sta. catalina college vs. national labor relations commission, 416 scra 233(2003

7/24/2019 Sta. Catalina College vs. National Labor Relations Commission, 416 SCRA 233(2003

1/21

G.R. No. 144483. November 19, 2003.*

STA. CATALINA COLLEGE and SR. LORETA ORANA, !e"#"#oner$, v$. NATIONAL LA%ORRELATIONS CO&&ISSION and 'ILARIA G. TERCERO, re$!onden"$.

Labor La() Na"#ona Labor Rea"#on$ Comm#$$#on) Genera+, a-"a /nd#n$ and-on-$#on$ o a$#d#-#a aen-#e$ $- a$ "e NLRC are, on a!!ea, a--ordedrea" (e#" and re$!e-" and even /na#"+ a$ on a$ "e+ are $!!or"ed b+$b$"an"#a ev#den-e.5A$ a enera re, "e a-"a /nd#n$ and -on-$#on$ oa$#d#-#a aen-#e$ $- a$ "e NLRC are, on a!!ea, a--orded rea" (e#" andre$!e-" and even /na#"+ a$ on a$ "e+ are $!!or"ed b+ $b$"an"#a ev#den-e or"a" amon" o reevan" ev#den-e (#- a rea$onabe man m#" a--e!" a$adea"e "o $"#+ a -on-$#on. 6ere, a$ #n "e !re$en" -a$e, "e /nd#n$ o "eNLRC -on"rad#-" "o$e o "e Labor Arb#"er, "#$ Cor" m$" o ne-e$$#"+ e7am#ne "ere-ord$ and "e ev#den-e !re$en"ed "o de"erm#ne (#- /nd#n $od be !reerreda$ more -onormabe (#" "e ev#den"#ar+ a-"$.

Same) #$m#$$a$) Abandonmen") Eemen"$ or a va#d /nd#n o abandonmen".5ora va#d /nd#n o abandonmen", "(o a-"or$ m$" be !re$en": ;1< "e a#re "ore!or" or (or=, or ab$en-e (#"o" va#d or $"#/abe rea$on) and ;2< a -ear#n"en"#on "o $ever em!o+erem!o+ee rea"#on$#!, (#" "e $e-ond eemen" a$ "emore de"erm#na"#ve a-"or, be#n man#e$"ed b+ $ome over" a-"$.

Same) Same) Same) Same) To !rove abandonmen", "e em!o+er m$" $o( "a""e em!o+ee de#bera"e+ and n$"#/ab+ re$ed "o re$me #$ em!o+men"(#"o" an+ #n"en"#on o re"rn#n.5To !rove abandonmen", "e em!o+er m$"$o( "a" "e em!o+ee de#bera"e+ and n$"#/ab+ re$ed "o re$me #$em!o+men" (#"o" an+ #n"en"#on o re"rn#n. Tere m$" be a -on-rren-e o "e#n"en"#on "o abandon and $ome over" a-"$ rom (#- an em!o+ee ma+ be ded-eda$ av#n no more #n"en"#on "o (or=. Te a(, o(ever, doe$ no" enmera"e (a"$!e-#/- over" a-"$ -an be -on$#dered a$ $"ron ev#den-e o "e #n"en"#on "o $ever"e em!o+eeem!o+er rea"#on$#!.

Same) Same) Same) Abandonmen" o (or= be#n a $" -a$e or "erm#na"#on,

!e"#"#oner (a$ nder no ob#a"#on "o $erve (r#""en no"#-e "o re$!onden".5Abandonmen" o (or= be#n a $" -a$e or "erm#na"#n "e $erv#-e$ o '#ar#a,!e"#"#oner $-oo (a$ nder no ob#a"#on "o $erve a (r#""en no"#-e "o er.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


2/21

* T'IR I?ISION.

