Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 159170. August 12, 2005
EQUITABLE PCIBANK and WILFREDO VERGARA, Petitioners,
vs.
GENEROSA A. CAGUIOA, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
PANGANIBAN, J.:
Inasmuch as the factual findings of the Court of Appeals and the National Labor Relations Commission were contrary to those of the labor arbiter, this Court waded into the records of this case to resolve the conflict. This recourse was necessary to accord substantial justice to the parties.
The Case
Before us is a Petition for Review1 under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, challenging the May 30, 2003 Decision2 and July 15, 2003 Resolution of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-GR SP No. 71507. The assailed Decision disposed thus:
"WHEREFORE, finding the instant petition not impressed with merit, the same is hereby DENIED DUE COURSE. Costs against petitioners."3
The July 15, 2003 Resolution denied petitioners’ Motion for Reconsideration.
The Facts
The antecedents as summarized by the CA are as follows:
"Senior Manager Generosa A. Caguioa filed this complaint for illegal dismissal, payment of salary, allowances, retirement benefits, 13th month pay, moral and exemplary damages, and actual damages on October 8, 2000 against Equitable PCI Bank. She indicated that she was hired in May 1963 and received a total monthly pay of ₱39,630.00 at the time of her dismissal on October 6, 2000.
"In her Position Paper, she alleged that, assigned at respondent’s EDSA-Balintawak Branch, EDSA, Balintawak, Quezon City, she had served the respondent bank for 35 years when discharged. On February 3, 2000, George L. Go, respondent’s Chairman of the Board, called her attention to the complaint of client Antonio Jarina regarding an ‘accounting activities,’ involving her participation, which cost him considerable damage. It was about bank checks, which were issued to Jarina in exchange for cash at a discounted rate -- all by means of his own capital. The ‘scheme failed,’ resulting in his loss of investments amounting to ₱4,325,051.65. The complainant explained on February 8, 2000, vehemently denying any knowledge of the discounting activities. On June 1, 2000, she received another Memorandum dated May 29, 2000 from First Vice-president and Internal Auditor Jose G. Nuguid, directing her to explain and show cause why she ‘should not be administratively/financially dealt with the bank’s Code of Conduct’ in connection with the aforementioned incidents. She wrote her explanation on June 2, 2000. On September 15, 2000, respondent’s Bankwide Evaluation Committee (BEC) issued a Decision Memo, finding her guilty of (sic) ‘having personally participated in the check discounting activity of Mr. Antonio Jarina, and therefrom, personally benefited/profited to the prejudice of the bank.’ She would be dismissed with automatic forfeiture of benefits. She appealed on September 21, 2000 to BEC and on October 3, 2000, the respondent denied her appeal and issued the termination letter dated October 5, 2000. She alleged further that from her dismissal on October 2000, respondent has refused to pay her salaries, wages and benefits; and by reason of her wanton, arbitrary and illegal dismissal, she suffered damages and incurred expenses, which should be assessed, in her favor. Documents marked as Annexes A to H-2 are attached to support her allegations.
"The respondents in their Position Paper asserted that on October 28, 2000, bank client Antonio Jarina lodged a complaint against herein complainant Generosa Caguioa, Ruth Amador and Arlene Pascual, accusing them of luring him to change his investment with the bank into another kind of investment which would (sic) him a higher or better yield. The scheme required Jarina’s withdrawal of his deposits in the bank to be made use of (sic) in check discounting as facilitated by the complainant who was the Branch Manager of respondent Bank’s branch in EDSA-Balintawak, Amador and Pascual, outside the respondent bank’s operations. Jarina initially benefited from the ‘new transactions’ but in August 1997, no further interest was credited into his account and his ‘principal’ had not been returned to him. When George Go directed the complainant to explain, she pointed to Arlene Pascual as the culprit and claimed that Jarina picked on her as Ms. Pascual had already resigned and moved to the United States. Jarina followed up the status of his complaint with the manager of the bank’s New York Branch, Eduardo Tee, who in turn traced out Evelyn Magadia who possessed documents, which could help in the investigation. Tee contacted Magadia and the latter agreed to turn over the documents that Jarina referred to. Magadia defended Arlene, saying that Arlene would not have acted on her own had it not been for the instigation of complainant Genie Caguioa and Ruth Amador. x x x. Magadia even declared that she liaised for Arlene Pascual in the check discounting transactions, and Arlene would sometimes instruct her to go to the Bank’s New York branch in order to pick up and deliver envelopes containing cash to complainant Genie Caguioa in the Bank’s branch in Marikina where the latter was branch manager. Magadia stated that the envelopes containing cash were the complainant’s shares in the proceeds of the check discounting activity. After a thorough investigation, the respondent Bank found sufficient cause to dismiss the complainant for violation of the Code of Conduct, Class D 3 on offense on Loyalty and Class D on offense on Honesty. Since Arlene Pascual had already resigned and Ruth Amador retired prior to the Bank’s knowledge of Jarina’s complaint, only the complainant was served a show-cause memorandum and ultimately discharged.
