Complaint filed vs. judge before labor commission

Regional Trial Court Branch 9 presiding judge Geraldine Faith Econg was named respondent in a complaint filed before the National Labor Relations Commission by a woman who claimed she was illegally dismissed by the manager of a restaurant partly owned by the judge.

Gresha Iriarte, 20, single of 71-H General Echavez Street, Cebu City filed the complaint before the labor court after she claimed that Econg's restaurant manager illegally dismissed her from the job at the Yu Hee Jeong Korean Restaurant along Edison Street, barangay Lahug, last January 5.

Iriarte admitted that the management has scolded her and her 12 fellow employees because all of them did not report for work during the first shift - 9:30 a.m. up to 2:30 p.m. - last December 25.

"Nahibulong ko kay kaming tanan maoy wala maka-duty kaniadtong pasko apan duha ra kaming gi-dismiss," Iriarte said last week when she sought the legal assistance of the Public Attorney's Office to handle her case.

When The Freeman asked for her comment, Econg quickly inquired about the matter from her restaurant manager. She said she was told it was not the first time that Iriarte went against restaurant policy and was made to explain it in writing.

But still, Econg wished that the matter would be amicably settled for the sake of harmonious relationship between the management and her employees. - Rene U. Borromeo