Davao radioman sues RMN execs for 'illegal dismissal'

A Davao-based broadcaster has sued top officials of the Radio Mo Nationwide (RMN) network for allegedly subjecting him to illegal dismissal from work nearly a month ago. Former station manager and news anchor Mario Maximo “Dodong" Solis of dxDC Davao, an RMN station, filed before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) an illegal dismissal complaint against four high-ranking officials of the broadcast network after he was allegedly illegally fired from his job on September 6. According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Solis was fired for supposedly defying an order from management “to manipulate broadcast content in favor of a political candidate" who had a multi-million advertising deal with the station. Named as respondents to Solis’ complaint were RMN President Eric Canoy, Vice President for Operations Carlos Canoy, Assistant Vice President for Operations Rey Bayoging, and Vice President for Finance Ruben De Gracia. The case is now pending before the NLRC Regional Arbitration Branch 11 under labor arbiter Elmer Pasion. The NUJP chapter in Davao, for its part, said that the reason for Solis' dismissal was “unjust" and "highly malicious." “It is unfortunate that all Solis got in return, after 12 years of devoted service to the company as RMN Davao station manager who made it the number one AM station in Davao in terms of rating and income, is a termination order without pay," the group said. The group added that “repressive actions" continue to be committed by the network management against its rank-and-file workers after Solis’ termination. Two other RMN Davao personnel — program director Jessie Casalda and news director Elgin Damasco — were also forced to resign from their posts after supposedly defying a gag order from the network against discussing Solis’ termination on air, according to NUJP-Davao. The group likewise assured the former RMN Davao station manager of support in the complaint he filed against the radio network’s officials. Earlier this month, local and international media watchdog groups joined employees of dxDC in questioning the dismissal of Solis. (See: Media watchdogs question Davao radio station manager's dismissal)—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV