Labor arbiter under preventive suspension for alleged dishonesty

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended a labor arbiter for six months while he is under investigation for alleged misconduct and dishonesty.

Arbiter Joel Lustria of the National Labor Relations Commission is accused of illegally deducting an amount from money awarded to a complainant in a labor case.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said the preventive suspension aims to preserve evidence that may be uncovered during the investigation.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Reynaldo Nilmao, who claimed that a certain Jean Gamboa deducted the amount of P109,777.60 or 20 percent of the P567,411.23 that was awarded to him as partial payment in a labor case.

The money was allegedly given to Lustria, apart from the P15,000 allegedly deducted to pay for sheriff’s fees.

The Office of the Ombudsman found evidence that the allegations of the complainant against the respondent would constitute grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“Since official documents or records of all actions taken with respect to the complainant’s case are kept in the respondent’s office, the latter’s continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against him.” —Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star)