NLRC sequesters Dominion buses in favor of workers

By ROD TAJON and KYLE EDWARD FRANCISCO
Northern Dispatch

VIGAN CITY — Times Employees Union (TEU) scores yet another victory as the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) sequestered four buses of the Dominion Bus Lines after serving the Writ of Execution for a Supreme Court ruling ordering the said bus line to pay its workers P97 million for various claims of unpaid wages and benefits from decided labor cases, last November 22.

Three of the buses were impounded at the main terminal in Vigan, while the other one was impounded in Bantay, Ilocos Sur while it was heading south.

The buses are set for public auction on the last week of November. This would partially cover the wages and benefits of the workers, as ordered by the Court.

NLRC Sheriff, Atty. Ronnie Jalalain, several policemen and officers of TEU served the Writ of Execution to MenCorp, owner of Dominion Bus Lines (formerly Times Transit, Inc.) last November 22. It was received by the legal counsel of MenCorp, Atty. Joel Marquez.

Noel Susa, one of the leaders of TEU, noted that this recent development was the result of their collective struggle. He said that the members of the union welcome this move of the NLRC, “but we vow to continue the struggle until we attain our ever-elusive victory.”

The issuance of the Writ of Execution came after the NLRC Arbiter Patricio P. Libo-on junked the Urgent Motion to Inhibit and Third Party Claim filed by Mencorp and Melissa Lim.

The NLRC decision issued last November 15 ruled that “the motion for inhibition has no basis” citing that “in no instance that the NLRC disregarded the right of any of the parties nor showed bias for other party.”

It further stated that “granting Melissa Lim purchased the majority stocks of Mencorp,” the properties of Mencorp can still be levied to satisfy the monetary award. The commission underscored the effort of Mencorp to “further delay the execution” of the Supreme Court judgment and directed the NLRC sheriff to proceed with the execution.

On November 2, TEU-NAFLU-KMU marched 404 kms, from Ilocos Sur to NLRC to demand the implementation of Court decision and stop Labor Arbiter Patricio Libo-on from inhibiting himself from the case. A week after, the latter dismissed the third party claim from MenCorp and prevented Libo-on’s inhibition.