DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The newly unionized workers of Radio Mindanao Network-Davao picketed their radio station on Thursday to protest the dismissal of station manager Dodong Solis.
The RMN Davao Employees Union said Solis’ termination on September 6 was unjust.
They said Solis, who was also known for his hard-hitting commentaries over the air, was terminated for refusing to give in to a management order supposedly mandating that only good news be broadcast about certain politicians.
“It was because he stood for what is right and for the interest of the people,” a statement issued by the workers said.
The union said there were orders from the higher RMN management during the last election period that required radio reporters to air only good news about a certain candidate but Solis defied it.
He was suspended in August and was eventually given his walking papers a month later.
In his September 6 memorandum, Carlos Canoy, RMN vice president for AM operations, said Solis was being terminated for failing to “follow the daily radio operation directive and for failing to submit political sales report to the head office.”
“We know the reason why Solis was terminated,” said the statement issued by the union.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines viewed Solis’ dismissal as illegal and another form of harassment of RMN media workers.
“That this blow came amidst the latest AC Nielsen survey ratings placing RMN in the number one [position] among more than 40 competing radio stations in Davao makes it highly suspect,” the NUJP said in a statement.
The NUJP said RMN Davao’s “progressive brand of programming” has made it popular with the people.
“Solis had opposed attempts of a top RMN official to tinker with broadcast content in favor of a presidential candidate in the May 2010 elections,” the NUJP-Davao said.
The union said Solis only stood for what was right amid pressures from the network management.
RMN has changed its name to Radyo Mo Nationwide but the Davao station continued to use the old name Radio Mindanao Network. –Germelina Lacorte
Inquirer Mindanao
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