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44-574: NAMFREL was co-founded by Jose S. Concepcion Jr. , and was its first National Chairperson. NAMFREL was formally organized in October 1983 as an offshoot of the New Voters Registration Committee, which was formed in the 1960s. It currently has the support of more than 140 benefactors and 125 organizations. Its current national chairperson is Augusto C. Lagman. NAMFREL's goal is to ensure "free, orderly and honest elections" in

88-632: A Delaware company which operates at 1770 Promontory Circle Greeley CO and had André Nogueira de Souza as CFO , filed notice with the SEC that it desired to float an IPO , and listed 38 subsidiaries. Four accounting firms were listed on the Prospectus, the last to file being BDO Seidman LLP of Dallas TX on 21 July 2009. On 22 July 2009, BDO filed notice with the SEC that unaudited statements had been filed and that they were not endorsed by BDO. This torpedoed

132-591: A $ 175,000 civil penalty against JBS/Swift on December 22, 2010, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act by failing to disclose when missing Fat-O-Meat’er data had prevented JBS from calculating the lean percentage of a particular pork carcass or carcasses in a seller's lot, and substituting an undisclosed lean value for pork carcasses with missing data when calculating carcass-merit payment for hogs delivered to JBS’ Worthington, MN, Marshalltown, IA, and Louisville, KY, processing plants. The Packers and Stockyards Act

176-407: A Bachelor's Degree majoring in soils and agricultural sciences. Concepcion served as president and COO of RFM Corporation, which was founded by his father Jose N. Concepcion Sr. and father-in-law Salvador Araneta as a flour-milling company, from 1965 to 1986. Under Concepcion's leadership, RFM diversified into the animal feed milling, poultry, and livestock industries and obtained a license from

220-609: A subsidiary of JBS, to install electronic on-board recorders on their trucks after a compliance review found "serious violation" of federal hours of service . On December 2, 2010, JBS announced that it would use Arrowsight, a remote video auditing company, to monitor proper sanitation to prevent cross contamination during processing. They also use Arrowsight to monitor their live cattle for proper animal welfare practices. These programs have shown great success. The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration assessed

264-631: A ten-month investigation into identity theft . In March 2021, JBS pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2040- the first global meat company to do so. This followed evidence from investigative journalist Dom Phillips of links in the JBS supply chain to illegal deforestation in the Amazon. The company pledged to eliminate illegal deforestation, including in the threatened Cerrado region, from its supply chains by 2030. In March 2024, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued JBS USA for violating

308-608: A trade adviser to President Bongbong Marcos . Joey is also the founder of Go Negosyo, an organization that seeks to assist small and medium-scale entrepreneurs throughout the Philippines. Concepcion died on March 6, 2024, at the age of 92. He was buried in Taguig . JBS USA JBS USA Holdings, Inc. is a meat processing company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brazilian multinational JBS S.A. The subsidiary

352-490: Is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat, and poultry industries. In 2019, the Trump administration allocated US$ 62.4 million to JBS USA from a fund to intended help U.S. farmers affected by the trade war with China. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a contract in the same year to purchase US$ 22.3 million worth of pork from

396-598: The Bantay ng Bayan , became known for monitoring instances of fraud and other irregularities and publishing results of the 1984 Philippine parliamentary election that contradicted the official results released by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Despite numerous threats and violence, it also monitored the 1986 snap elections on February 7 and published results that showed Corazon Aquino leading against incumbent president Ferdinand Marcos , in contrast again to

440-654: The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) as its chair. He helped mobilize thousands of members through his slogan "it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness" and organized its meetings at his residence in Forbes Park , Makati . This also led him to resign from the Ninoy Aquino Foundation after Marcos supporters raised doubts over the watchdog's credibility. NAMFREL, particularly its volunteer wing known as

484-538: The refrigerated railroad car . In the 1960s, Swift expanded into other fields, including insurance and petroleum, and formed the holding company Esmark in 1973. Two years later, Esmark bought International Playtex from Meshulam Riklis ' Rapid-American Corporation. Esmark sold off Globe Life Insurance to the Ryan Insurance Group in 1977. Esmark left the petroleum business in 1980, selling Vickers Petroleum to Mobil, while Swift's fresh-meat business

