Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 163061 June 26, 2013
ALFONSO L. FIANZA, Petitioner,
vs.
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION (SECOND DIVISION), BINGA YDROELECTRIC PLANT, INC., ANTHONY C. ESCOLAR, ROLAND M. LAUTCHANG, Respondents.
D E C I S I O N
SERENO, CJ.:
This is a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, appealing the Decision1 of the Court of Appeals (CA) dated 12 June 2003 in CA-G.R. SP No. 72181 and its Resolution2 dated 19 March2004 on the same case.
The dispute was initiated by a Complaint for illegal dismissal, which revolved around the determination of the employment status of petitioner Alfonso Fianza, ex-mayor of Itogon, as the "Social Acceptance Officer" of respondent Binga Hydroelectric Plant, Inc.
As a preliminary observation, the Court notes that cet1ain factual allegations are in dispute, principally because the factual account of the CA and the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) slightly differs from that of the Labor Arbiter (LA). However, they do have mutually agreed facts that can facilitate the discussion and determination of the case.
The following facts are undisputed:
On 3 June 1997, petitioner Fianza was employed as Officer for Social Acceptance of respondent Binga Hydroelectric Plant, Inc. The details of his employment are embodied in Memorandum 97-103 dated 2 June 19974 issued by Mr. Catalino Tan, the president and chairperson of the board at that time.
In February 1999, petitioner did not receive his salary of ₱15,000 for the first 15 days of the month of February. He was advised not to report for work until his status was officially clarified by the Manila office.5
After petitioner made several other inquiries concerning his status,6 he was told by a supervisor to report for work.7 However, he was also told that the new management committee had to concur in his reappointment before he could be reinstated in the payroll.8 It also wanted an opportunity to determine whether his services would still be necessary to the company.9 Meanwhile, the chief of the rehabilitation department of the company recommended his return.10
As the management committee did not act on his inquiries for several months, on 24 May 1999 petitioner filed a Complaint for illegal dismissal before the LA.11
Ruling in favour of the petitioner, the LA applied the jurisprudentially-established control test to show that the petitioner and respondent company had a prevailing employer-employee relationship.12 The arbiter thought that since petitioner was hired directly by the president of the company, he was entitled to a fixed income of ₱30,000.13 Moreover, despite the existence of a controversy in respect of the corporation’s ownership and rehabilitation, the employer-employee relationship subsisted on the basis of the doctrine of successor employer.14
As to petitioner’s dismissal, the LA recognized the obligation of the company to maintain complete records of its personnel and transactions.15 It was further opined that there was no abandonment because of respondent company’s failure to comply with the strict requirements of the law for a declaration of abandonment.16
Finally, for purposes of determining liability, the LA deemed petitioner a "supervisory employee" and accordingly granted the benefits pertaining thereto. The LA nonetheless denied the prayer for moral damages, having seen no proof of malice on the part of respondent.17
On appeal, the NLRC reversed the LA’s Decision. It decided that the employer-employee relationship was not sufficiently established,18 since the appointment letter recognized the probationary status of petitioner.19 It found circumstances that allegedly negated his permanent and regular employment, such as his direct reporting to the hiring authority, his direct hiring which bypassed the existing hiring procedures of the company, his lack of a daily time record, the absence of the position "Social Acceptance Officer" from the organizational table of the company, the characterization of his salary as "retainer’s fees," and the non-inclusion of his appointment in the company records.20 The CA affirmed the NLRC’s reversal, and denied21 his Motion for Reconsideration.22
Petitioner thus filed this Petition for Review under Rule 45 before this Court.23
On 11 August 2008, this Court resolved to have the parties submit memoranda within 30 days from notice.24 Petitioner duly filed his Memorandum.25 However, respondent company was not properly notified of the pleadings filed before the Court, and the Orders issued in the case because it was allegedly under new management as a result of the ongoing rehabilitation of the company.26 Thus, its Memorandum was submitted nearly a year later.27
After a review of the arguments raised in the Memoranda, there are in essence, two important questions to be answered: first, whether petitioner abandoned his work; and second, whether his employment was regular.
