Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
PEOPLES BROADCASTING
SERVICE (BOMBO RADYO
PHILS., INC.),
Petitioner,
- versus -
Promulgated:
March 6, 2012
x-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x
R E S O LUTIO N
VELASCO, JR., J.:
In a Petition for Certiorari under Rule 65, petitioner Peoples Broadcasting Service,
Inc. (Bombo Radyo Phils., Inc.) questioned the Decision and Resolution of the
Court of Appeals (CA) dated October 26, 2006 and June 26, 2007, respectively, in
C.A. G.R. CEB-SP No. 00855.
the Court of the clause in cases where the relationship of employer-employee still
exists in Art. 128(b).[5]
From this Decision, the Public Attorneys Office (PAO) filed a Motion for
Clarification of Decision (with Leave of Court). The PAO sought to clarify as to
when the visitorial and enforcement power of the DOLE be not considered as coextensive with the power to determine the existence of an employer-employee
relationship.[6] In its Comment,[7] the DOLE sought clarification as well, as to the
extent of its visitorial and enforcement power under the Labor Code, as amended.
The Court treated the Motion for Clarification as a second motion for
reconsideration, granting said motion and reinstating the petition. [8] It is apparent
that there is a need to delineate the jurisdiction of the DOLE Secretary vis--vis that
of the NLRC.
Under Art. 129 of the Labor Code, the power of the DOLE and its duly
authorized hearing officers to hear and decide any matter involving the recovery of
wages and other monetary claims and benefits was qualified by the proviso that the
complaint not include a claim for reinstatement, or that the aggregate money
claims not exceed PhP 5,000. RA 7730, or an Act Further Strengthening the
Visitorial and Enforcement Powers of the Secretary of Labor, did away with the
PhP 5,000 limitation, allowing the DOLE Secretary to exercise its visitorial and
enforcement power for claims beyond PhP 5,000. The only qualification to this
expanded power of the DOLE was only that there still be an existing employeremployee relationship.
It is conceded that if there is no employer-employee relationship, whether it
has been terminated or it has not existed from the start, the DOLE has no
jurisdiction. Under Art. 128(b) of the Labor Code, as amended by RA 7730, the
first sentence reads, Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 129 and 217 of this
Code to the contrary, and in cases where the relationship of employer-employee
still exists, the Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized
representatives shall have the power to issue compliance orders to give effect to the
labor standards provisions of this Code and other labor legislation based on the
findings of labor employment and enforcement officers or industrial safety
engineers made in the course of inspection. It is clear and beyond debate that an
employer-employee relationship must exist for the exercise of the visitorial and
enforcement power of the DOLE. The question now arises, may the DOLE make a
determination of whether or not an employer-employee relationship exists, and if
so, to what extent?
The first portion of the question must be answered in the affirmative.
The prior decision of this Court in the present case accepts such answer, but
places a limitation upon the power of the DOLE, that is, the determination of the
existence of an employer-employee relationship cannot be co-extensive with the
visitorial and enforcement power of the DOLE. But even in conceding the power
of the DOLE to determine the existence of an employer-employee relationship, the
Court held that the determination of the existence of an employer-employee
relationship is still primarily within the power of the NLRC, that any finding by the
DOLE is merely preliminary.
This conclusion must be revisited.
No limitation in the law was placed upon the power of the DOLE to
determine the existence of an employer-employee relationship. No procedure was
laid down where the DOLE would only make a preliminary finding, that the power
was primarily held by the NLRC. The law did not say that the DOLE would first
seek the NLRCs determination of the existence of an employer-employee
relationship, or that should the existence of the employer-employee relationship be
disputed, the DOLE would refer the matter to the NLRC. The DOLE must have the
power to determine whether or not an employer-employee relationship exists, and
from there to decide whether or not to issue compliance orders in accordance with
Art. 128(b) of the Labor Code, as amended by RA 7730.
The DOLE, in determining the existence of an employer-employee
relationship, has a ready set of guidelines to follow, the same guide the courts
themselves use. The elements to determine the existence of an employment
relationship are: (1) the selection and engagement of the employee; (2) the
payment of wages; (3) the power of dismissal; (4) the employers power to control
the employees conduct.[9] The use of this test is not solely limited to the NLRC.
The DOLE Secretary, or his or her representatives, can utilize the same test, even
in the course of inspection, making use of the same evidence that would have been
presented before the NLRC.