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528-660: The 1920s Swift and Company operated their largest and most modern meat processing plant in South St Paul, Minnesota . The purpose of this plant was to slaughter and process cattle, hogs, and sheep. These animals were procured by the company buyers at the adjacent St. Paul Union Stockyards. The live animals were driven across overhead ramps to the killing floors. Swift processed fresh, smoked, table-ready, canned meats, such as PREM, and baby foods, along with soap, lard, shortening, adhesives, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, hides and animal feeds. Operations were discontinued at

572-675: The 1998 parliamentary elections there , as well as in Indonesia in 1999 for the Presidential elections after the fall of Suharto . In 1998, NAMFREL representatives attended the International IDEA conference in Copenhagen . Jose Concepcion Jr. Jose Santos Concepcion Jr. (December 29, 1931 – March 6, 2024), also known as Joecon , was a Filipino businessman, industrialist, activist, and politician. He

616-577: The 2009 IPO of JBS USA. On October 18, 2012, JBS USA announced it would take over management of XL Foods ' Lakeside beefpacking plant in Brooks, Alberta , for 60 days with an exclusive option to buy XL Foods' Canada and U.S. operations. On January 14, 2013, JBS USA completed the purchase of the Brooks facility, a second XL beef facility in Calgary, Alberta , and a feedyard. In July 2015, JBS USA purchased

660-620: The American meat processing firm Swift to produce processed meats in the Philippines. Concepcion's family also owned the air-conditioning and refrigerator manufacturer Concepcion-Carrier, as well as the elevator and escalator manufacturer OTIS. Concepcion was a trustee of the Makati Business Club from 1984 to 1986. He was also chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry 's ASEAN Committee, and

704-837: The Aquino cabinet was marked by his launching of the "Yes, the Filipino Can!" movement to promote the Philippines' economic recovery after the Marcos dictatorship and his establishment of the One-Stop-Shop program for obtaining business permits and licenses. After leaving the Aquino cabinet, Concepcion returned to leading RFM, during which he also owned the Pop Cola Panthers competing in the Philippine Basketball Association from 1991 until

748-651: The Capitol Jaycees, the Bishop-Businessmen Conference for Human Development, and the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He also engaged in overseas visits to promote NAMFREL's work as the organization continued to help other countries hold credible elections. In 2000, he was among several prominent members of the private sector who called for the resignation of President Joseph Estrada amid corruption scandals involving

792-702: The Coronavirus Crisis released a report in May 2022 detailing the relationship between the Trump administration and the meat packing industry during the COVID-19 pandemic . The report describes the CEO of JBS (along with the CEOs of Tyson and Smithfield) asking the secretary of agriculture, Sonny Perdue , about elevating the need for workers to stay present at work, despite the risk of working in close quarters during

836-720: The Easter holidays, with the plant being closed until April 24, 2020. Testing of all did not take place over Easter; rather, a JBS company spokesman announced that workers would be quarantined. The plant reopened after a 9-day closure. By April 15, 102 workers had tested positive for the coronavirus, and four had died. Outbreaks of COVID-19 have also been found in six other JBS beef processing plants, in Souderton, Pennsylvania ; Plainwell, Michigan ; Green Bay, Wisconsin ; Cactus, Texas ; Grand Island, Nebraska ; and Hyrum, Utah . The United States House Select Oversight Subcommittee on

880-445: The Philippines. It is a non-partisan organization with over 250,000 member-volunteers from different religious, civic, business, professional, labor, youth, educational, and non-government organizations. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has accredited NAMFREL as its "citizens' arm" since 1986 to conduct manual parallel counts, which it called "Operation Quick Count". In 1986, NAMFREL mobilized 500,000 volunteers nationwide to guard

924-577: The South St. Paul Plant effective November 29, 1969. In addition to meatpacking, Swift sold various dairy and grocery items, including Swiftning shortening , Allsweet margarine , Brookfield butter , cheese under the Brookfield, Pauly, and Treasure Cave brands, and Peter Pan peanut butter. Swift began selling frozen turkeys under the Butterball brand in 1954. Gustavus Swift also championed

