Sonny Matula, Ang Tagapagtanggol Ng Mga Manggagawa

Written By Ross Erwin Cutamora

From running around the neighbourhood as a newsboy to running for a seat in the Senate to fight for those barely earning, Attorney Jose “Sonny” Matula braved all the odds thrown to him by life to become who he is today.  

Sonny Matula filed his Certificate of Candidacy as an independent senatorial candidate on October 7, 2021. A few days after filing his COC, he was chosen to fill the 12th slot on the senatorial slate of presidential candidate, Vice President Leni Robredo for the May 2022 elections. 

Matula’s early exposure to blue-collar jobs made him realize the struggles of every Filipino worker and the need to fight for their rights as an essential part of society and as human beings. These reasons, accompanied by his clear track record and achievements, earned him the title of “Defender Ng Manggagawa” and earned him the spot in the slate. 

In an exclusive interview with Fascinating Features, he narrates his humble beginnings, achievements, and plans if given that senate seat. 

Humble Beginnings

Sonny Matula was the eldest of nine siblings born to Mr. Carlos Matula, Sr. and Mrs. Basilia Gito Matula in 1965 at Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao (formerly part of Cotabato). His father was a landless farmer and his mother was a dressmaker. 

In 1970, a fratricidal war between “Muslims and Christians” broke out that forced them to evacuate to a safer place.

“Because of this fratricidal war, we were forced to evacuate from Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao to Esperanza in Sultan Kudarat. But later on, because of [the] continuing war on that place, we were forced to go to Agusan,” he said. His family eventually settled in the river town of Loreto, Agusan del Sur before moving to Butuan City by himself to study at Agusan National High School.

His time in high school was pivotal in introducing him to the value and dignity that comes with hard work. “When I was in Agusan National High School, because of economic necessity, bigas lang pinapadala ng aking pamilya sa Butuan City, so I was forced to take some jobs like selling newspapers and I do some car washing in the evening sa mga sinehan,” he said.

[When I was in Agusan National High School, because of economic necessity, my family in Butuan City could only send me hulled rice grains, so I was forced to take some jobs like selling newspapers and I do some car washing in cinema places in the evening.]

Even during school summer breaks, the work never seemed to end for him, working as a plantation worker at the Valentina G. Plaza Rubber Plantation in upper Agusan.   

He eventually obtained a scholarship from the Mindanao State University (MSU), paving the way for him to finish his studies. 

However, failure haunted him as he lost his scholarship during his first year at MSU. 

“I was an engineering student, but my grades in mathematics, ‘di naman ako bumagsak pero mababa. Na tres ata ako sa Math 41 during that time at na INC ako sa Physics 44 kaya di na-maintain grades ko for being an engineering student. Kaya, I lost my scholarship,” he narrated. 

[I was an engineering student, but my grades in mathematics, I didn’t fail but my grades are really low. I think I got a 3.0 in Math 41 during that time and [an] INC in Physics 44 that’s why I couldn’t maintain my grades as an engineering student. That’s why I lost my scholarship,” he narrated.]

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Matula didn’t let this failure dictate his future. He transferred to another college at MSU to earn his bachelor’s degree.  

Matula fondly shares the story of former President Ramon Magsaysay to his students as a testament that failure is not something that should stop you from achieving your dreams, however, it should serve as a challenge to be better and braver in the pursuit of your dreams and success. 

“If you fail once, or twice, or thrice, it’s not the end of the world. You can still be successful or pursue your dream and achieve it despite the failures that come to your life,” Matula said. 

He finished his bachelor’s degree in Political Science at MSU. He then enrolled in the College of Law in 1987. After ten years in an on and off study of law, he finally graduated in 1997 from the Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU).

Senatorial Plans

Matula on a flight to Marinduque with Congressman Erin Tañada (front left), Atty. Chel Diokno (back left), and Senator Risa Hontiveros (back right).

Senators have the power to, among other things, create bills and resolutions, as well as propose amendments to the Constitution. With these being said, all people in the society must be represented by senators who can relate to their hardships and their pleas. 

In the process of choosing united opposition candidates for the upcoming elections, Matula’s colleagues from different labour movements suggested having a senatorial candidate who can represent the workers. In this initiative by the 1Sambayan, a coalition of which he is a part, his name was floated and he immediately filed a leave of absence as a form of “delicadeza”.

“Hindi naman pwede na ako ang pipili sa aking sarili. Because among those to be chosen are the names for the senatorial candidates,” he said. 

[It is not possible to choose myself. Because among those to be chosen are the names of the senatorial candidates.]

Following the announcement of the 1Sambayan’s support for Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential candidacy, Matula, together with the Alliance of Labor Leaders for Leni (ALL4LENI), endorsed their policy plans to Robredo. 