In his pleadings, petitioner argues that he was a supervisory employee, as shown by the evidence he presented and the nature of his work.28 He further contends that he did not abandon his work, because he always made sure he followed up the status of his employment, and he was willing to go back to work once he was re-enrolled in the payroll.29
Respondent company asserts in its Memorandum that petitioner was a confidential consultant of its former president and chairperson Catalino Tan. As such, petitioner’s tenure was therefore co-terminus with that of Mr. Tan.30
At the outset, it is clear that the requisites for a judicial declaration of abandonment are absent in this case. Suffice it to say that abandonment is a fact that must be proven in accordance with the standard set by this Court:31
It is well-settled in our jurisprudence that "For abandonment to constitute a valid cause for termination of employment, there must be a deliberate, unjustified refusal of the employee to resume his employment. This refusal must be clearly shown. Mere absence is not sufficient, it must be accompanied by overt acts unerringly pointing to the fact that the employee does not want to work anymore" (Emphasis and italics supplied)32
Abandonment as a fact and a defense can only be claimed as a ground for dismissal if the employer follows the procedure set by law.33 In line with the burden of proof set by law, the employer who alleges abandonment "has the burden of proof to show a deliberate and unjustified refusal of the employee to resume his employment without any intention of returning."34 As this Court has stated in Agabon v. National Labor Relations Commission:
For a valid finding of abandonment, these two factors should be present: (1) the failure to report for work or absence without valid or justifiable reason; and (2) a clear intention to sever employer-employee relationship, with the second as the more determinative factor which is manifested by overt acts from which it may be deduced that the employees has no more intention to work. The intent to discontinue the employment must be shown by clear proof that it was deliberate and unjustified.35
From the foregoing, it is clear that respondent company failed to prove the necessary elements of abandonment. Additionally, the NLRC and the CA failed to take into account the strict requirements set by jurisprudence when they determined the existence of abandonment on the basis of mere allegations that were contradicted by the evidence shown.
The very act of filing the Complaint for illegal dismissal should have negated any intention on petitioner’s part to sever his employment.36 In fact, it should already have been sufficient evidence to declare that there was no abandonment of work. Moreover, petitioner went back to the company several times to inquire about the status of his employment.37 The fact that his inquiries were not answered does not prejudice this position.
Throughout the entire ordeal, petitioner was vigilant in protecting himself from any claim that he had abandoned his work. The following circumstances evinced his intent to return to work:
1. His continuous inquiry with respondent about the status of his work.38
2. His willingness to return to work at any time, subject to the approval of respondent, and his visits to the plant to apply for work.39
3. His filing of an illegal dismissal case.40
Considering all these facts, established by the LA and confirmed by the NLRC and the CA, we conclude that both appellate bodies were remiss in declaring the existence of abandonment.
Since the first question has been disposed of, the second one now becomes the core issue, because the existence of an employer-employee relationship in the nature of regular employment will determine whether or not the company dismissed petitioner illegally.
Respondent company claims that because petitioner was a confidential employee of its former president, his tenure was co-terminus with that of his employer.41 To establish this contention, respondent cites the CA’s determination of the facts, as follows:
1. Petitioner directly reported to Mr. Tan, the hiring authority.
2. The hiring did not pass through the existing procedure.
3. The position of officer for social acceptance was absent from the company’s table of organization and position title.
4. Petitioner did not submit any daily time record.
5. Monthly fees received from Mr. Tan were denominated as retainer fees and subjected to 10% deductions.
6. Petitioner was not included in the payroll.
7. The taxes on the fees were paid by respondent company on behalf of petitioner.
8. Petitioner’s name was absent from respondent’s records.42
These facts allegedly proved that petitioner was the confidential employee of Mr. Tan, respondent’s former president.43 All of this occurred in the context of a rehabilitation receivership conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission Management Committee.44
Respondent company failed to realize however that Mr. Tan, being its president, was clothed with authority to hire employees on its behalf. This was precisely the import of petitioner’s appointment papers, which even carried the letterhead of the company.45 There is no indication from the facts that his employment was of a confidential nature. The wording of his appointment itself does not bear out that conclusion, viz:
To: Mr. Alfonso Fianza
From: Mr. Catalino Tan
Subject: Job and Responsibilities
Date: June 2, 1997
No: Mem97-10
This is to confirm your appointment as officer for social acceptance of BHEPI projects effective June 3, 1997. In this position, you will be directly reporting to me and to those whom I will designate to assure compliance and attainment of our corporate objectives in relation to the reforestation program, silt control, and the social and livelihood projects to lift up the [unintelligible word] condition of the residence in your area of operations. Specifically, your job and responsibilities are:
1. Promote social acceptance by the local residence of the Itogon and the nearby municipalities of the corporate projects as required in the ROL contract and the Supplemental Agreement signed by the company with the National Power Corporation.
2. Identify problems in implementing ROL projects and offer possible solutions that the company may adopt in resolving conflicts.
3. Assist in monitoring the success and failure of the company’s sponsored projects designed to help the social and economic well-being of the people in the Itogon community.
4. Submit monthly report covering the above mentioned work.1âwphi1
5. In addition to the above, you may suggest to the management for their consideration any program that will help attain the corporation objectives as a partner for progress of the whole province by the year 2000.