The determination of the existence of an employer-employee relationship by
the DOLE must be respected. The expanded visitorial and enforcement power of
the DOLE granted by RA 7730 would be rendered nugatory if the alleged
employer could, by the simple expedient of disputing the employer-employee
relationship, force the referral of the matter to the NLRC. The Court issued the
declaration that at least a prima facie showing of the absence of an employeremployee relationship be made to oust the DOLE of jurisdiction. But it is precisely
the DOLE that will be faced with that evidence, and it is the DOLE that will weigh
it, to see if the same does successfully refute the existence of an employeremployee relationship.
If the DOLE makes a finding that there is an existing employer-employee
relationship, it takes cognizance of the matter, to the exclusion of the NLRC. The
DOLE would have no jurisdiction only if the employer-employee relationship has
already been terminated, or it appears, upon review, that no employer-employee
relationship existed in the first place.
The Court, in limiting the power of the DOLE, gave the rationale that such
limitation would eliminate the prospect of competing conclusions between the
DOLE and the NLRC. The prospect of competing conclusions could just as well
have been eliminated by according respect to the DOLE findings, to the exclusion
of the NLRC, and this We believe is the more prudent course of action to take.
This is not to say that the determination by the DOLE is beyond question or
review. Suffice it to say, there are judicial remedies such as a petition for certiorari
under Rule 65 that may be availed of, should a party wish to dispute the findings of
the DOLE.
It must also be remembered that the power of the DOLE to determine the
existence of an employer-employee relationship need not necessarily result in an
affirmative finding. The DOLE may well make the determination that no
employer-employee relationship exists, thus divesting itself of jurisdiction over the
case. It must not be precluded from being able to reach its own conclusions, not by
the parties, and certainly not by this Court.
Under Art. 128(b) of the Labor Code, as amended by RA 7730, the DOLE is
fully empowered to make a determination as to the existence of an employeremployee relationship in the exercise of its visitorial and enforcement power,
subject to judicial review, not review by the NLRC.
There is a view that despite Art. 128(b) of the Labor Code, as amended by
RA 7730, there is still a threshold amount set by Arts. 129 and 217 of the Labor
Code when money claims are involved, i.e., that if it is for PhP 5,000 and below,
the jurisdiction is with the regional director of the DOLE, under Art. 129, and if the
amount involved exceeds PhP 5,000, the jurisdiction is with the labor arbiter, under
Art. 217. The view states that despite the wording of Art. 128(b), this would only
apply in the course of regular inspections undertaken by the DOLE, as
differentiated from cases under Arts. 129 and 217, which originate from
complaints. There are several cases, however, where the Court has ruled that Art.
128(b) has been amended to expand the powers of the DOLE Secretary and his
duly authorized representatives by RA 7730. In these cases, the Court resolved that
the DOLE had the jurisdiction, despite the amount of the money claims
involved. Furthermore, in these cases, the inspection held by the DOLE regional
director was prompted specifically by a complaint. Therefore, the initiation of a
case through a complaint does not divest the DOLE Secretary or his duly
authorized representative of jurisdiction under Art. 128(b).
To recapitulate, if a complaint is brought before the DOLE to give effect to
the labor standards provisions of the Labor Code or other labor legislation, and
there is a finding by the DOLE that there is an existing employer-employee
relationship, the DOLE exercises jurisdiction to the exclusion of the NLRC. If the
DOLE finds that there is no employer-employee relationship, the jurisdiction is
properly with the NLRC. If a complaint is filed with the DOLE, and it is
accompanied by a claim for reinstatement, the jurisdiction is properly with the
Labor Arbiter, under Art. 217(3) of the Labor Code, which provides that the Labor
Arbiter has original and exclusive jurisdiction over those cases involving wages,
rates of pay, hours of work, and other terms and conditions of employment, if
accompanied by a claim for reinstatement. If a complaint is filed with the NLRC,
and there is still an existing employer-employee relationship, the jurisdiction is
properly with the DOLE. The findings of the DOLE, however, may still be
questioned through a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.
In the present case, the finding of the DOLE Regional Director that there
was an employer-employee relationship has been subjected to review by this Court,
with the finding being that there was no employer-employee relationship between
petitioner and private respondent, based on the evidence presented. Private
respondent presented self-serving allegations as well as self-defeating evidence.
[10]
The findings of the Regional Director were not based on substantial evidence,
and private respondent failed to prove the existence of an employer-employee
relationship. The DOLE had no jurisdiction over the case, as there was no
employer-employee relationship present. Thus, the dismissal of the complaint
against petitioner is proper.
