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Sunday, February 08, 2004
Axed radio workers awarded P.48M
THE National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) ordered the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) to pay a total of P486,658.32 to four workers of its radio station dismissed September last year.
Nancy Ugsad-Estolloso, dismissed manager of the NCCP-owned media outlet and one of the complainants described the NLRC decision as a vindication of her and her co-complainants' names.
"This is not only about money, but a vindication of our names...to give us what is due us," Estolloso said.
The other complainants were dySR reporter David Bryan Cortes, news director Jhongie Rumol, and radio technician Wilfredo Paligsa.
Labor Arbiter Geoffrey Villahermosa, in his 17-page decision dated Jan. 29, also ordered NCCP to reinstate the complainants to their former position.
Based on the judgment, Cortes is awarded P73,666.66 representing his back wages, unpaid salaries, 13th month pay, moral damages and exemplary damages; Estolloso is awarded P182,500; Rumol, P86,250; and Paligsa P100,000, including the 10 percent attorney's fees, the award totals P486,658.32.
Estolloso said that with the case now resolved, NCCP should realize the need to go back to its original purpose to pursue its radio ministry.
In his decision, Villahermosa ruled that the complainants were illegally dismissed notwithstanding the argument of NCCP that they were merely retrenched because the foundation managing the station, Ecumenical Broadcasting System Foundation, Inc. (EBSFI), was losing.
The labor arbiter likewise said NCCP is liable with EBSFI for the payment of the monetary claims since the foundation is the council's alter ego.
"It is expressly stated in the memorandum of agreement between NCCP and EBSFI that the latter is but a subsidiary of the former, thus, although the complainants are employees of EBSFI, NCCP being the indirect employer, is likewise obligated for complainants' money claims against EBSFI," the decision read.
The four employees accused EBSFI of illegal dismissal, unlawful withholding of salaries, and non-payment of their 13th month pay and filed a labor complaint before NLRC through their lawyer Martin Gerard Cornelio.
NCCP is the umbrella organization of 11 Protestant churches in the Philippines and 10 associate members. These include the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Iglesia Unida Ekyumenikal, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the United Methodist Church, Lutheran Church in the Philippines, the Salvation Army, Christ Centered Church, and the Apostolic Catholic Church. JPA/b>
(February 8, 2004 issue)
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