Monday, January 28, 2008 TV network, reporter fail to settle case amicably
THE National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) has ordered ABS-CBN and its former television reporter Ramil Paican to submit within 20 days position papers on the case the latter filed for his dismissal from the service last year.
Labor Arbiter Ela Rendoque terminated the mediation process during the hearing last Wednesday after both parties failed to settle the case amicably.
Paican, cameraman Joel Noel and driver Rey Paylado were dismissed from the service by the ABS-CBN management for dishonesty in relation to their confrontation with drunken Senior Insp. Jose Lidawwa last Sept 18.
Cameraman
But Paican, who worked with the TV giant for 14 years already, said the dismissal was a harsh punishment considering that they only defended the cameraman whom Lidawwa allegedly hit several times.
During the conciliation meeting last Dec. 13, Paican raised his demand for damages to P3 million against ABS-CBN to settle the case.
But ABS-CBN, represented by lawyer Wendy Goipeng-Dee of ACCRA Law firm, refused to accept Paican’s demand.
“Thus, being no settlement, mediation is terminated. The parties are directed to submit their respective position papers, attaching therewith all documentary evidences and copy furnished the other party within a non-extendible period of 20 days from receipt of the written order and thereafter, the case shall be deemed submitted for decision, unless called for a clarificatory hearing in accordance with the instruction of the executive labor arbiter,” Rendoque said in his order.
Meanwhile, Paican said the ABS-CBN management has reneged on its promise to send her daughter to school after he was dismissed.
He said Leo Lastimosa and lawyer Haidee Acuña made the promise but they only gave P14,000 as tuition and nothing more. (EOB)
