ELMER FORTE
Former Concierge Manager, St. Luke’s Medical Center – BGC
Petitioner in Illegal Dismissal case vs. SLMC | 09177292437
ILLEGAL DISMISSAL CASE VS ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER: PETITIONER READY TO KEEP FIGHTING DESPITE THE GREAT ODDS
A former services manager at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City remains hopeful he will win on appeal of his illegal dismissal case against the major tertiary hospital "despite the great odds, including the influence of SLMC in society and of their also influential defense lawyers at the Nograles Law Offices, which is known for its prowess in labor law."
"Since the start, I knew my case before the National Labor Relations Commission would be an uphill battle considering the personalities, both individual and corporate, involved. I had no notion this would be easy," Elmer Forte said.
[The NLRC En Banc]
"I am hoping the labor arbiter handling the case would be rule in my favor because she was with the Public Attorney’s Office before as a champion of the downtrodden and disadvantaged. We are now at the point where we are waiting for the decision on our appeal for reconsideration, but I still hold have hope," Forte added.
Forte also said he told his lawyers to "stick to the legal merits of our case. We are ready to appeal further if necessary because outside of the NLRC, success might be waiting for us."
"It is our contention that the minimums and benchmarks set in the Labor Code should carry more weight that the SLMC internal policies because all company personnel policies must comply with Labor Code standards at the very least. In SLMC’s illegal dismissal of me, we have discovered that parts of SLMC policies do not meet those minimum standards, aside from not adhering to fair labor practices. This is why we believe in the merits of the case," the former SLMC manager said.
Last September 18, the Labor Arbiter decided to dismiss the petition, but Forte’s legal counsel filed a "memorandum of appeal" on October 21. (END)