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968-552: The U.S. pork processing business of Cargill Meat Solutions for $ 1.45 billion. In December 2006, six of the company's meat-packing facilities in Colorado , Nebraska , Texas , Utah , Iowa , and Minnesota were raided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, resulting in the apprehension of 1,282 undocumented immigrants from Mexico , Guatemala , Honduras , El Salvador , Peru , Laos , Sudan , and Ethiopia , and nearly 200 of them were criminally charged after

1012-448: The beef operations of Smithfield Foods for $ 565 million. JBS also announced in 2008 its intention to buy National Beef Packing Company for $ 560 million, but canceled the plan after the U.S. Department of Justice raised antitrust concerns. In 2009, JBS USA acquired 63% of Pilgrim's Pride Chicken Company and shortened the name to simply Pilgrim's. JBS subsequently increased its ownership share to 75.3%. In 2009, JBS USA Holdings,

1056-533: The company. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Attorney General Jeff Sessions requested the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate a possible case of corruption. There were also indications that JBS benefited from trade tensions with increased sales in China. JBS stated that despite being a foreign company, it supports American farmers by creating job opportunities. In May 2019, Representative Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut claimed that President Donald Trump

1100-483: The division was renamed Swift & Company in 1995. In 2002, ConAgra sold a majority stake in Swift & Company to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst , a Dallas-based private-equity firm, and Booth Creek Management. Hicks, Muse bought the remainder of ConAgra's stake in 2004. On July 12, 2007, JBS purchased Swift & Company in a US$ 1.5-billion, all-cash deal. The acquisition made the newly consolidated JBS Swift Group

1144-748: The largest beef processor in the world. Prior to the deal, JBS had a market capitalization of US$ 4.2 billion and sales revenue of $ 2.1 billion, and operated in 23 plants in Brazil and five in Argentina . On July 11, 2007, the Swift companies had also completed several tender offers and consent solicitations for financing notes. These included 10⅛% senior notes due 2009 and 12½% senior subordinated notes due January 1, 2010, both issued by Swift & Company, 11% senior notes due 2010 issued by S&C Holdco 3 and 10¼% convertible senior subordinated notes due 2010 issued by Swift Foods Company. In 2008, JBS purchased

1188-498: The latter. Concepcion was married to Maria Victoria Araneta, whom he first met while studying at the Araneta Institute of Agriculture, and had eight children and 31 grandchildren. One of his children, Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion III, succeeded him as the head of RFM when he joined the Aquino cabinet, and served as Presidential Advisor for Entrepreneurship to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte , as well as

1232-627: The multiple anomalies surrounding it. After the People Power Revolution that erupted from the aftermath of the snap election, he served as the Secretary of Trade and Industry from 1986 to 1991, during the term of Corazon Aquino . Jose Santos Concepcion Jr. was born in Pasay on December 29, 1931, to industrialist Jose N. Concepcion Sr., who co-founded RFM Corporation and founded Concepcion Industries, and Herminia Santos. He

1276-506: The official results released by COMELEC. This triggered widespread protests that culminated with the People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos regime later that month. Concepcion joined the uprising, where he was feted and lifted to the air by demonstrators chanting "NAMFREL". Following Aquino's inauguration as president, Jose was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Trade & Industry from 1986 to 1991. His tenure in

1320-412: The organization conducted a nationwide election observation mission called "Bantay ng Bayan" ("sentinels of the people"). Presently, NAMFREL is also active internationally, its officers and volunteers having worked as trainers, observer team members, election administrators and resource persons in 35 countries, and have sent its volunteers as the official Philippine observer delegation to Cambodia during

1364-481: The pandemic. JBS USA was the target of a cyberattack in May 2021. The attack disrupted all JBS facilities in the United States. In 2022, JBS agreed to a $ 52.5 million settlement without admission of wrongdoing in a lawsuit brought by grocers and wholesalers, which accused JBS, National Beef, Cargill, and Tyson of working together to drive up the price of beef. In 2024, McDonald's Corporation sued JBS and

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1408-588: The recall included over 421,000 lb (191,000 kg). The beef products were produced on April 21 and 22, 2009, and were shipped to distributors and retail establishments in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois , Michigan, Minnesota , Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas, Utah , and Wisconsin. On November 4, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ordered JBS Carriers,