WHEREFORE, the Decision of this Court in G.R. No. 179652 is
hereby AFFIRMED, with the MODIFICATION that in the exercise of the
DOLEs visitorial and enforcement power, the Labor Secretary or the latters
authorized representative shall have the power to determine the existence of an
employer-employee relationship, to the exclusion of the NLRC.
SO ORDERED.
WE CONCUR:
RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice
ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Associate Justice
C E R T I F I C AT I O N
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, it is hereby certified that
the conclusions in the above Resolution had been reached in consultation before
the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court.
RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice
On official leave.
Peoples Broadcasting (Bombo Radyo Phils., Inc.) v. Secretary of the Department of Labor and
Employment, G.R. No. 179652, May 8, 2009, 587 SCRA 724, 738.
[2]
Id. at 739.
[3]
Id. at 740.
[4]
Id. at 763.
[5]
Id. at 744-745.
[6]
Rollo, p. 329.
[7]
Id. at 335.
[8]
Resolution, Peoples Broadcasting (Bombo Radyo Phils., Inc.) v. Secretary of the Department of Labor
and Employment, G.R. No. 179652, January 24, 2011.
[9]
CRC Agricultural Trading v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. No. 177664, December 23,
2009, 609 SCRA 138, 146.
[10]
Peoples Broadcasting (Bombo Radyo Phils., Inc.) v. Secretary of the Department of Labor and
Employment, supra note 1, at 761.
[1]
SECOND DIVISION
PEOPLES BROADCASTING G.R. No. 179652
(BOMBO RADYO PHILS., INC.),
Petitioner, Present:
CARPIO MORALES, J.,*
Acting Chairperson,
- versus - TINGA,
VELASCO, JR.,
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,** and
BRION, JJ.
DECISION
TINGA, J.:
The present controversy concerns a matter of first impression, requiring as it
does the determination of the demarcation line between the prerogative of the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary and his duly authorized
representatives, on the one hand, and the jurisdiction of the National Labor
Relations Commission, on the other, under Article 128 (b) of the Labor Code in an
instance where the employer has challenged the jurisdiction of the DOLE at the
very first level on the ground that no employer-employee relationship ever existed
between the parties.
I.
The instant petition for certiorari under Rule 65 assails the decision and the
resolution of the Court of Appeals dated 26 October 2006 and 26 June 2007,
respectively, in C.A. G.R. CEB-SP No. 00855.[1]
The petition traces its origins to a complaint filed by Jandeleon Juezan
(respondent) against Peoples Broadcasting Service, Inc. (Bombo Radyo Phils., Inc)
(petitioner) for illegal deduction, non-payment of service incentive leave,
13th month pay, premium pay for holiday and rest day and illegal diminution of
benefits, delayed payment of wages and non-coverage of SSS, PAG-IBIG and
Philhealth before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
Regional Office No. VII, Cebu City.[2] On the basis of the complaint, the DOLE
Petitioner was required to rectify/restitute the violations within five (5) days from
receipt. No rectification was effected by petitioner; thus, summary investigations
were conducted, with the parties eventually ordered to submit their respective
position papers.[6]
In his Order dated 27 February 2004,[7] DOLE Regional Director Atty. Rodolfo M.
Sabulao (Regional Director) ruled that respondent is an employee of petitioner, and
that the former is entitled to his money claims amounting to P203,726.30.
Petitioner sought reconsideration of the Order, claiming that the Regional Director
gave credence to the documents offered by respondent without examining the
originals, but at the same time he missed or failed to consider
petitioners evidence. Petitioners motion for reconsideration was denied.[8] On
appeal to the DOLE Secretary, petitioner denied once more the existence of
employer-employee relationship. In its Order dated 27 January 2005, the Acting
DOLE Secretary dismissed the appeal on the ground that petitioner did not post a
cash or surety bond and instead submitted a Deed of Assignment of Bank Deposit.
[9]
Petitioner elevated the case to the Court of Appeals, claiming that it was denied
due process when the DOLE Secretary disregarded the evidence it presented and
failed to give it the opportunity to refute the claims of respondent. Petitioner
maintained that there is no employer-employee relationship had ever existed
between it and respondent because it was the drama directors and producers who
paid, supervised and disciplined respondent. It also added that the case was beyond
the jurisdiction of the DOLE and should have been considered by the labor arbiter
because respondents claim exceeded P5,000.00.
The Court of Appeals held that petitioner was not deprived of due process as the
essence thereof is only an opportunity to be heard, which petitioner had when it
filed a motion for reconsideration with the DOLE Secretary. It further ruled that the
latter had the power to order and enforce compliance with labor standard laws
irrespective of the amount of individual claims because the limitation imposed by
Article 29 of the Labor Code had been repealed by Republic Act No. 7730.
[10]
Petitioner sought reconsideration of the decision but its motion was denied.[11]
Before this Court, petitioner argues that the National Labor Relations Commission
(NLRC), and not the DOLE Secretary, has jurisdiction over respondents claim, in
view of Articles 217 and 128 of the Labor Code.[12] It adds that the Court of
Appeals committed grave abuse of discretion when it dismissed petitioners appeal
without delving on the issues raised therein, particularly the claim that no
employer-employee relationship had ever existed between petitioner and
respondent. Finally, petitioner avers that there is no appeal, or any plain, speedy
and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law available to it.
On the other hand, respondent posits that the Court of Appeals did not abuse its
discretion. He invokes Republic Act No. 7730, which removes the jurisdiction of
the Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized representatives,
from the effects of the restrictive provisions of Article 129 and 217 of the Labor
Code, regarding the confinement of jurisdiction based on the amount of claims.
[13]
Respondent also claims that petitioner was not denied due process since even
when the case was with the Regional Director, a hearing was conducted and pieces
of evidence were presented. Respondent stands by the propriety of the Court of
Appeals ruling that there exists an employer-employee relationship between him
and petitioner. Finally, respondent argues that the instant petition for certiorari is a
wrong mode of appeal considering that petitioner had earlier filed a Petition for
Certiorari, Mandamus and Prohibition with the Court of Appeals; petitioner,
instead, should have filed a Petition for Review.[14]
II.
The significance of this case may be reduced to one simple questiondoes the
Secretary of Labor have the power to determine the existence of an employeremployee relationship?
To resolve this pivotal issue, one must look into the extent of the visitorial and
enforcement power of the DOLE found in Article 128 (b) of the Labor Code, as
amended by Republic Act 7730. It reads:
Article 128 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 129 and 217 of this
Code to the contrary, and in cases where the relationship of employer-employee
still exists, the Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized
representatives shall have the power to issue compliance orders to give effect to
the labor standards provisions of this Code and other labor legislation based
on the findings of labor employment and enforcement officers or industrial safety
engineers made in the course of inspection. The Secretary or his duly authorized
representative shall issue writs of execution to the appropriate authority for the
enforcement of their orders, except in cases where the employer contests the
findings of the labor employment and enforcement officer and raises issues
supported by documentary proofs which were not considered in the course of
inspection. (emphasis supplied)
xxx
The provision is quite explicit that the visitorial and enforcement power of
the DOLE comes into play only in cases when the relationship of employeremployee still exists. It also underscores the avowed objective underlying the grant
of power to the DOLE which is to give effect to the labor standard provision of this
Code and other labor legislation. Of course, a persons entitlement to labor standard
benefits under the labor laws presupposes the existence of employer-employee
relationship in the first place.
In the recent case of Bay Haven, Inc. v. Abuan,[16] this Court recognized the
first situation and accordingly ruled that a complainants allegation of his
illegal dismissal had deprived the DOLE of jurisdiction as per Article 217 of the
Labor Code.[17]
In the first situation, the claim has to be referred to the NLRC because it is the
NLRC which has jurisdiction in view of the termination of the employer-employee
relationship. The same procedure has to be followed in the second situation since it
is the NLRC that has jurisdiction in view of the absence of employer-employee
relationship between the evidentiary parties from the start.
Clearly the law accords a prerogative to the NLRC over the claim when the
employer-employee relationship has terminated or such relationship has not arisen
at all. The reason is obvious. In the second situation especially, the existence of an
employer-employee relationship is a matter which is not easily determinable from
office are the primary source materials, what may prove decisive are factors related
to the history of the employers business operations, its current state as well as
accepted contemporary practices in the industry. More often than not, the question
of employer-employee relationship becomes a battle of evidence, the determination
of which should becomprehensive and intensive and therefore best left to the
specialized quasi-judicial body that is the NLRC.
It can be assumed that the DOLE in the exercise of its visitorial and
enforcement power somehow has to make a determination of the existence of
an employer-employee relationship. Such prerogatival determination,
however, cannot be coextensive with the visitorial and enforcement power
itself. Indeed, such determination is merely preliminary, incidental and
collateral to the DOLEs primary function of enforcing labor standards
provisions. The determination of the existence of employer-employee
relationship is still primarily lodged with the NLRC. This is the meaning of
the clause in cases where the relationship of employer-employee still exists in
Art. 128 (b).