You will be under employment probation for two months during which we will evaluate your performance and will serve as the basis for permanent employment. Your compensation will be ₱25,000 monthly inclusive of all benefits.
Allow me to welcome you to the BHEPI family.
SGD. Catalino Tan
Conforme:46
Several things stand out in this appointment paper. First, its letterhead is that of respondent company, indicating the official nature of the document. Second, there is no indication that the employment is co-terminus with that of the appointing power, or that the position was a confidential one. In fact, alongside the obligation of petitioner to report to Mr. Tan, is that of reporting to those whom the latter had designated as well as to the management in case petitioner had any suggestion. This description evinces a supervisory function, by which the employee will carry out company policy, but can only give suggestions to management as to the creation or implementation of a new policy.47
Finally, the appointment paper recognizes that the petitioner would initially be on probation status for two months, at the end of which he would be made a permanent employee should his services be found satisfactory by respondent. All these circumstances are evident from the appointment paper itself, which belies the claim of respondent that it had no employer-employee relationship with petitioner.
For the foregoing reasons, this Court must assess whether it was a reversible error of law for the appellate court to rule that there was no grave abuse of discretion that amounted to a lack or an excess of jurisdiction on the part of the NLRC when it reversed the findings of the LA. Since what is at stake in this case is the proper application of the doctrine of abandonment and the legal concept of regular employment, it 1is clear to this Court that the CA indeed committed a reversible error, and that petitioner was therefore unjustly and illegally dismissed.
WHEREFORE, the Petition is hereby GRANTED. The Decision of the Court of Appeals dated 12 June 2003 on CA-G.R. SP No. 72181, and its Resolution dated 19 March 2004 on the same case are hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The Decision of the Labor Arbiter dated 28 February 2000 is REINSTATED.
SO ORDERED.
MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO
Chief Justice, Chairperson
WE CONCUR:
TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
Associate Justice
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Associate Justice |
MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.
Associate Justice |
BIENVENIDO L. REYES
Associate Justice
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify 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 Court's Division.
MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO
Chief Justice
Footnotes
1 Rollo, pp. 76-87, penned by then Associate Justice and now Presiding Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr., and concurred in by Associate Justices Eugenio S. Labitoria and Regalado E. Maambong.
2 Id. at 109.
3 CA rollo, pp. 70-71; Annex A.
4 Rollo, pp. 76-78; CA rollo, 103-104.
5 Rollo, p. 78; CA rollo, p. 104.
6 CA rollo, pp. 104-105.
7 Rollo, p. 78; CA rollo, p. 105.
8 Rollo, p. 78.
9 CA rollo, p. 105.
10 Rollo, pp. 78-79.; CA rollo, p. 105.
11 Rollo, p. 79.
12 CA rollo, pp. 108-109.
13 Id. at 109.
14 Id.
15 Id. at 110-111.
16 Id. at 111-114.
17 CA rollo, pp. 114-117.
18 Id. at 175.
19 Id. at 176.
20 Id.
21 Rollo, p. 109.
22 Id. at 88-107.
23 Id. at 4-74.
24 Id. at 133-134.
25 Id. at 135-197.
26 Id. at 235.
27 Id. at 307-316.
28 Id. at 32-60, 153-185.
29 Id. at 60-66, 185-191.
30 Id. at 312-314.
31 Kingsize Manufacturing Corp., v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. Nos. 110452-54, 24 November 1994, 238 SCRA 349.
32 Labor v. National Labor Relations Commission, 318 Phil. 219 (1995), citing Flexo Manufacturing Corp. vs. National Labor Relations Commission, 219 Phil. 659 (1985).
33 CA rollo, pp. 112-113.
34 Labor v. National Labor Relations Commission, supra. ; Aquinas School v. Hon. Magnaye, G.R. No. 110062, 344 Phil. 145, 151 (1997); Labor Congress of the Philippines v. National Labor Relations Commission, 352 Phil. 1118, 1136 (1998).
35 485 Phil. 248, 278 (2004).
36 Labor v. National Labor Relations Commission, supra.
37 Rollo, p. 78; CA rollo, pp. 104-105.
38 Id.
39 Rollo, p. 78; CA rollo, pp. 104-107.
40 Records, pp. 1-2.
41 Rollo, pp. 313-315.
42 Id. at 313-314.
43 Id.
44 Id. at 312-313.
45 CA rollo, p. 70; Annex C-1, referred to as Annex A supra note 3.
46 Id. at 70-71.
47 United Pepsi-Cola Supervisory Union v. Judge Laguesma, 351 Phil. 244 (1998).
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