"In issuing his Decision dated February 27, 2000, the Labor Arbiter upheld the dismissal of private respondent Caguioa and ruled that ‘the respondent Bank in a valid exercise of management prerogative terminated her employment, finding her to have violated its Code of Conduct, Class D on Loyalty and Class D on Honesty.’
"Not satisfied with the Decision, private respondent filed her Memorandum on Appeal contending that the Labor Arbiter erred in the appreciation of facts and in disregarding private respondent’s objections to the evidence presented by herein petitioners. Petitioners submitted their Opposition, dated April 16, 2001 wherein they argued mainly that private respondent ‘has failed to show any serious error upon which the appeal should be granted.’
"On August 30, 2001, public respondent came out with its Decision, the dispositive portion of which states:
‘WHEREFORE, all the foregoing duly considered, the decision appealed from is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Complainant-appellant’s dismissal is hereby declared illegal and invalid and, accordingly, her immediate reinstatement without loss of benefits and seniority rights is hereby ordered.
‘Respondents-appellees are further ordered to pay unto the complainant-appellant all unpaid wages and other benefits as soon as the same shall have been duly computed by the Arbitration Branch of this Commission.
‘Finally, the respondent-appellees are hereby ordered to pay the complainant-appellant the sum equivalent to 10% of the awarded money claims as Attorney’s fees. For failure of the complainant-appellant, however to prove other damages, the same are deemed dismissed.
‘SO ORDERED.’"4
Subsequently, petitioners elevated the matter to the CA.
Ruling of the Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals found that the alleged revelations made by Evelyn Magadia were insufficient to justify the dismissal of Generosa A. Caguioa. It considered those revelations hearsay for failure of petitioners to produce Ms. Magadia’s Sworn Statement.
The CA held that Caguioa had been "illegally dismissed from employment for lack of clear and convincing evidence which establish her direct participation in the alleged check discounting activity/transaction remotely detrimental to the business and interest of the petitioner bank."5
Hence, this Petition.6
Issues
In their Memorandum, petitioners raise the following issues for our consideration:
"I
Whether or not the Court of Appeals gravely erred in not considering all of the evidence on record in violation of petitioners’ right to due process and whether or not the totality of the evidence proves that the bank legally terminated the employment of respondent.
"II
Whether or not the Court of Appeals gravely erred in ruling that the information provided by Mrs. Magadia and the complaint of Mr. Jarina were hearsay."7
The Court’s Ruling
The Petition has merit.
First Issue:
Consideration of All the Evidence Presented
As a rule, only questions of law may be raised in a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. However, the Court is not proscribed from determining and resolving factual issues where, as in the present case, (a) the findings and conclusions of the labor arbiter, on one hand, and the NLRC and the CA, on the other, are inconsistent on material and substantial points; (b) the findings of the NLRC and the CA are capricious and arbitrary;8 and (c) the CA’s findings that are premised on a supposed absence of evidence are in fact contradicted by the evidence on record.9
Due process requires that in reaching a decision, a tribunal must consider the entire evidence presented. Thus, it must (1) accord all contending parties the opportunity to be heard and (2) consider every piece of evidence presented in favor of each party.10 Based on this principle, we shall now examine the evidence on record.