Thus, before the DOLE may exercise its powers under Article 128, two
important questions must be resolved: (1) Does the employer-employee
relationship still exist, or alternatively, was there ever an employer-employee
relationship to speak of; and (2) Are there violations of the Labor Code or of any
labor law?
requisite, as the dissent proposes, his office confers jurisdiction on itself which it
cannot otherwise acquire.
The approach suggested by the dissent is frowned upon by common law. To wit:
[I]t is a general rule, that no court of limited jurisdiction can give itself
jurisdiction by a wrong decision on a point collateral to the merits of the case
upon which the limit to its jurisdiction depends; and however its decision may
be final on all particulars, making up together that subject matter which, if true, is
within its jurisdiction, and however necessary in many cases it may be for it to
make a preliminary inquiry, whether some collateral matter be or be not within the
limits, yet, upon this preliminary question, its decision must always be open to
inquiry in the superior court.[18]
to complain with the DOLE, and, at the same time, petitioner could ill-afford to
disclaim an employment relationship with all of the people under its aegis.
Without a doubt, petitioner, since the inception of this case had been
consistent in maintaining that respondent is not its employee. Certainly, a
preliminary determination, based on the evidence offered, and noted by the Labor
Inspector during the inspection as well as submitted during the proceedings before
the Regional Director puts in genuine doubt the existence of employer-employee
relationship. From that point on, the prudent recourse on the part of the DOLE
should have been to refer respondent to the NLRC for the proper dispensation of
his claims. Furthermore, as discussed earlier, even the evidence relied on by the
Regional Director in his order are mere self-serving declarations of respondent, and
hence cannot be relied upon as proof of employer-employee relationship.
III.
Aside from lack of jurisdiction, there is another cogent reason to to set aside
the Regional Directors 27 February 2004 Order. A careful study of the case reveals
that the said Order, which found respondent as an employee of petitioner and
directed the payment of respondents money claims, is not supported by substantial
evidence, and was even made in disregard of the evidence on record.
It is not enough that the evidence be simply considered. The standard is
substantial evidence as in all other quasi-judicial agencies. The standard employed
in the last sentence of Article 128(b) of the Labor Code that the documentary
proofs be considered in the course of inspection does not apply. It applies only to
issues other than the fundamental issue of existence of employer-employee
relationship. A contrary rule would lead to controversies on the part of labor
officials in resolving the issue of employer-employee relationship. The onset of
arbitrariness is the advent of denial of substantive due process.
As a general rule, the Supreme Court is not a trier of facts. This applies with
greater force in cases before quasi-judicial agencies whose findings of fact
are accorded great respect and even finality. To be sure, the same findings should
be supported by substantial evidence from which the said tribunals can make its
own independent evaluation of the facts. Likewise, it must not be rendered with
grave abuse of discretion; otherwise, this Court will not uphold the tribunals
conclusion.[20] In the same manner, this Court will not hesitate to set aside the labor
tribunals findings of fact when it is clearly shown that they were arrived at
arbitrarily or in disregard of the evidence on record or when there is showing of
fraud or error of law.[21]
At the onset, it is the Courts considered view that the existence of employeremployee relationship could have been easily resolved, or at least prima
facie determined by the labor inspector, during the inspection by looking at the
records of petitioner which can be found in the work premises. Nevertheless, even
if the labor inspector had noted petitioners manifestation and documents in
the Notice of Inspection Results, it is clear that he did not give much credence to
said evidence, as he did not find the need to investigate the matter
further. Considering that the documents shown by petitioner, namely: cash
vouchers, checks and statements of account, summary billings evidencing payment
to the alleged real employer of respondent, letter-contracts denominated as
Employment for a Specific Undertaking, prima facie negate the existence of
employer-employee relationship, the labor inspector could have exerted a bit more
effort and looked into petitioners payroll, for example, or its roll of employees, or
interviewed other employees in the premises. After all, the labor inspector, as a
labor regulation officer is given access to employers records and premises at any
time of day or night whenever work is being undertaken therein, and the right to
copy therefrom, to question any employee and investigate any fact, condition or
matter which may be necessary to determine violations or which may aid in the
enforcement of this Code and of any labor law, wage order or rules and regulations
pursuant thereto.[22] Despite these far-reaching powers of labor regulation officers,
records reveal that no additional efforts were exerted in the course of the
inspection.
The Court further examined the records and discovered to its dismay that even
the Regional Director turned a blind eye to the evidence presented by petitioner
and relied instead on the self-serving claims of respondent.
