MANILA, Philippines?The Court of Appeals ordered television network ABS-CBN to pay an employee it dismissed in 2004 about P3 million in ?variable pay.?

In a 15-page decision, the appeals court 16th division dismissed the appeal of ABS-CBN seeking the reversal of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) ruling on the case of Bella Ong, who was fired on September 24, 2004 by ABS-CBN?s subsidiary ANC News Channel.

The NLRC ordered the network to pay Ong P3,014,118.63 in "variable pay." Ong was detailed at the Human Resource Department since she joined ANC, a cable television channel, in 1995.

Variable pay is a form of performance bonus given by ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries to employees.

Ong received her "variable pay" until the year 2000. In the subsequent years, however, the amount of her bonus decreased, prompting her to file a complaint with the ANC management.

She was dismissed from service in 2004.