ABOUT 200 employees of APO Cement Corp., a subsidiary of Cemex Holdings Philippines, Inc., held a rally Wednesday in front of the Naga City hall to seek government assistance following the company’s announcement of layoffs. Engr. Jenevy Patalinghug, 46, an employee representative of Cemex Holdings, said they want to know about the government’s supposed hazard reduction plan considering that more than 100 regular employees and more than 600 casual workers are subject to layoffs due to the quarrying ban imposed after landslides that killed more than 70 and displaced thousands. The quarry ban has affected Apo Land & Quarry Corporation (ALQC), the main raw material supplier of APO Cement. Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa T. Chiong, for her part, said she has already sought help from different agencies to address the workers’ situation.
JUDGE
Meanwhile, the presiding judge of Branch 76 of the Regional Trial Court in Naga City has inhibited from the P4.5 billion class suit filed against ALQC, and government officials and agencies. Judge Dennis C. Larrobis said he decided to inhibit from the case to avoid the slightest suspicion of bias and prejudice. In a court order, Mr. Larrobis said, “…the undersigned opts to receive in sitting this case. This is in view of the innuendos of manifest partiality and allegations that the undersigned could not be able to decide the instant case fairly and impartiality because of the close association with Atty. [Benjamin] Cabrido.” Mr. Cabrido is one of the lawyers of the 39 Naga residents and two others who filed charges. Mr. Cabrido admitted that he and Mr. Larrobis belong to the same fraternity, but denied that they have close relations. — The Freeman

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