The illegal dismissal case filed by Donald Nojas against RGMA Network in Bacolod was dismissed by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) for lack of merit.

In a statement sent by GMA-7 to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) through e-mail, the court sided with the network after labor arbiter Romulo P. Sumanilog reached the conclusion that Nojas’s termination was justified, given the various violations he committed against the company.

Donald Nojas gained public attention after he became a witness for ABS-CBN at the height of the highly controversial TV ratings manipulation in Bacolod, which exploded in December last year.

ABS-CBN accused GMA-7 and AGB Nielsen Media Research-Philippines, of conspiring to alter the results of the ratings survey in Bacolod. According to the Lopez-owned network, money—allegedly funded by GMA-7—was given out to entice members of the sampled households to switch channels to boost the ratings of GMA-7 programs.

To back up the allegation, ABS-CBN presented witnesses that it said would prove there was indeed an anomaly not just in Bacolod but in other parts of the country, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao region. One of the witnesses was former RGMA Network employee Donald Nojas.

SLEW OF OFFENSES. When the identity of Nojas was revealed to the media early this year, GMA-7 quickly dismissed their former employee’s claim as that of a disgruntled individual with an axe to grind. After conducting a background check, the network acknowledged the witness as a former staff member who was terminated after he violated company rules and policies.

Pleased by the NLRC’s decision, GMA-7’s statement regarding the case dismissal reads:

“The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in Bacolod has junked the case for illegal dismissal filed by former employee Donald Nojas against RGMA Network for lack of merit.

“Labor arbiter Romulo P. Sumalinog dismissed the case after finding that RGMA’s termination of the employment of Nojas was for just causes.

“RGMA terminated Nojas on March 30, 2007, due to sexual harassment, negligence of duty, and lack of trust and confidence.

“The sexual harassment case against Nojas stemmed from the complaint filed by an RGMA beat reporter on February 27, 2007, before the Assistant City Prosecutor of Bacolod City.

“In numerous occasions, Nojas was also found guilty by RGMA of failing to report for duty without approved leave of absences or without notifying his superiors.

“Nojas was also found guilty by RGMA of compromising the interest of the company as he was hosting a radio program of a competing station while he was still officially employed by RGMA.”