Supreme Court orders MBA team to pay Alvin Teng 2.5m for illegal dismissal

 

In a decision by the first division of the Supreme Court last February 22, 2012, the Negros Slashers were ordered to pay Teng Php 2,530,000 for illegal dismissal.

 

"Masaya dahil almost 10 years na. Kataas-taasan na e. Uma-appeal pa sila kaya tumatagal," said Teng when GMA News Online caught up with him at the San Miguel Beermen game against the Saigon Heat at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig last Friday.

 

Teng admitted that he has not actually received anything after the decision was made, yet he is confident that he will get his compensation after almost 13 years.

 

According to the ruling, the dismissal was a result of Teng's actions in the Negros Slashers' championship series against the San Juan Knights:

 

"On Game Number 4 of the MBA Championship Round for the year 2000 season, Teng had a below-par playing performance. Because of this, the coaching staff decided to pull him out of the game. Teng then sat on the bench, untied his shoelaces and donned his practice jersey. On the following game, Game Number 5 of the Championship Round, Teng called-in sick and did not play."

 

Teng was officially terminated on March 16, 2001. Years later, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the earlier decisions of the Labor Arbiter and the Court of Appeals, stating that termination was too harsh a punishment for Teng's actions:

 

"As an employee of the Negros Slashers, Teng was expected to report for work regularly. Missing a team game is indeed a punishable offense. Untying of shoelaces when the game is not yet finished is also irresponsible and unprofessional. However, we agree with the Labor Arbiter that such isolated foolishness of an employee does not justify the extreme penalty of dismissal from service," according to the decision penned by Justice Martin S. Villarama Jr.

 

"Petitioners could have opted to impose a fine or suspension on Teng for his unacceptable conduct. Other forms of disciplinary action could also have been taken after the incident to impart on the team that such misconduct will not be tolerated," it also stated. The 2,530,000 pesos represented the Labor Arbiter's award in 2002, which included Teng's unpaid wages, separation pay and attorney's fees. Although Teng was happy with the development, he was quick to point out that after more than a decade, the value of his money is not as much as it was. "Maliit nga yun. Lumiit na siya. Kung more than 10 years, yung 2.5 sobrang laki na," Teng said. - AMD, GMA News