STRIKE AT PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS

Manila, May 30, 2003 - - Philippine National Railways (PNR) general manager 
Jose Ma. Sarasola II appealed to state workers at the Philippine National 
Railways to end their strike which had been declared illegal by the Civil 
Service Commission.

Sarasola issued the appeal after the striking members of the Bagong 
Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa PNR rejected his earlier call for them to 
report to their respective posts immediately.

The strikers, however, said they would only listen to Civil Service 
arbitrator Anicia de Lima, who had already warned that their refusal to 
return to work could make them liable to administrative sanctions.

BKM members staged a strike after management refused to reinstate their 
president, Edgardo Bilayon, who had been dismissed from the service for 
alleged dishonesty.

Sarasola explained that he could no longer reinstate Bilayon since his 
dismissal has already been confirmed by the DOTC and the Civil Service 
Commission. He also cited the ruling of the Ombudsman dismissing Bilayon 
after he was found guilty on two counts of falsification of public documents.

In view of the refusal of the strikers to return to work, Sarasola informed 
the DOTC secretary that PNR operations could return to normal today when a 
group of engineers from the 51st Engineering Brigade arrive to temporarily 
run the trains.

He said the PNR could not field thirteen trainees-drivers and other 
non-striking personnel since the latter feared for their safety because of 
reported threats from the striking workers.

Providing the train drivers with security would not be enough due to the 
long distances of PNR routes, PNR officials added

The PNR chief described the mass action of the workers as ill-timed in view 
of the financial losses of the state-owned railway firm during the last few 
years. (PNA)