Workers sue former councilor Archival for illegal dismissal

FORMER Cebu City Council  Nestor Archival will face  a labor case for the alleged illegal termination of  six employees.

The complainants yesterday sought legal advice from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) at the Cebu City Palace of Justice.

They were told to file charges of illegal dismissal against Archival and business administrator Jose Forzado with the National Labor Relations Commission.

The complainants were arrested by police last Aug. 31 on accusations of stealing electrical wirings of NA Systems, which is owned by Archival.

A complaint of qualified theft was filed against them with the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office .

However, Assistant City Prosecutor Mario Gidayawan dismissed the complaint after Forzado, the complainant, executed an affidavit of desistance.

The complainants said they believe they were being framed by NA Systems so they could not claim their benefits.

Each of them were told to get P2,000 from the company that allegedly asked  the complainants to sign quitclaims or the transfer of a title, right, or claim to another.

In effect, the six complainants were terminated from service.

They are Serafio Igot, Felix Escarza, Rolando Pepito, Joey Jaenar, Antonio Villanueva, and Luigi Suarzo.

Cebu Daily News sent a text message to and called Archival twice but he could not be reached for comment.

The complainants were accused by NA Systems of stealing electrial wirings while working in an establishment at the Asiatown IT Park in Cebu City last Aug. 31.

The total amount of the things they allegedly stole was pegged at P100,000.

They spent 12 days in jail before they were released after charges against them were dismissed.