Former TUCP Sec-Gen. Herrera faces expulsion from TUCP

Press Release
By TUCP
February 16, 2012

QUEZON CITY – Former Senator Ernesto Herrera and his rump group is facing expulsion proceedings from the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) in the light of formal complaint filed against them.

Parallel to the proceedings, there is an ongoing external financial audit of projects received by Herrera and his group in recent months given in aid or in grant by the Philippine government and international partners for TUCP’s principal work to improve the conditions of work and life of working people and their families in the country.

“We are giving Mr. Herrera and his rump group time to explain why he and his faction should not be expulsed from TUCP. There are formal complaints especially against him and he should answer why he (Herrera) is making actions inimical to TUCP. If he will not respond within several days given to him by constitution and by-laws, he has waived his right to be heard,” said Alan Tanjusay, TUCP Advocacy Officer.

“This is a TUCP internal due procedures which are working in progress precisely to address all these issues,” Tanjusay added.

Tanjusay made the statement after TUCP President Democrito Mendoza and the TUCP General Council made a courtesy call to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz Tuesday in presenting to the department newly-elected TUCP Secretary-General Victorino Balais and the appointment of TUCP Assistant Secretary-General Attorney Hernan Nicdao.

With them are the presidents of the 20 biggest labor federations affiliated with TUCP, comprising more than the majority considering the TUCP has 25 affiliate organizations.

During the call, Tanjusay said Mendoza assured Baldoz that the country’s pioneer labor center is resilient despite overt actions of Herrera and his group construed by many as inimical to the TUCP, the largest and pioneering trade and labor movement in the country and to the gains it made through the years.

During the call, Mendoza narrated to Baldoz and other DOLE officials the circumstances that surrounded the attempts of Herrera and his rump group to grab the TUCP presidency and takeover the TUCP building and offices on the night of January 25. The maneuver is seen by many as desperate effort to seize documents and dossiers that might cement his complicity into allegations of pocketing TUCP funds.

The attempt was thwarted by the responding policemen from the Quezon City police District.

Herrera proclaimed himself president of TUCP on November 11, 2011. For such he was ousted as Secretary-General of TUCP. He then attempted to takeover TUCP compound a day after he was voted out and replaced by the TUCP General Council due to an externally audited discovery of large sums of financial anomalies, loss of confidence and gross mismanagement of TUCP affairs during his tenure as Secretary-General for 34 years. He was replaced by Balais, president of Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization (PTGWO), one of the biggest labor federation in the country and a loyal TUCP affiliate.