Maoj is a labor organizer from Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) who was arrested on false charges. At the time of his arrest, Maga was involved in organizing transport strikes with transport group PISTON. He was also organizing trade unions with labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno. He is just one of scores of union organisers who have been harassed, threatened with death, and arrested under the government of President Rodrigo Duterte. At least fifty-six unionists have been extra-judicially killed, while some 27,000 lives have been taken in Duterte’s “War on Drugs.”

The Case

Police arrested Maoj while he was watching a basketball game in San Mateo on February 22, 2018 on the basis of an arrest warrant for a murder charge in Agusan del Norte. Maoj had left his bag hanging on his bicycle which was parked outside the basketball court, which is where the poilice claim to have found a .45-caliber pistol and 7 live ammunition. Plain-clothes security agents seized the thirty-nine year old union organiser and forced him into an unmarked van, accusing him of possessing firearms and hand-grenades. However, Maoj has just dropped off his son to school, and why would he be carrying explosives while playing basketball? He was sentenced to 14 years and 8 months in prison, and has remained imprisoned since his arrest on February 22, 2018.

Donations for labor rights political prisoners can be sent to KMU at:

GCASH - Ronaldo Adonis-09395073770BDO - MAYO UNO MOVEMENT (KMU) 001490187039