234

234

S@RE&E CO@RT REORTS ANNOTATE

S"a. Ca"a#na Coee v$. Na"#ona Labor Rea"#on$ Comm#$$#on

Same) Same) Se!ara"#on a+) An em!o+ee (o #$ "erm#na"ed or $" -a$e #$enera+ no" en"#"ed "o $e!ara"#on !a+.5I" (a$ error "oo or "e CA "o -on-de"a" $#n-e !e"#"#oner $-oo d#d no" a(ard $e!ara"#on !a+ and '#ar#aB$ $are o erre"#remen" -on"r#b"#on$ (en $e "em!orar#+D $"o!!ed (or=#n a"er $e e" er"ea-#n !o$#"#on #n 191, em!o+erem!o+ee rea"#on be"(een "em (a$ no"$evered. I" bear$ no"#n "a" an em!o+ee (o #$ "erm#na"ed or $" -a$e #$enera+ no" en"#"ed "o $e!ara"#on !a+. &oreover, "e ERAA, !e"#"#oner $-ooB$$b$"#""e re"#remen" !an, (a$ on+ e$"ab#$ed #n 192, $- "a" (en '#ar#aabandoned er (or= #n 191, "ere (ere no re"#remen" -on"r#b"#on$ "o $!ea= o.

Same) Re"#remen" %ene/"$) Gra"#"+ !a+ #$ $e!ara"e and d#$"#n-" rom re"#remen"bene/"$) I" #$ !a#d !re+ o" o enero$#"+.5A$ or "e r#n o "e CA aFrm#n"a" o "e NLRC "a" "e 12,000.00 ra"#"+ !a+ ear#er a(arded "o '#ar#a $odno" be ded-"ed rom "e re"#remen" bene/"$ de er, "e $ame #$ #n order. Gra"#"+!a+ #$ $e!ara"e and d#$"#n-" rom re"#remen" bene/"$. I" #$ !a#d !re+ o" oenero$#"+. So Re!b#- an"er$ %an= v. NLRC od$: Gra"#"+ !a+ 7 7 7 #$ !a#d "o "ebene/-#ar+ or "e !a$" $erv#-e$ or avor rendered !re+ o" o "e enero$#"+ o"e #ver or ran"or. Gra"#"+, "ereore, #$ no" #n"ended "o !a+ a (or=er or a-"a$erv#-e$ rendered or or a-"a !erorman-e. I" #$ a mone+ bene/" or bon"+ #ven"o "e (or=er, "e !r!o$e o (#- #$ "o re(ard em!o+ee$ (o ave rendered

$a"#$a-"or+ $erv#-e "o "e -om!an+. Same) Same) Re"#remen" bene/"$ are a orm ore(ard or em!o+eeB$ o+a"+ "o "e em!o+er.5Re"#remen" bene/"$, on "e o"erand, are #n"ended "o e! "e em!o+ee eno+ "e rema#n#n +ear$ o #$ #e,reea$#n #m rom "e brden o (orr+#n or #$ /nan-#a $!!or", and are a ormo re(ard or #$ o+a"+ "o "e em!o+er.


3/21

Same) Labor Code) Te a!!#-a"#on o "e-n#-a re$ o !ro-edre ma+ be rea7ed"o $erve "e demand$ o $b$"an"#a $"#-e.5A"o $e d#d no" a!!ea rom "eNLRC de-#$#on a(ard#n er 8,28.2, "#$ Cor" a(ard$ "e en"#re amon" o "ere"#remen" bene/"$ "o (#- $e #$ r#"+ en"#"ed nder "e a(. Te-n#-a re$o !ro-edre are no" b#nd#n #n abor -a$e$. Te a!!#-a"#on o "e-n#-a re$ o

!ro-edre ma+ be rea7ed "o $erve "e demand$ o $b$"an"#a $"#-e.

ETITION or rev#e( on -er"#orar# o a de-#$#on o "e Cor" o A!!ea$.

