Two dismissed broadcasters of Bombo Radyo Davao file labor case vs employers at NLRC XI

DAVAO CITY – Two former Bombo Radyo Davao broadcasters Dennis Lazo and Arthur Borneo filed a complaint of illegal dismissal before the National Labor Relations Commission regional officer here last Wednesday December 1.

Lazo was terminated from work as anchorperson/reporter last August 10 and Borneo on September 8.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines – Davao City chapter, (NUJP Davao) in a statement cited that the termination orders for Lazo and Borneo “came after the two were accused of spreading rumors of a scandalous sexual conduct between two radio station executives inside the station premises.”

In July, the two received orders from higher-ups that they be transferred to the Bombo Radyo station in Cagayan de Oro City

Former Bombo Radyo Davao broadcasters Dennis Lazo and Arthur Borneo file illegal dismissal cases against Bombo Radyo Philippines owners and top executives at the National Labor Relations Commission XI.(Photo by Jose Medel Hernani / bulatlat.com)

Lazo appealed to the Bombo Radyo area manager for Mindanao Albino Quinlog Jr. that he be allowed to remain in the Davao City station because his mother is ill. “Besides, I did not want to leave my family in Davao just like that and be instantly relocated to Cagayan,” Lazo said.

But his pleas were rejected. Instead, he was slapped with a termination notice on August 10.

The notice of termination that the two received cited “continued failure to report to work, willful disobedience to lawful order of management, abandonment of work and absent without official leave” as reasons.

Lazo and Borneo decried the unfair treatment of the owners and management of the radio station.

“Indeed, the number of years you have served the company is no assurance. In our case, we have served Bombo Radyo for almost our entire life. It’s just so sad that they can easily do this to us. It is just unfair,” Lazo said.

Lazo served Bombo Radyo Davao as anchorperson/reporter for 23 years while Borneo has been working for said company also as anchorperson/reporter for 25 years.

Jessie Casalda, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-Davao City Chapter Chairperson expressed support for fellow broadcasters.

“Their situation right now reflects the reality that members of the Filipino working press experience,” Casalda, who was also sacked as news program director of Radio Mindanao Network-DXDC Davao (RMN-DXDC Davao) last September, said.

“Philippine journalists indeed have very serious welfare issues. This is worrisome as this has serious implications on the state of press freedom in the country,” Casalda added.

He urged his colleagues to help defend each other in facing problems besetting journalists’ workplaces.

The respondents to Lazo and Borneo’s illegal dismissal cases are Rogelio M. Florete, the President and Chief Executive Officer of People’s Broadcasting Services, Inc./Bombo Radyo Davao; Ruth C. Florete, Executive Vice-President, Margarette R. Florete, Senior Vice-President/Mancom Chair; Herman Basbano, Vice President Chief Operating Officer –AM Division; Ronnie Brix T. Flores, station manager of Bombo Radyo Davao, Rosemarie Ramos, assistant station manager of Bombo Radyo Davao and Albino Quinlog Jr., Area Manager for Mindanao.

The illegal dismissal cases filed against them by Lazo and Borneo are lodged under NLRC XI Labor Arbiter Elmer Pasion. Conciliation hearings are set on January 13 and 20.

Former RMN-DXDC-Davao station manager Mario Maximo Solis also filed a case of illegal dismissal against his employers at the NLRC XI last September.(Davao Today) –Cheryll D. Fiel, Davao Today