Dismissed bus driver sues firm

CEBU, Philippines - A driver of a bus company has filed a complaint before the Land Transportation and Franchising Board-7, Land Transportation Office and the National Labor Relations Commission for alleged illegal dismissal and other irregularities against his former company.

Romel Anore, 43, said that despite the minor damage to a car he accidentally hit while driving a bus to Tingko, Alcoy, Vallacar Transit Ceres Bus Lines operation manager Rhandy Labandia, citing company rules and regulations,  sent him a notice of dismissal last May 21.

Anore, who worked for the company for more than a year, said he was not given a chance to explain his side.

He said the terminal-Tingko, Alcoy route was even beyond his jurisdiction and his driven bus' permit was already expired. But because he was ordered to go beyond Carcar City, his assigned route, he was forced to drive otherwise he would be suspended or terminated, he said.

Anore said that even the police officer who investigated the incident noticed the expired permit for the extended trip and was supposed to impound the bus and issue him a ticket, but Ceres Bus Liner had reportedly ironed the said lapse.

"Giinitan man noon ko nga I just followed the rules and regulations kay kung madisgrasya, sama sa Tingko, Alcoy nga nabag-id. Unya akong papel sa Carcar ra, ila pa ko gi-terminate," said Anore in his complaint filed before the LTFRB and LTO.

According to Anore, he does not mind getting fired considering that he was only earning P78 per round (Cebu City terminal to Carcar City and vice versa) and only made a maximum of two rounds per day. He only feels bad at the lack of due process at the company, he added.

He said that other drivers and workers had also experienced the same fate, and that their employees' union has been gagged by the management.

For illegal dismissal, underpayment, no overtime and holiday pays, no service incentives and other benefits, Anore filed another complaint before the NLRC.

"Driver ra man ko, dako ni nga company ang Ceres. Wa koy kwarta, daghan sila'g abogado. Manghinaot lang ko nga ang gobyerno modapig nako," he said.

The FREEMAN tried to contact the management of the bus company but no one was available for comment. —  (FREEMAN)