Te a-"$ are $"a"ed #n "e o!#n#on o "e Cor".

ad#a La( OF-e or !e"#"#oner$.

23

?OL. 41H, NO?E&%ER 19, 2003

23


e#mon G. Ter-ero or !r#va"e re$!onden".

CARIO&ORALES, .:

rom "e A!r# 28, 2000 de-#$#on o "e Cor" o A!!ea$ ;CA


4/21

In ne 19, '#ar#a (a$ #red a$ an eemen"ar+ $-oo "ea-er a" "e S"a. Ca"a#naCoee ;!e"#"#oner $-oo< #n San An"on#o, %#Kan, Lana. In 190, $e a!!#ed orand (a$ ran"ed a one +ear eave o ab$en-e (#"o" !a+ on a--on" o "e #ne$$o er mo"er. A"er "e e7!#ra"#on #n 191 o er eave o ab$en-e, $e ad no"been eard rom b+ !e"#"#oner $-oo.

In "e mean"#me, $e (a$ em!o+ed a$ a "ea-er a" "e San edro aro-#a S-oodr#n $-oo +ear 19801981 and a" "e L#-eo de San edro, %#Kan, Lana dr#n$-oo +ear 19811982.

In 1982, $e a!!#ed ane(2 a" !e"#"#oner $-oo (#- #red er (#" a mon"+$aar+ o H,H.9.3

On &ar- 22, 199, dr#n "e 1$" Commen-emen" E7er-#$e$ o !e"#"#oner $-oo,'#ar#a (a$ a(arded a ae o A!!re-#a"#on or "#r"+ +ear$ o $erv#-e and12,000.00 a$ ra"#"+ !a+.

On &a+ 31, 199, '#ar#a rea-ed "e -om!$or+ re"#remen" ae o H. Re"#r#n!r$an" "o Ar"#-e 28 o "e Labor Code, a$ amended b+ Re!b#- A-" H41,!e"#"#oner $-oo !eed er re"#remen" bene/"$ a" 9,038.3,4 -om!"ed on "eba$#$ o /"een +ear$ o $erv#-e rom 1982 "o 199. 'er $erv#-e rom 19 "o 190(a$ e7-ded #n "e -om!"a"#on, !e"#"#oner $-oo av#n a$$er"ed "a" $e ad, #n191, abandoned er em!o+men".

rom "e 9,038.3 re"#remen" bene/"$ (a$ ded-"ed "e amon" o 28,83.09re!re$en"#n re#mbr$emen" o "e em!o+erB$ -on"r#b"#on "o er re"#remen"bene/"$ nder "e r#va"e

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1 CA Roo a" !!. H18.

2 Re-ord$ a" !!. 22H.

3 Id., a" !. 1.


5/21

4 Id., a" !. 21.

Id., a" !. 28.

23H

23H



Ed-a"#on Re"#remen" Ann#"+ A$$o-#a"#on ;ERAA< (#- '#ar#a ad aread+re-e#ved. ed-"ed "oo (a$ "e amon" o 12,000.00 re!re$en"#n "e ra"#"+ !a+(#- (a$ #ven "o er. Te rema#n#n baan-e o "e re"#remen" bene/"$ de er"$ amon"ed "o 18,18.2H.H

'#ar#a #n$#$"ed, o(ever, "a" er re"#remen" bene/"$ $od be -om!"ed on "e

ba$#$ o er "#r"+ +ear$ o $erv#-e, #n-$#ve o "e !er#od rom 19 "o 190) and"a" "e ra"#"+ !a+ ear#er #ven "o er $od no" be ded-"ed "ererom. Se"$ -on-ded "a" $e (a$ en"#"ed "o 190,39.90, -om!"ed a$ oo($:

Re"#remen" %ene/"$ 1M2 mon" $aar+ or ever+ +ear o $erv#-e

Onea mon" $aar+

;1 da+$ 7 a"e$" $aar+ !er da+< ; da+$ eave 7 a"e$" $aar+ !er da+< 1M12 o 13" mon" !a+


