THE PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 17, 2012: International tobacco giant Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC) is caught in a barrage of petitions to terminate its executive Robert Blair Carabuena whose assault of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic officer Saturnino Fabros in Quezon City was caught on camera and has become viral since then.
The incident happened on Saturday, August 11 and concerned citizens petitioned the tobacco company to take action against Carabuena for attacking Fabros after the former was apprehended for ignoring the latter’s order to stop at an intersection.
Petitioners call for action
“We call on PMI to immediately act on this unforgivable incident and accordingly fire him,” University of the Philippines Diliman professor Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III, Ateneo De Manila University professor and lobbyist Ma. Lourdes N. Tiquia, journalist Ellen Tordesillas, and civic and social organization professional Marilyn Mana-ay Robles said in their petition.
Furthermore, the petitioners claim that Carabuena’s behavior “is a disservice to the corporate image of PMI (Phillip Morris International) and the global goodwill it has earned through years.”
The leading multinational company boasts of their employees as their foundation, “sharing unique values including emotional intelligence as well as being emotionally perceptive to the feelings of others and having the sensitivity to influence the moods of others in a positive way".
Carabuena: suspended
In an official statement released by the company Thursday, Carabuena is said to be suspended, not terminated as concerned citizens have urged to company to do so. The official statement reads: “The Metro Manila Development Authority has announced that it will file charges against Robert Blair Carabuena, an employee of PMFTC, over an incident with a traffic enforcer that took place on Saturday, August 11. Mr Carabuena was on his personal time and not on duty for the company at that time.
“PMFTC has suspended Mr. Carabuena pending the outcome of the investigation. PMFTC reiterates that it does not condone inappropriate conduct by any of our employees."
