AIM told to reinstate, pay professor P2 million

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila-based Asian Institute of Management (AIM), one of region’s top business schools, was told to pay nearly P2 million to a professor it illegally suspended for a year. The decision, issued by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), came nearly a year after it ruled in favor of two other professors who were likewise suspended by the school. AIM was told to “reinstate Felixberto U. Bustos to his previous position and...pay the aggregate amount of P1.924 million," the NLRC said in a decision dated December 22, 2008. It was signed by Labor Arbiter Dolores M. Peralta-Beley. The amount represents Bustos’ salaries and 13th month pay covering his suspension period that began October 31, 2007. Bustos, one of the Philippines’ 100 or so chartered financial analysts, was penalized after he supported moves by the AIM Faculty Association (AFA) to demand a pay hike. Bustos, also a regional director of the Global Association of Risk Professionals, is a treasurer and director of the AFA. In February 2007, Bustos’ colleagues—AIM Professors Victor S. Limlingan and Emmanuel A. Leyco—wrote a letter to the school’s trustees demanding a pay hike worth nearly P1 billion. AIM trustees include prominent members of the Philippines’ business community such as Washington Z. Sycip, SGV Group founder; Jose L. Cuisia Jr., Phil. American Life & General Insurance Co. President and CEO; Napoleon L. Nazareno, Smart Communications Inc. President and CEO; Tony Tan Caktiong, Jollibee Foods Corp. President; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, Ayala Corporation President and CEO, among others. Limlingan and Leyco claimed that AIM faculty members and employees were entitled to around P984 million in salary hikes since a law—Republic Act 6728—mandates that 70 percent of tuition increases should be alloted to workers of private schools. Besides disputing the claim, AIM management, led by President Francis G. Estrada, suspended Limlingan and Leyco in July 2007, citing “dysfunctional behavior." The suspension prompted the two professors to file complaints against AIM management at the NLRC. A few months later, the school suspended Bustos, alleging among others, that his consultancy practice was in conflict with one of AIM’s training programs. The same NLRC decision found no basis to support AIM’s claim. In early 2008, the NLRC ruled in favor of Limlingan and Leyco. GMANews.TV has yet to receive a reply from Eligio Santos, AIM’s executive managing director, who handles media relations. An AIM staffmember has also sent a text message regarding the matter to Joaquin N. Montenegro, the school’s vice president and chief administrative officer. No reply has been received as of this posting. - Robert JA Basilio Jr., GMANews.TV