, several labor groups in Central Visayas are set to hold a “social media protest activity” on Saturday, June 11, to condemn Corilla’s death.The campaign is organized by labor groups Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development, ALSA Kontraktwal-Cebu, Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno, Center of Trading Union and Human Rights Tabisan sa Sining, Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines, and Ecumerial Institute for Labor Education and Research Inc.They are urging people to post pictures and videos of candlelights on social media and publish their opinion regarding Stephen’s death.Complaint filedOfficials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Mandaue City also confirmed that Corilla’s wife has already sought their assistance as she filed a complaint before the bureau on Wednesday, June 8, or six days after her husband’s death.NBI-Mandaue City office agent-in-charge Arnel Pura said they still have to establish whether Corilla’s death was intentional or unintentional as they will not rely heavily on the reports coming from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).Pura, however, said his office will coordinate with the DOLE although it already ordered the suspension of operations of a department at URC plant in Mandaue City and also fined the management with P100,000 for failure to comply with occupational safety and health standards.