On March 8, PAMANTIK and OLALIA-KMU union organizer Florencio « Ka Bong » Romano was found dead on the side of the National Highway in Brgy. Surosuro Karsada, Batangas City.
His face was crushed and it was evident that he was shot. Romano’s friends and colleagues point to the Philippine Air Force stationed at the Fernando Airbase in Batangas City as the perpetrators.
Romano experienced harassments before, being one of the leaders of a progressive organization. There were incidents that he experienced harassments and surveillance from the intelligence service of the Air Force.
Florencio “Bong” Romano, was also a labor organizer and the provincial coordinator of the National Coalition for the Protection of Workers’ Rights in Southern Tagalog. He was reportedly last seen on Saturday, Mar. 7 in Ludlod village in Lipa City.