“Kasama doon sa agenda, ay una yong strengthening of the security of tenure, wakasan ang ‘Endo’. Pangalawa, yong agenda para sa single minimum wage,” he said. 

[Part of the agenda was first the strengthening of the security of tenure, the termination of ‘Endo’. Second is the agenda about the single minimum wage.]

He added that minimum wage can and may vary as long as there’s a single threshold wage. He called this the “national minimum wage.” 

He furthered that the goods people buy are of the same price and the value of work done by the carpenter in Butuan City is of the same value as work done by the carpenters in Metro Manila. 

Other plans they endorsed to VP Leni were the “Ayudang Sapat” and the “Balik Trabahong Ligtas”. He believed that in times of pandemic, where lockdowns are in place, “ayuda” should be given swiftly and should not take months before it is given to affected families. 

Matula also explained that workers should be given vaccinations, free testing for those unvaccinated, and contact tracing for workers who contracted the virus to prevent the spread of the disease. As well as to ensure the observance of the Occupational Health and Safety for the workers by the company. 

Matula also believed that companies should respect the rights of the workers to form Unions and respect the worker’s human rights. He also believed that workers who were killed should be investigated. 

He said that Administrative Order 35, which formed a committee that investigates extrajudicial killings, should include the participation of workers. Matula also sees the need to strengthen and operationalize the guidelines which have been adopted by the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Justice, and Department of National Defense, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, to recognize the protection of workers who organize unions. 

Next on his plans is about employment guarantee. He said that the government should spearhead initiatives to give jobs to laid-off workers because of the pandemic. He furthered that the workers should be given three-month unemployment insurance that gives 80 percent of their previous monthly salary in the span of three months covered by the Social Security System (SSS). If this can’t be done, he said that at least a month of guaranteed pay should be given to unemployed workers. However, he said that all of these depend on the availability of funds of the SSS. 

Matula also said that small and micro enterprises, if possible, be given zero-interest loans or negative-interest loans, especially during this pandemic amid the calls to raise the salaries of workers.  

Other than the promotion and defence of the workers’ democratic, human and trade union rights’, Matula is also eyeing strengthening the public health system, creating decent jobs, completing the agrarian reform program, national industrialization and preparing for the coming AI (Artificial Intelligence) industry. He also wanted to focus on enhancing the social protection that would cover domestic and overseas Filipino workers, enhancing existing social security programs, and adopting family allowance. 

Political Stances

Matula taking a photo with a campaign supporter.

Education In The Philippines

Studies showed that the Philippines has been lagging in terms of education compared to other Southeast Asian nations. To address this issue, Matula believed that it is high time to declare an education crisis. 

Kinakailangan talaga ng seryosong pagreview ng ating educational system para mapunan natin yung mga maraming pagkukulang na nasa education system natin,” he stated. 

[It is really necessary to review our educational system to address the shortcomings of our educational system]

Matula pointed out that teachers should undergo intensive training and curriculums be reviewed, especially courses in sciences and mathematics. Citing that we are really behind compared to our neighbouring nations under these courses. 

Healthcare Workers

When asked if he will push for the enactment of the “Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act” proposed by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago last 2013, Matula believed that it was a good proposal, especially now that the trend of healthcare workers going abroad has been steadily increasing. 

He believed that healthcare personnel should be given importance, protected, and should have a competitive salary compared to other nations. He also believed that the contractualization of healthcare personnel should stop and be given regular positions in the healthcare sector. 

Build, Build, Build Program

When asked about the current administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, Matula believed that if the construction of the infrastructure is in progress it should be continued until it is completed. 

However, he suggested that the construction of hospitals and other healthcare edifices should be prioritized to accommodate the needs of the community. He also added that studies should be done on how to cope and fill the holes in our healthcare system. 

Contractualization

Matula commended President Duterte in the first half of his administration for taking initiative in checking different companies for any violations of the set labour standards of the country. Matula added that a lot of companies have voluntarily regularized their contractual workers. 

However, Matula noted that during the pandemic these companies have reverted to their old routine of hiring contractual workers, labour-only contracting, the 5-5-5 scheme of labour, and Endo that was rampant in different workshops. 

In addition, Matula believed that President Duterte’s war on drugs lacked focus which resulted in collateral damages. 

“Okay sana yung anti-drug campaign kung naka-focus ka sa source. Kasi kung masara mo lang yung gripo kung saan nanggagaling ang tubig ay wala ng tubig na lalabas doon,” he explained.

[The anti-drug campaign is okay if the focus is on the source. Because if you can only turn off the faucet where the water runs then the flow of water will stop.]

Matula believed that drug addiction is a health problem and not a crime. He stands that health intervention should be given to those who are addicted to drugs instead of killing them by pulling the gun’s trigger. 

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Images from Sonny Matula’s Facebook Page