Bello slams Supreme Court for flip-flopping on case filed by PAL pilots, flight stewards

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello

MANILA, Philippines— Akbayan party-list Representative Walden Bello hit the Supreme Court, on Monday, for reversing an earlier court decision that found Philippine Airlines liable for the illegal retrenchment of 1,400 flight attendants in 1998.

Bello said the October 4 reversal was the result of a letter that PAL management sent to the high court pointing out that the decision to reinstate was technically flawed.

He said the high tribunal’s decision created the impression that Philippine Airlines management was above the law.

“I’m no lawyer or legal practitioner, but I believe it is incumbent upon the Supreme Court to settle the issue without compromising the welfare of workers,” Bello said.

“PAL and (PAL chairman) Lucio Tan acted like big bullies – they disrespect workers’ rights, and they have no regard for the law and the legal process,” he stressed.

In 1998, PAL dismissed 1,400 flight attendants, but it was not until 2008 that the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap) finally found justice when the SC ruled that the retrenchment was illegal.

PAL management filed appeals to reverse the decision, even after September 2009 when the Supreme Court ruled with finality that PAL was in the wrong.

Meanwhile, Fasap waited for over a decade for the Supreme Court to issue the appropriate decision on their case, Bello noted.

When the SC reversed the decision on the case of illegally retrenched workers, they effectively punished the Fasap for having faith in the legal system and rewarded PAL for its belligerence,” he said.