KMU-Southern Tagalog chairman shot dead : QC IMC

The chairman of the militant Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan (Solidarity of Workers in Southern Tagalog), the regional chapter of Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement) in Southern Tagalog was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Barangay Paciano, Calamba City.

Diosdado “Ka Fort” Fortuna, 51, was riding his motorcycle on his way home from the Nestlé picketline at around 6:15 pm when suspects shot him at close range in front of Sagara Factory in Canlubang. Fortuna was felled by 2 bullet shots on the chest. He was rushed to the nearby Calamba Doctors Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Fortuna is also the union president in Nestlé, which has been on strike for more than 3 years. He assumed union presidency right after then president Meliton Roxas was assassinated in front of the Nestlé gates in 1988.

Luz Baculo, secretary-general of PAMANTIK said, “The workers in Southern Tagalog are outraged by the brutal killing of Chairman Fort Fortuna. He is a well-respected labor leader. No one will do such a horrendous act against him except those who continue to trample on workers’ and human rights.”

Aside from being chairman of PAMANTIK-KMU and Nestlé union president of Union of Filipro Employees (UFE), Fortuna holds various commitments. He is a member of the National Council of the KMU. He is the chairman of Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Probinsya ng Laguna (Alliance of Workers in the Province of Laguna), regional chairman of Anakpawis Party-list and co-chairperson of the National Coalition for the Protection of Workers’ Rights.

After Eddie Gumanoy and Eden Marcellana were murdered in April 2003, Fortuna was third among the regional leaders in Southern Tagalog who was murdered under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

“Aside from the blood debts of the Swiss-owned Nestlé, the killing of Fortuna is politically motivated. We are holding responsible the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their commander-in-chief Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” said Baculo.

Ka Ding Fortuna's Death received very little media attention which is no surprise since Nestle is one of the news programs' sponsor. It was not said that prior to his assasination, students who became aware of the state of the Nestle workers came to the Nestle picketline to conduct a study on the continuous oppression of this Swiss company to these workers. Had the assasination occurred during the scheduled students' activity,I am afraid that a gruesome scenario in Philippine human rights history would be replicated-the First Quarter Storm. Ever since the visit, the students have boycotted ALL NESTLE PRODUCTS, and has pursued others to follow the boycott.

It is never wrong to fight for rights and benefits which in the first place needs no fighting for they are rightfully ours to begin with. To the Nestle workers, do not stop the fight! You will be continuously supported by us, the students.

BOYCOTT NESTLE! ANG PRODUKTONG MAY BAHID NG DUGO AT KARAHASAN!