Petitioner bank found that Caguioa was guilty of violations of its Code of Conduct,11 and that such violations warranted her dismissal from the service and constituted a just cause for terminating her employment under Article 282(c)12 of the Labor Code. Consequently, the Bankwide Evaluation Committee (BEC) decided to impose on her "the principal penalty of DISMISSAL FROM EMPLOYMENT with automatic forfeiture of benefits."13
As the employer, petitioner bank has the burden of proving the legality of respondent’s dismissal.14 The petitioners’ case rises or falls on the strength of the employer’s evidence, not on the weakness of the employee’s defense.15 The employer, however, needs only to adduce substantial evidence,16 which has been defined to be such relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.17
The records show that more than substantial evidence supports the labor arbiter’s finding that respondent had direct participation in the check-discounting scheme, and that her dismissal was valid. Petitioners submitted to the labor arbiter the following relevant and material pieces of evidence:
1. The letter18 of Antonio Jarina to the bank, naming Caguioa as one of the three bank personnel who used his deposit/funds in "another kind of investment which would earn higher or better yield."
2. Affidavit19 of Jose L. Sibayan Jr., an audit examiner tasked to investigate the complaint, stating that Evelyn Magadia relayed to him her knowledge on the matter. In the custody of Magadia were certain documents which helped in his investigation. He saw these documents and supervised their photocopying after Magadia refused to part with the originals.
3. A schedule20 based on the bank records of Jarina and respondent which clearly shows that:
"x x x (a) deposits were made to respondent’s bank account at or about the same dates as the deposits to Mr. Jarina’s bank account; (b) with the exception of only one deposit, the amounts of the deposits to respondent’s bank account tallied with the amounts that respondent received as her share in the profits as shown in Ms. Pascual’s ledger; and (iii) the corresponding deposits to the respective bank accounts of Mr. Jarina and respondent generally reflected the 60-40 profit sharing arrangement under the unauthorized check discounting transactions."21
4. September 26, 1997 letter22 of respondent addressed to Atty. Mosclares.
"x x x the letter enumerated nine (9) checks issued by Ms. Sto. Domingo to various persons, including four (4) checks issued to Mr. Jarina, which ‘were rediscounted and remain unpaid’ in the total amount of ₱7,804,726.16 representing the principal and interests. The letter shows that, as early as September 26, 1997, respondent was already involved in the unauthorized check discounting transactions involving Mr. Jarina and Ms. [Nora] Sto. Domingo."
5. January 28, 1998 letter23 of respondent addressed to Atty. Mosclares, which states:
"Sir, I am very sorry if I cannot be of help to you now. I really did my best to produced (sic) such amount, but I don’t know if some of my clients lost their trust in me because of what happened to Nora. In fact I even go (sic) to the office of Mr. Uy to ask for his help but unfortunately he is out of the country. Anyway, I am sending the amount of ₱200,000.00 to really proved (sic) that I want to help you and I don’t want that our good relationship be affected with this.
"I hope our relationship will still be there not only up to the end of our problem. I am praying that our problems with Nora will be settled as soon as possible."24
Against all these pieces of evidence, the defense of respondent consists of (1) denial; (2)the inadmissibility and lack of probative value of petitioners’ evidence; and (3) a claim that she had a ready-to-wear (RTW) business with her relative, as evidenced by Melanie A. Joaquin’s Affidavit, which states as follows:
"1. I am a relative of Mrs. Generosa Caguioa (Caguioa, for brevity), Branch Manager of Equitable Bank, now Equitable PCI Bank;
"2. I hereby categorically state that Mrs. Caguioa and I were partners in an RTW Business commencing 1992 to present.
"3. I hereby further state that Mrs. Caguioa and I divided the net profits derived from our partnership.
"I am executing this affidavit in support of the foregoing facts for whatever legal purposes it may serve."25
Constituting substantial evidence were the Sworn Statement of Sibayan on the investigation he conducted; the Complaint of Jarina; the audit trail; and the schedule of withdrawals and deposits in Jarina’s Account No. 017446745-3, a fact sworn to by Vivian Lee-Tiu (a vice-president of petitioner bank) and uncontroverted by respondent. Such evidence is adequate to justify the conclusion that respondent was indeed a direct participant in and beneficiary of the unauthorized check-discounting transactions.
