AFTER months of uncertainty, the labor dispute between former Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito and the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is finally nearing its end.
Atty. Rex Enrico Cruz III, legal counsel for de Brito, confirmed the development to SPIN.ph on Wednesday, revealing that outstanding salaries, bonuses, and incentives owed to the Brazilian mentor have finally been settled following recent discussions between both camps.
The resolution marks a significant turnaround from just a few months ago when de Brito publicly disclosed that he actually went unpaid for several months.
The issue eventually found its way to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), where de Brito sought to recover compensation, as repeated efforts to settle the matter outside legal channels ended in frustration.
While the case appeared headed for a prolonged legal battle, progress was made during recent proceedings.
During the June 18 submission of position papers, only de Brito's camp filed its position paper, while PNVF requested additional time to submit its own. Days later, a meeting was arranged between representatives from both sides.
On June 22, Strong Group Athletics (SGA) owner and 'acting president' Frank Lao met with de Brito and Cruz, alongside PNVF lawyers Atty. Jorge Abes and Atty. Areanne Matencio, to discuss ways to finally put the dispute to rest.
READ: POC suspends PNVF, rules Frank Lao takeover of presidency 'invalid'
According to Cruz, the meeting was conducted in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, with Lao taking a proactive role in seeking a resolution.
The talks eventually resulted in an agreement that is expected to formally end the case, although the terms remain confidential.
Sources also said Lao extended an initial financial gesture during the discussions as a show of good faith, reinforcing his commitment to finally resolving the matter. Lao has likewise taken charge of coordinating the settlement of all obligations owed to de Brito.
The Labor Arbiter will continue to monitor the proceedings until the settlement is fully implemented and the case is formally closed.
Long-overdue resolution
The development comes three months after de Brito publicly revealed that he had yet to receive several months' worth of salary, along with bonuses and incentives earned during Alas' overseas campaigns.
Tensions escalated further in April when federation officials failed to appear during the first scheduled mediation conference, casting doubt on efforts to resolve the issue.
For de Brito, the settlement closes a difficult chapter that overshadowed what was otherwise a successful tenure with the national team.
The 59-year-old coach helped steer the Philippines to a historic bronze-medal finish in the AVC Challenge Cup and played a major role in restoring the country's relevance on the Asian volleyball stage.
With the financial dispute now behind him, de Brito can focus fully on his responsibilities with Capital1, as the Solar Spikers gear up for the PVL on Tour beginning in July.
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