Sonny Matula
Sonny Matula | |
---|---|
President of the Federation of Free Workers | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 2011 | |
Workers' Delegate, International Labor Conferences | |
In office 2009–2021 | |
Vice President of the Federation of Free Workers | |
In office 2006–2011 | |
Chief Legal Counsel, Federation of Free Workers | |
In office 1998–2006 | |
Executive Director 5, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission | |
In office 2001–2002 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Jose Sonny Gito Matula (1965-01-21) January 21, 1965 (age 59) Loreto, Agusan del Sur |
Occupation | Labor Lawyer |
Sonny Matula is a labor leader and an aspiring politician.
Early life
Matula was born on January 21, 1965, in Agusan del Sur to Carlos Matula Sr and Basilia Matula, He was a valedictorian of the Loreto Central Elementary School. he later moved to Butuan City, having high school at Agusan National High School, he later went to Mindanao State University, from which he got the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.[1][2]
Career
Sonny Matula is the Federation of Free Workers president,[3][4][5] he served as a legal counselor for 20 years, before becoming the executive director of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission from 2001 to 2002,[6] he became the commissioner of the Social Security System (SSS) from 2006 to 2010, from which he became the chairperson of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition.[7]
Sonny Matula ran for senator in the 2019 Philippine Senate elections, losing with 50th out of 62 people or with 400,339 votes.[3][8]
Sonny Matula was chosen to be the 12th senator for the Team Robredo–Pangilinan coalition, running as an independent politician, [6][9][10][11] the Makabayan Coalition endorsed Matula in a sports ceremony.[12]
Personal life
Matula is married to Melba Cubal, an accountant, having two children with her.[1]
Political positions
Labor code
Matula supports the Labor Code, advocating for a higher penalty if the code was broken, he supported raising the penalty from 1,000 PHP to 50,000 PHP. He stated that "employers violate the labor code frequently because the penalty is low". A former law was filed by Senator Win Gatchalian which was then vetoed by former president Rodrigo Duterte.[13]
Others
Sonny Matula advocates for more jobs outside Metro Manila and urges the Congress to fix the Wage Rationalization Act or Republic Act No. 6727, and to up the minimum wage in rural areas in the Philippines.[14]
Controversies
After Leni Robredo added Sonny to join her senate slate, Sonny and his group allegedly supported Robredo's rival, Bongbong Marcos, Sonny denied the statement, stating "We gave Marcos the courtesy of a guest and as an elected senator of the republic. The same courtesy we extended to the other candidates who attended our 2016 election forum".[15]
References
- ^ a b Profiles (2022-05-08). "Sonny Matula". Biography Profiles. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "A Worker For Workers: The Vision Of Atty. Jose Sonny Matula | Journal Online". People's Journal. 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ a b Gregorio, Xave. "Robredo picks Sonny Matula to complete Senate slate". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "Workers call on Chiz to prioritize legislated wage increases". News Press. 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ Jaymalin, Mayen. "Workers urge Chiz to prioritize legislated wage hikes". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ a b "Sonny Matula is 12th member of Robredo's Senate slate". RAPPLER. 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "Sonny Matula | Eleksyon 2022 | GMA News Online". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "Labor leader Sonny Matula seeks Senate seat anew". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (2021-10-22). "Labor leader Sonny Matula completes Robredo's senatorial slate". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ PANTI, LLANESCA (2021-10-22). "Robredo completes Senate slate with inclusion of labor leader Sonny Matula". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ Gregorio, Xave. "Robredo in talks with Neri Colmenares, Sonny Matula for inclusion in Senate slate". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ Cepeda, Mara (2019-03-14). "Makabayan now endorses for senate labor leaders De Guzman, Matula". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Fernandez, Daniza (2022-02-27). "Matula wants higher penalty for violators of Labor Code". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Legaspi, Zeus (2024-02-12). "Labor group pushes review of wage board mechanisms". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ "No endorsement of Marcos in 2016, Matula-led Federation of Free Workers says". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-25.