PAL readying charges vs protesters

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Sunday said it is readying charges against its former employees who blocked one of its catering trucks from exiting the airline’s inflight center Saturday.

PAL counsel Clara de Castro said the airline has identified the “truncheon-wielding” protesters who blocked Gate 1 of PAL’s Inflight Center along MIA Road in Pasay City. She claimed that the rallyists placed wooden planks with nails and set fire to a carton box to prevent PAL’s truck from leaving the facility.

“This is not the first time that former PAL workers prevented PAL employees and vehicles from entering and leaving its facility. But Saturday’s well-documented blocking of a PAL catering van shows how brazen they have become,” De Castro said.

She said PAL lawyers are preparing charges for violation of its property rights, particularly the right to free and unhampered access to its own property; the right to use its vehicles and buildings; and the right to allow its workers or service providers to enter and leave the facility without being harassed by protesters.

While protesters’ claim that they have the right to encamp at the PAL’s Inflight Center “is highly questionable,” De Castro stressed that PAL’s right to free access to and from its own facility is “absolute” and guaranteed by the Constitution.

The PAL counsel also said that libel charges are also being prepared against protesters claiming that the airline hired so-called “goons” to disperse their camp.

“Baseless allegations of dispersal is a poor attempt by protesting workers to cover up their own blatant violations by threatening harm against PAL personnel who want to bring out PAL property from its inflight center,” she said.

De Castro stressed that PAL security merely took a defensive stance. “Not one of them ever touched a protester, a streamer, or any part of the protesters’ camp. They were there to ensure order in case things get out of hand as PAL tries to bring its truck out.”