CBCP chief pushes tough action vs. modern-day slavery in wake of Valenzuela factory fire

The head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Friday pushed for tough action against what he called modern-day slavery following the fire that hit a Valenzuela City slipper factory and left 72 people dead earlier this month.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas also cited reports that he said have uncovered other sites of exploitation where Filipinos "are worked to death under the most appalling of circumstances."

"The Kentex tragedy that resulted in the deaths of several of our countrymen has roused the nation to the reality of modern-day slavery in our country," he said.

He lamented many warehouses and factories are in fact sweat-shops for people eager to eke out a living.

These "should be subject to relentless inspection and monitoring," he said.

Where exploitation is found, he added, "these should be closed."

"There is hardly anything more repugnant to the Gospel's law of love than the heartless exploitation of the poor and to make capital from their want," he said.

Villegas also asked parish priests and the laity to constitute themselves into "guardians of our brothers and sisters against modern-day slavery." — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News