In his position paper, respondent claimed that he was hired by petitioner in
September 1996 as a radio talent/spinner, working from 8:00 am until 5 p.m., six
On the other hand, petitioner maintained in its position paper that respondent
had never been its employee. Attached as annexes to its position paper are
photocopies of cash vouchers it issued to drama producers, as well as letters of
employment captioned Employment for a Specific Undertaking, wherein
respondent was appointed by different drama directors as spinner/narrator for
specific radio programs.[25]
This is to certify that the person whose picture and signature appear
hereon is an employee of Bombo Radio Philippines.
2.
Respondent tried to address the discrepancy between his identification card and
the standard identification cards issued by petitioner to its employees by arguing
that what he annexed to his position paper was the old identification card issued to
him by petitioner. He then presented a photocopy of another old identification card,
this time purportedly issued to one of the employees who was issued the new
identification card presented by petitioner.[29] Respondents argument does not
convince. If it were true that he is an employee of petitioner, he would have been
issued a new identification card similar to the ones presented by petitioner, and he
should have presented a copy of such new identification card. His failure to show a
new identification card merely demonstrates that what he has is only his Media ID,
which does not constitute proof of his employment with petitioner.
It has long been established that in administrative and quasi-judicial
proceedings, substantial evidence is sufficient as a basis for judgment on the
existence of employer-employee relationship. Substantial evidence, which is the
quantum of proof required in labor cases, is that amount of relevant evidence
which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to justify a conclusion. [30] No
particular form of evidence is required to prove the existence of such employeremployee relationship. Any competent and relevant evidence to prove the
relationship may be admitted.[31] Hence, while no particular form of evidence is
required, a finding that such relationship exists must still rest on some substantial
evidence. Moreover, the substantiality of the evidence depends on its quantitative
as well as its qualitative aspects.[32]
In the instant case, save for respondents self-serving allegations and selfdefeating evidence, there is no substantial basis to warrant the Regional Directors
IV.
The records show that petitioners appeal was denied because it had allegedly failed
to post a cash or surety bond. What it attached instead to its appeal was the Letter
Agreement[34] executed by petitioner and its bank, the cash voucher,
[35]
and the Deed of Assignment of Bank Deposits.[36] According to the DOLE, these
documents do not constitute the cash or surety bond contemplated by law; thus, it
is as if no cash or surety bond was posted when it filed its appeal.
The Court does not agree.
The provision on appeals from the DOLE Regional Offices to the DOLE Secretary
is in the last paragraph of Art. 128 (b) of the Labor Code, which reads:
An order issued by the duly authorized representative of the Secretary of
Labor and Employment under this article may be appealed to the latter. In case
said order involves a monetary award, an appeal by the employer may be
perfected only upon the posting of a cash or surety bond issued by a reputable
bonding company duly accredited by the Secretary of Labor and Employment
in the amount equivalent to the monetary award in the order appealed
from. (emphasis supplied)
The Deed of Assignment must be distinguished from the type of bank certification
submitted by appellants in Cordova v. Keysas Boutique,[41] wherein this Court
found that such bank certification did not come close to the cash or surety bond
required by law. The bank certification in Cordova merely stated that the employer
maintains a depository account with a balance of P23,008.19, and that the
certification was issued upon the depositors request for whatever legal purposes it
may serve. There was no indication that the said deposit was made specifically for
the pending appeal, as in the instant case. Thus, the Court ruled that the bank
certification had not in any way ensured that the award would be paid should the
appeal fail. Neither was the appellee in the case prevented from making
withdrawals from the savings account. Finally, the amount deposited was measly
compared to the total monetary award in the judgment.[42]
V.
Another question of technicality was posed against the instant petition in the hope
that it would not be given due course. Respondent asserts that petitioner pursued
the wrong mode of appeal and thus the instant petition must be dismissed. Once
more, the Court is not convinced.
A petition for certiorari is the proper remedy when any tribunal, board or
officer exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions has acted without or in excess
of its jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of
jurisdiction and there is no appeal, nor any plain speedy, and adequate remedy at
law. There is grave abuse of discretion when respondent acts in a capricious or
whimsical manner in the exercise of its judgment as to be equivalent to lack of
jurisdiction.[43]
Respondent may have a point in asserting that in this case a Rule 65 petition
is a wrong mode of appeal, as indeed the writ of certiorari is an extraordinary
remedy, and certiorari jurisdiction is not to be equated with appellate
jurisdiction. Nevertheless, it is settled, as a general proposition, that the availability
of an appeal does not foreclose recourse to the extraordinary remedies, such
as certiorari and prohibition, where appeal is not adequate or equally beneficial,
speedy and sufficient, as where the orders of the trial court were issued in excess of
therein.[50] The rules were also relaxed by the Court after considering the public
interest involved in the case;[51] when public welfare and the advancement of public
policy dictates; when the broader interest of justice so requires; when the writs
issued are null and void; or when the questioned order amounts to an oppressive
exercise of judicial authority.[52]
The peculiar circumstances of this case warrant, as we held in Republic v.
