The Philippines’ National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) has ordered DZAR Sonshine Radio to pay $5765 (P254,915) each to two reporters who were illegally dismissed, reports Manila Standard Today.

DZAR Sonshine is the flagship AM station of Sonshine Media International and broadcasts on 1026 kHz in Metro manila.

According to the decision by NLRC presiding commissioner Herminio V. Suelo, the station illegally dismissed Nestor Caguitla and Danner Guillermo, who were hired as field reporters.

The NLRC said the amount includes back wages and separation pay of Caguitla and Guillermo.

In its defence, the broadcaster claimed that Caguitla could not cope with the demanding nature of field reporting and submitted only three to four reports a day while other reporters filed up to 13 reports.

However, several other reporters of who wrote no stories at all were neither dismissed nor suspended, observed the court.

It also held the firm guilty of underpayment of salary, non-payment of overtime, non- holiday pay, rest day and service incentive leave to the two workers.