6/21

;1 7 290.90< ; 7 290.90< 33.33

H,31.33

Re"#remen" %ene/"$

H,31.33 ;30 +ear$>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1 rore$$#ve eveo!men" Cor!ora"#on v. Na"#ona Labor Rea"#on$ Comm#$$#on,344 SCRA 12, 1H ;2000


12/21

18 Ib#d.

240

240



/abe rea$on) and ;2< a -ear #n"en"#on "o $ever em!o+erem!o+ee rea"#on$#!,(#" "e $e-ond eemen" a$ "e more de"erm#na"#ve a-"or, be#n man#e$"ed b+$ome over" a-"$.19

To !rove abandonmen", "e em!o+er m$" $o( "a" "e em!o+ee de#bera"e+and n$"#/ab+ re$ed "o re$me #$ em!o+men" (#"o" an+ #n"en"#on ore"rn#n.20 Tere m$" be a -on-rren-e o "e #n"en"#on "o abandon and $omeover" a-"$ rom (#- an em!o+ee ma+ be ded-ed a$ av#n no more #n"en"#on "o(or=.21 Te a(, o(ever, doe$ no" enmera"e (a" $!e-#/- over" a-"$ -an be

-on$#dered a$ $"ron ev#den-e o "e #n"en"#on "o $ever "e em!o+eeem!o+errea"#on$#!.22

I" #$ no" d#$!"ed "a" "e a!!roved one +ear eave o ab$en-e (#"o" !a+ o '#ar#ae7!#red #n 191, (#"o" er, #" bear$ re!ea"#n, ree$"#n or e7"en$#on "ereo orno"#+#n !e"#"#oner $-oo # and (en $e (od re$me "ea-#n. Nor #$ #"d#$!"ed "a" $e (a$ re#red on+ #n 1982 a"er /#n ane( an a!!#-a"#on, (#"o"er !roer#n an+ e7!ana"#on or er more "an a de-ade o ab$en-e. @nder "e-#r-m$"an-e$, abandonmen" o (or= a" !e"#"#oner $-oo #n 191 #$ #ndb#"ab+man#e$".

A$ reard$ "e re#remen" o no"#-e o "erm#na"#on, #" (a$ error or "e CA "o a!!+Se- 2, Re I?, %oo= ? o "e Omn#b$ Re$ Im!emen"#n "e Labor Code.23 I"$od be no"ed "a" (en '#ar#a abandoned er "ea-#n !o$#"#on #n 191, "e a(#n or-e (a$ Re!b#- A-" 102 or "e Term#na"#on a+ La(, a$ amended b+ Re!b#-A-" 18, Se-"#on 1 o (#- !rov#de$:


13/21

SEC. 1. In -a$e$ o em!o+men", (#"o" a de/n#"e !er#od, #n a -ommer-#a,#nd$"r#a, or ar#-"ra e$"ab#$men" or en"er!r#$e, "e em!o+er or "e em!o+eema+ "erm#na"e a" an+ "#me "e em!o+

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

19 &a$aana Con-re"e rod-"$ v. Na"#ona Labor Rea"#on$ Comm#$$#on, 313 SCRAH, 92 ;1999< ;-#"a"#on$ om#""ed


14/21

men" (#" $" -a$e) or (#"o" $" -a$e #n "e -a$e o an em!o+ee b+ $erv#n(r#""en no"#-e on "e em!o+er a" ea$" one mon" #n advan-e, or #n "e -a$e o anem!o+er, b+ $erv#n $- no"#-e "o "e em!o+ee a" ea$" one mon" #n advan-e oronea mon" or ever+ +ear o $erv#-e o "e em!o+ee, (#-ever #$ oner, ara-"#on o a" ea$" $#7 mon"$ be#n -on$#dered a$ one (oe +ear.