Court of Appeals, 107 SCRA 504, 524, the exercise once more of our exclusive
prerogative to suspend our own rules or to exempt a particular case from its
operation as in x x Republic of the Philippines v. Court of Appeals, et al., (83
SCRA 453, 478-480 [1978]), thus: x x The Rules have been drafted with the
primary objective of enhancing fair trials and expediting justice. As a corollary, if
their applications and operation tend to subvert and defeat instead of promote and
enhance it, their suspension is justified.[53]
The Regional Director fully relied on the self-serving allegations of
respondent and misinterpreted the documents presented as evidence by respondent.
To make matters worse, DOLE denied petitioners appeal based solely
on petitioners alleged failure to file a cash or surety bond, without any discussion
on the merits of the case. Since the petition for certiorari before the Court of
Appeals sought the reversal of the two aforesaid orders, the appellate court
necessarily had to examine the evidence anew to determine whether the
conclusions of the DOLE were supported by the evidence presented. It appears,
however, that the Court of Appeals did not even review the assailed orders and
focused instead on a general discussion of due process and the jurisdiction of the
Regional Director. Had the appellate court truly reviewed the records of the case, it
would have seen that there existed valid and sufficient grounds for finding grave
abuse of discretion on the part of the DOLE Secretary as well the Regional
Director. In ruling and acting as it did, the Court finds that the Court of Appeals
may be properly subjected to its certiorari jurisdiction. After all, this Court has
previously ruled that the extraordinary writ of certiorari willlie if it is satisfactorily
established that the tribunal had acted capriciously and whimsically in total
disregard of evidence material to or even decisive of the controversy.[54]
The most important consideration for the allowance of the instant petition is
the opportunity for the Court not only to set the demarcation between the
NLRCs jurisdiction and the DOLEs prerogative but also the procedure
when the case involves the fundamental challenge on the DOLEs prerogative
based on lack of employer-employee relationship. As exhaustively discussed
here, the DOLEs prerogative hinges on the existence of employer-employee
relationship, the issue is which is at the very heart of this case. And the
evidence clearly indicates private respondent has never been petitioners
employee. But the DOLE did not address, while the Court of Appeals glossed
over, the issue. The peremptory dismissal of the instant petition on a
technicality would deprive the Court of the opportunity to resolve thenovel
controversy.
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The Decision dated 26 October
2006 and the Resolution dated 26 June 2007 of the Court of Appeals in C.A. G.R.
CEB-SP No. 00855 are REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The Order of the then
Acting
Secretary
of
the
Department
of
Labor and Employment dated 27 January 2005 denying petitioners
appeal, and the Orders of the Director, DOLE Regional Office No. VII, dated 24
May 2004 and 27 February 2004, respectively, are ANNULLED. The complaint
against petitioner is DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.
DANTE O. TINGA
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice
ATTESTATION
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in
consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the
Courts Division.
above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was
assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Courts Division.
REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief Justice
Acting Chairperson.
**
Per Special Order No. 619, Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro is hereby designated as additional
member of the Second Division in lieu of Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing, who is on official leave
[1]
Peoples Broadcasting Service (Bombo Radyo Phils., Inc) v. The Secretary of the Department of Labor
and Employment, the Regional Director, DOLE Region VII and Jandeleon Juezan, rollo, pp. 38-43 and 56,
respectively. Penned by Associate Justice Pampio A. Abarintos, with Associate Justices Agustin S. Dizon and
Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla, concurring.
[2]
[3]
Id. at 92.
[4]
Id. at 94.
[5]
Id.
[6]
Per Minutes of the 11 November 2003 Summary Proceeding, DOLE records, p. 24.
[7]
[8]
[9]
Id. at 217-219.
[10]
[11]
[13]
Rollo, p. 131.
[14]
[15]
Dated 16 September 1987 issued by then DOLE Secretary Franklin M. Drilon. The same Rules are used
up to the present.