1452-497: The sale of its franchise in 2001. He was also elected in 1999 as barangay chairman of Forbes Park. During his tenure Concepcion, on one occasion, helped to direct traffic during a gridlock despite his advanced age. He also remained active in the politics of Pasay through the Pasay Citizens League for Good Government, which he founded. He also co-founded several other civil society and business organizations such as

1496-525: The snap presidential elections. President then dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared himself the winner of the election; the NAMFREL count, however, showed that Corazon Aquino won. In the days that followed, the EDSA People Power revolt took place, sweeping Aquino to power. For the May 2010 automated Philippine presidential elections NAMFREL was not accredited to conduct its own count. Instead,

1540-423: The state's general business laws on deceptive practices and false advertising. The lawsuit alleges that since a majority of Americans prefer and are willing to pay more for net-zero products, JBS initiated its "Net Zero by 2040" marketing campaign before even identifying its Scope 3 emissions arising from the full supply chain of meat production. At the 2023 Climate Week NYC event, JBS S.A. CEO Gilberto Tomazoni

1584-706: Was also the Philippine chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and the East Asia Business Council upon their establishment in 2002. Concepcion was the first person in the Philippines to use radioisotopes , which he applied as a mechanism to determine how much phosphorus was needed in fertilizers to encourage growth. His efforts led him to publish a paper titled "Radio-isotope Phosphorus in Plants." Concepcion

1628-794: Was created when JBS entered the U.S. market in 2007 with its purchase of Swift & Company . JBS USA is based in Greeley, Colorado . Its competitors include Hormel Foods , Cargill , Smithfield Foods , National Beef , and Tyson Foods . Swift & Company operations can be traced back to 1855, when 16-year-old Gustavus Franklin Swift founded a butchering operation in Eastham, Massachusetts . Its early origins on Cape Cod led later to locations in Brighton (in Massachusetts), and Albany , and Buffalo, New York . In 1875, Swift and Company

1672-575: Was elected to represent Rizal in the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971 , during which he was an advocate for domestic manufacturers. Following the declaration of martial law in 1972, he was briefly imprisoned in the gymnasium of Philippine Constabulary headquarters in Camp Crame , Quezon City , during which he was noted for organizing his cell block to do daily tasks. In 1983, Concepcion revived

1716-541: Was incorporated in Chicago. Swift and Armour and Company acquired a two-thirds controlling interest in the Fort Worth Stockyards in 1902. That same year, an antitrust lawsuit was filed against Swift for conspiring with other companies to control the meatpacking industry. The companies attempted to merge to avoid the suit, leading to the 1905 Supreme Court case of Swift & Co. v. United States . By

1760-469: Was primarily known as the President and COO of RFM Corporation from 1965 to 1986, where he was able to grow and expand it from a flour milling company to a highly diversified conglomerate. He was also the co-founder of the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), a non-partisan election watchdog organization that became notable for monitoring the 1986 snap election , as well as exposing

1804-630: Was questioned by New York Times reporter David Gelles over the Better Business Bureau's determination that JBS' net zero marketing was unsubstantiated, given that the company lacked specific planning to execute on this goal. On June 24, 2009, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that JBS Swift Beef Company, a Greeley, Colorado, establishment, recalled about 41,280 lb (18,720 kg) of beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 . By June 30,

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1848-430: Was spun off as a separate company, Swift Independent Packing Company (SIPCO), the same year. Esmark went on to purchase Norton Simon Inc. in 1983 before being purchased by Beatrice Foods the next year. ConAgra purchased 50% of SIPCO in 1987 and the remaining portion in 1989, the same year ConAgra bought Beatrice Foods. ConAgra merged SIPCO's operations with that of Monfort, the meatpacker it had purchased in 1987, and

1892-551: Was the eldest of four children which included a twin, Raul, who was born ten minutes after him and subsequently led part of the family business. In his early years, Concepcion lived at the family residence in Taft Avenue , Manila and studied at the nearby De La Salle University , from where he received an associate degree in commercial science, and the Araneta Institute of Agriculture , from where he received

1936-424: Was unaware of the situation. The JBS facility in Greeley, Colorado came into national focus during the COVID-19 outbreak when at least 50 workers tested positive by April 10, 2020, and two workers had died of the disease. By April 14 a third worker had died of COVID-19. U.S. President Donald Trump referred to the case in the daily White House briefing on April 10. All workers were supposed to be tested during

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