We are victims of the illegal retrenchment of Philippine Airlines in July of 1998. PAL has been found guilty of illegally dismissing it’s 1,423 cabin
crew 15 years ago. Our union, Flight Attendants and Stewards
Association of the Philippines, Inc (FASAP), filed a case against the
company and we won in the last bastion of democracy of our country, the
Supreme Court. In July 2008, the Third Division made a landmark
unanimous decision on our favor, ordering them to put us all back to
work, giving back our backwages.Justice has prevailed as the Honorable Supreme Court finally saw through the sad and unfair, not to mention illegal situation that the flight attendants have been in and awarded them what they truly deserved ever since they were separated from their bread and butter.
Yet, justice gained is now seriously being threatened anew. It appears that Philippine Airlines is undeterred in making sure that injustice reigns hoping that by prolonging and delaying the case, the faith of the flight attendants are corroded and ultimately allow PAL to skirt its obligations under the law. The Second Motion for Reconsideration is a prohibited pleading under established jurisprudence decided by the Honorable Court and under the system of orderly judicial process. As such, it is nothing but a mere scrap of paper not worthy of even a second of this Honorable Court’s precious time.
We are airing our indignation to Philippine Airline's mockery of the justice system of our country. It is a bitter pill to swallow, that after having three decisions on our favor which are both affixed that “IT IS FINAL AND EXECUTORY… NO FURTHER PLEADINGS SHALL BE ENTERTAINED”, we are still patiently waiting for it to be implemented by our judicial court. For how long shall we wait, how many motions for reconsideration will be granted to Philippine Airlines?
We seek justice… justice that will change our lives as well as the system that portrays a wrong notion to the Filipino people. We humbly ask for consideration so that our case will have its final conclusion so that we can go on with our lives after suffering for a long time. It is a long-delayed implementation, our case has been languishing in the courts of law for so long a time, and we want justice now.
Our sincerest hope and fervent prayer that our plea will be heard, will be written and considered by any institution so that the people will know.
