5/8/2018 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 462

ROBERTO I. ROCOMORA, FERNANDO P. RODRIGUEZ,

HERNANDO S. RODRIGUEZ, ROMMEL D. ROXAS,
CHRISTOPHER R. RUSTIA, ARNULFO T. JAMISON,
MARIO G. SAN PEDRO, ELMER B. SANTOS, LEONARDO
SEBASTIAN, JR., CARMENCITO M. SEXON, JOSE STA.
ANA SIERRA, LLOYD Z. SINADJAN, RAMON S. SISIO,
RAMIRO M. SOLIS, MANUEL C. SUAREZ, BENJAMIN
TALAVERA, JR., OSCAR U. TAN, RICARDO S. TAN,
AUGUSTUS V. TANDOC, ROBERTO L. TAÑEDO, ERNESTO
R. TIBAY, CHARLIE P. TICSAY, REY DE VERE TIONGCO,
VIVENCIO B. TOLENTINO, OSMUNDO S. TORRES,
HILARIO L. VALDEZ, LEONARDO C. VALDEZ, PASTOR M.
VALENCIA, EFREN VELASCO, EDMUNDO D. VICTA,
FERDINAND VILLANUEVA, JOSE C. VILLANUEVA, JOSE
ROMMEL VILLAMOR, OLIVER P. VILLANUEVA, VICTOR
P. ZAFARALLA, HORACIO L. ZAPATERO, COENE C.
ZAPITER, THE HEIRS OF ESTEBAN BALDOZA, RUBEN
GALANG, FAUSTO S. CRUZ, REYNALDO BORJA,
CRISANTO CAGALINGAN and ADRIANO VICTORIA,
petitioners, vs. METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AND
SEWERAGE SYSTEM, respondents.

Labor Law; Court is committed to the policy of protecting the

rights of the workers and promote their welfare and has always been
quick to rise to defense in the rights of labor; Protection to labor
extends to all of labor—local and overseas, organized and unorganized
in the public and private sectors.—The Court has invariably affirmed
that it will not hesitate to tilt the scales of justice to the labor class for
no less than the Constitution dictates that “the State . . . shall protect
the rights of workers and promote their welfare.” It is committed to
this policy and has always been quick to rise to defense in the rights
of labor, as in this case. Protection to labor, it

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432 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Lopez vs. Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System

has been said, extends to all of labor—local and overseas, organized

and unorganized, in the public and private sectors. Besides, there is
no reason not to apply this principle in favor of workers in the
government. The government, including government­owned and
controlled corporations, as employers, should set the example in
upholding the rights and interests of the working class.
Same; Employer­employee Relationship; Four­fold Test to
Determine the Existence of Employer­employee Relationship; Control
test is the most important element.—For purposes of determining the
existence of employer­employee relationship, the Court has
consistently adhered to the four­fold test, namely: (1) whether the

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