11 Years, 74 Workers Dead, 0 Justice!

Eleven years after the Kentex factory fire, one of the worst industrial tragedies in the Philippines, not a single individual was imprisoned for the deaths of 74 workers. Despite clear violations on occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, the Court acquitted former Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Kentex’s General Manager and Treasurer, Ong King Guan (Terence King Ong), former Valenzuela City Fire Marshal, Mel Jose Paredes Lagan, and others on 2020. 

The acquittal of all the accused is a complete miscarriage of justice. It is evidence to a corrupt justice system that allows public and company officials to pay off deadly crimes against workers. It did not only deny victims and their families justice, it had also set an atrocious precedent that perpetuated a culture of negligence on OSH standards and thus preventable fatalities, injuries, and diseases at work. 

IOHSAD calls on the families of Kentex workers and other OSH rights victims, OSH and human rights advocates, and all Filipino workers to continue fighting for justice and the criminalization of OSH standards violations. Other countries and studies have shown that when OSH neglect is criminalized, public and company officials think twice. 

No more Kentex!

Jail the officials responsible for the Kentex fire!

Criminalize OSH standards violations!

Pass House Bill 5221 Now!

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