Indeed, as pointed out by petitioners, one may accept as mere coincidences the match between respondent’s bank records and some entries in Jarina’s ledger -- one, two or even three of them -- but not a total of 21. These 21 entries in respondent’s account correspond to 21 entries in Jarina’s record.
In the absence of any reasonable and specific explanation from respondent regarding the source of these deposits in her account, and why they were made on such dates and in such amounts, petitioners’ conclusion that those amounts constituted her share in the profits from the check-discounting activities stands. That she was involved in the unauthorized check-discounting transactions is a reasonable conclusion -- not a surmise, speculation or conjecture – made by petitioners based on concrete and tangible evidence.
The letters to Atty. Mosclares and Arlene Pascual’s ledgers that served as jump-off point for a deeper investigation corroborate the other bank records and evidence that petitioners also presented to support their conclusions.
To a patient person with an auditing background, the conclusion made by petitioners is clearly supported by the bank records and the audit trail, which the NLRC brushed aside as "too unclear to be considered standing alone and uncorroborated." Hence, the cavalier disregard of the evidence constitutes a violation of due process.
The leniency sought by respondent on the basis of her 35 years of service to the bank must be weighed in conjunction with the other considerations raised by petitioners. As that service has been amply compensated, her plea for leniency cannot offset her dishonesty. Even government employees who are validly dismissed from the service by reason of timely discovered offenses are deprived of retirement benefits. Treating respondent in the same manner as the loyal and code-abiding employees, despite the timely discovery of her Code violations, may indeed have a demoralizing effect on the entire bank. Be it remembered that banks thrive on and endeavor to retain public trust and confidence, every violation of which must thus be accompanied by appropriate sanctions.
Second Issue:
Procedure Before Labor Tribunals
Respondent contends that the information from Magadia and the Complaint of Jarina have no probative value. On this point, the Labor Code provides thus:
"ART. 221. Technical rules not binding and prior resort to amicable settlement. In any proceeding before the Commission or any of the Labor Arbiters, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling and it is the spirit and intention of this Code that the Commission and its members and the Labor Arbiters shall use every and all reasonable means to ascertain the facts in each case speedily and objectively and without regard to technicalities of law or procedure, all in the interest of due process."
On the other hand, Rule V of the New Rules of Procedure of the NLRC states as follows:
"Section 3. Submission of Position Papers/Memo-randum. – x x x, the Labor Arbiter shall issue an order x x x directing the parties to simultaneously file their respective verified position papers.
"These verified position papers shall cover only those claims and causes of action raised in the complaint excluding those that may have been amicably settled, and shall be accompanied by all supporting documents including the affidavits of their respective witnesses which shall take the place of the latter’s direct testimony. The parties shall thereafter not be allowed to allege facts, or present evidence to prove facts, not referred to and any cause or causes of action not included in the complaint or position papers, affidavits and other documents. x x x."
To resolve the controversy, respondent cites Fortich v. Corona,26 which pertains to agrarian reform. Petitioners, on the other hand, rely on Canete v. NLRC.27 We believe that the latter case, being in the area of labor law, applies to the present problem. The information provided by Magadia, as corroborated by the Sworn Statement of Sibayan, and the Complaint of Jarina, should be accorded probative value. "It is not necessary that the affidavits and other documents presented conform with the technical rules of evidence since in labor cases the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity are not controlling. It is sufficient that the documents submitted by the parties have a bearing on the issue at hand and support the positions taken by them."28
Finally, being a managerial employee, Respondent Generosa A. Caguioa may be dismissed by petitioners for breach of trust. Employers are allowed wide latitude of discretion in cases of termination of managerial employees, who perform functions that by their nature require full trust and confidence.29
WHEREFORE, the Petition is GRANTED and the assailed Decision and Resolution REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The temporary restraining Order issued by the Court on August 20, 2003 is made PERMANENT. The Decision of the labor arbiter is REINSTATED. No costs.