Te em!o+er, !on (om no $- no"#-e (a$ $erved #n -a$e o "erm#na"#on oem!o+men" (#"o" $" -a$e ma+ od "e em!o+ee #abe or damae$.

Te em!o+ee, !on (om no $- no"#-e (a$ $erved #n -a$e o "erm#na"#on oem!o+men" (#"o" $" -a$e $a be en"#"ed "o -om!en$a"#on rom "e da"e o"erm#na"#on o #$ em!o+men" #n an amon" e#vaen" "o #$ $aar#e$ or (ae$-orre$!ond#n "o "e re#red !er#od o no"#-e.

7 7 7 ;Em!a$#$ and #"a#-$ $!!#ed>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

24 108 #. H28 ;19H0


16/21

!rev#o$ e#"een ;18< +ear$ o $erv#-e (#" !e"#"#oner, (od $#m!+ be -on$#dereda$ none7#$"en".

T#$ Cor" #$ no" nm#nd o '#ar#aB$ rend#"#on o a "o"a o "#r"+ +ear$ o "ea-#n

#n !e"#"#oner $-oo and $od be a--orded am!e $!!or" #n er "(##" +ear$.e"#"#oner $-oo #n a-" a-=no(ede$ er ded#-a"ed $erv#-e "o #"$ $"den"$. Se-an, o(ever, on+ be a(arded (#" (a" $e #$ r#"+ en"#"ed "o nder "e a(.So So$#"o v. A#nado eveo!men" Cor!ora"#on d#-"a"e$:2H

6#e "e Con$"#""#on #$ -omm#""ed "o "e !o#-+ o $o-#a $"#-e and "e !ro"e-"#ono "e (or=#n -a$$, #" $od no" be $!!o$ed "a" ever+ abor d#$!"e (# bea"oma"#-a+ de-#ded #n avor o abor. &anaemen" a$o a$ #"$ o(n r#"$ (#-,a$ $-, are en"#"ed "o re$!e-" and enor-emen" #n "e #n"ere$" o $#m!e a#r !a+.O" o #"$ -on-ern or "o$e (#" e$$ !r#v#ee #n #e, "#$ Cor" a$ #n-#ned more

o"en "an no" "o(ard "e (or=er and !ed #$ -a$e #n #$ -onU#-"$ (#" "eem!o+er. S- avor#"#$m, o(ever, a$ no" b#nded $ "o "e re "a" $"#-e #$ #never+ -a$e or "e de$erv#n, "o be d#$!en$ed #n "e #" o "e e$"ab#$ed a-"$and "e a!!#-abe a( and do-"r#ne.

A$ or "e r#n o "e CA aFrm#n "a" o "e NLRC "a" "e 12,000.00 ra"#"+!a+ ear#er a(arded "o '#ar#a $od no" be ded-"ed rom "e re"#remen" bene/"$de er, "e $ame #$ #n or

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2 220 SCRA 114 ;1993


17/21


der. Gra"#"+ !a+ #$ $e!ara"e and d#$"#n-" rom re"#remen" bene/"$. I" #$ !a#d !re+o" o enero$#"+. So Re!b#- an"er$ %an= v. NLRC2 od$:

Gra"#"+ !a+ 7 7 7 #$ !a#d "o "e bene/-#ar+ or "e !a$" $erv#-e$ or avor rendered!re+ o" o "e enero$#"+ o "e #ver or ran"or. Gra"#"+, "ereore, #$ no"#n"ended "o !a+ a (or=er or a-"a $erv#-e$ rendered or or a-"a !erorman-e. I" #$a mone+ bene/" or bon"+ #ven "o "e (or=er, "e !r!o$e o (#- #$ "o re(ardem!o+ee$ (o ave rendered $a"#$a-"or+ $erv#-e "o "e -om!an+. ;I"a#-$ $!!#ed

sta. catalina college vs. national labor relations commission, 416 scra 233(2003

Documents