[16]
G.R. No. 160859, 30 July 2008, 560 SCRA 457.
[17]
Id. at 469. The Court made the ruling only as regards respondent Abuan who had made a claim of illegal
dismissal but qualified that the same (the ruling) does not hold for the rest of respondents, who do not claim to have
illegally dismissed.
[18]
Bunbury v. Fuller 9 Ex. 111, 140 (1853), cited in CASES, MATERIALS AND COMMENTARY ON
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW by S.H. Bailey, B.L. Jones, A.R. Mowbray, p. 423. This view is more popularly called
the preliminary or collateral question.
[19]
Re Ontario Nurses Association v. Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal and Glengarry Memorial Hospital, 10
April 1995, Decision of the Ontario Court of Appeals.
[20]
[21]
[22]
Felix v. Enertech Systems Industries, Inc., G.R. No. 142007, 28 March 2001, 355 SCRA 680.
LABOR CODE, Art. 128 (a).
[23]
[24]
Id. at 28.
[25]
Id. at 44-49.
[26]
[27]
Issued by then Minister of Labor Blas F. Ople on 8 January 1979, it governs the employer-employee
relationship, hours of work and disputes settlement in the broadcast industry.
[28]
Sonza v. ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, G.R. No. 138051, 10 June 2004, 431 SCRA 583,606.
[29]
The argument was made in respondents Comments on Respondents Motion for Reconsideration, DOLE
Records, pp. 135-138, photocopy of the identification card is on p. 134.
[30]
[31]
Opulencia Ice Plant and Storage v. NLRC, G.R. No. 98368, 15 December 1993, 228 SCRA 473.
[32]
Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd. Employees Association-Natu, et al. v. Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd.,
et al., G.R. No. L-25291, 10 March 1977, 76 SCRA 51.
[33]
Pacific Maritime Services, Inc., et al. v. Nicanor Ranay, et al., G.R. No. 111002, July 21, 1997, 275 SCRA 717.
[34]
[35]
Id. at 208.
[36]
Id. at 207.
[37]
Orozco v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 155207, 29 April 2005, 457 SCRA 700, 709, citations omitted.
[38]
Nicol v. Footjoy Industrial Corp., G.R. No. 159372, 27 July 2007, 528 SCRA 300, 318.
[39]
The Letter Agreement contains the interest rate for the deposit, the maturity date, the stipulated interest
rates in case the principal is withdrawn within a certain period, as well as the 20% withholding tax.
[40]
Cordova v. Keysas Boutique, G.R. No. 156379, 16 September 2005, 470 SCRA 144, 154, citing Your
Bus Lines v. NLRC, G.R. No. 93381, 28 September 1990, 190 SCRA 160.
[41]
Id.
[42]
Id. In this case, the bank certification merely stated that the spouses/ employer have/has a depository
account containing a certain amount, and that the certification was issued upon the clients request for whatever legal
purposes it may serve them. There was no indication that the said deposit was made specifically for the pending
appeal, as in the instant case.
[43]
Condo Suite Club Travel, Inc. v. NLRC, G. R. No. 125671, January 28, 2000, 323 SCRA 679.
Provident International Resources Corp. v. Court of Appeals, G. R. No. 119328, 26 July 1996, 259
[44]
SCRA 510.
[45]
Conti v. Court of Appeals, G. R. No. 134441, 19 May 1999, 307 SCRA 486 citing Detective & Protective
Bureau v. Cloribel, L-23428, 29 November 1968, 26 SCRA 255 and Matute v. Court of Appeals, L-26085, 31
January 1969, 26 SCRA 768.
[46]
[47]
Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc. v. IAC, L-74369, 29 January 1988, 157 SCRA 706,715.
[48]
Gutib v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 131209, 13 August 1999, 312 SCRA 365.
[49]
Santo Tomas University Hospital v. Surla, G.R. No. 129718, 17 August 1998, 294 SCRA 382.
[50]
Filoteo v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 79543, 16 October 1996, 263 SCRA 222.
[51]
[52]
Chua, et al. v. Santos, G.R. No. 132467, 440 SCRA 365, 374-375, citing MMDA v. JANCON
Environmental Corp., G.R. No. 147465, 30 January 2002, 375 SCRA 320.
[53]
Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc. v. IAC, L-74369, 29 January 1988, 157 SCRA 706, 716, citing Republic
v. Court of Appeals, L-54886, 10 September 1981, 107 SCRA 504 and Republic v. Court of Appeals, L-31303-04, 31
May 1978, 83 SCRA 459..
[54]