SO ORDERED.
Sandoval-Gutierrez, and Carpio-Morales, JJ., concur.
Corona, J., on official leave.
Garcia, J., no part. Concurred in the assailed Decision.
Footnotes
1 Rollo, pp. 3-30.
2 Id., pp. 32-43. First Division. Penned by Justice Mariano C. del Castillo, with the concurrence of Justices Cancio C. Garcia (then Division chair and now a member of this Court) and Eloy R. Bello Jr. (member).
3 CA Decision, p. 11; rollo, p. 42. This is a verbatim, unedited copy.
4 CA Decision, pp. 2-6; rollo, pp. 33-37. Verbatim and unedited copy.
5 CA Decision, p. 11; rollo, p. 42.
6 The case was deemed submitted for decision on May 5, 2004, upon actual receipt by this Court of Petitioner’s Memorandum, signed by Attys. Leslie C. Dy and Alfredo D. Molo. Respondent’s Memorandum, signed by Atty. Kevin Narce B. Vivero, was received by the Court on April 20, 2004.
7 Petitioners’ Memorandum, p. 15. Original in upper case.
8 Tolentino v. PLDT, GR 160404, June 8, 2005; Mayon Hotel v. Adana, GR No. 157634, May 16, 2005 (citing Asuncion v. NLRC, 362 SCRA 56, July 31, 2001); Caurdanetaan Piece Workers Union v. Laguesma, 350 Phil. 35, February 24, 1998.
9 Misa v. Court of Appeals, 212 SCRA 217, August 5, 1992.
10 People v. Cabral, 303 SCRA 361, 379, February 18, 1999; Ginete v. Court of Appeals, 296 SCRA 38, 55, September 24, 1998.
11 Decision Memo; rollo, p. 216.
"Class D.3 offense on LOYALTY: ‘Engaging in banking as defined by law as a personal business’.
‘Class D offense on HONESTY:
‘1. Favoring third parties such as, but not limited to, suppliers or contractors for personal gain.
‘8. Performing certain acts binding upon, or in representation of the Bank, or entering into transactions with any person, institution or corporation involving the Bank and its interest, without authority, or in such a manner as would constitute an abuse of discretion which puts in a bad light the reputation and goodwill of the Bank.’
12 "Art. 282. Termination by employer – An employer may terminate an employment for any of the following just causes:
x x x x x x x x x
(c) Fraud or willful breach by the employee of the trust reposed in him by his employer or duly authorized representative; x x x"
13 Rollo, pp. 216-217.
14 Article 277 (b) of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended by Section 33 of RA 6715.
15 Tolentino v. PLDT, supra (citing Mendoza v. NLRC, 310 SCRA 846, July 20, 1999).
16 Tolentino v. PLDT, supra; Mayon Hotel & Restaurant v. Adana, supra; Caurdanetaan Piece Workers Union v. Laguesma, supra. Section 5 of Rule 133 of the Rules of Court.
17 Section 5 of Rule 133 of the Rules of Court. Travelaire & Tours Corporation v. NLRC, 294 SCRA 505, August 20, 1998; Kamada v. Ferrer-Calleja, 344 Phil 67 September 5, 1997; GSIS v. Court of Appeals, 357 Phil. 511, September 25, 1998.
18 Annex A of Petitioners’ Position Paper; rollo, p. 113.
19 Annex C of Petitioners’ Position Paper; rollo, pp. 117-118.
20 Table 3 of Petitioners’ Position Paper; rollo, pp. 94-95.
21 Rollo, p. 183.
22 Annex J of Petitioners’ Position Paper; rollo, p. 196.
23 Annex K of Petitioners’ Position Paper; rollo, p. 197.
24 Rollo, p. 184.
25 Id., p. 237.
26 298 SCRA 679, November 17, 1998.
27 315 SCRA 660, September 30, 1999.
28 Cañete v. NLRC, 315 SCRA 660, 665, September 30, 1999, per Bellosillo, J.
29 Tolentino v. PLDT, supra (citing Mendoza v. NLRC, 310 SCRA 846, July 20, 1999).
The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation
