meralco vs nlrc 1990

8/13/2019 Meralco vs Nlrc 1990

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GRSI Copyrightregno N94-027G.R. No. 84282 March 6, 990M!R"#C$%&. N"'I$N"# #"($R R!#"'I$NS C$MMISSI$N

Rep)*+ic o the hi+ippine&

S R!M! C$ R'Mani+a

/IRS' I1ISI$N

G.R. No. 84282 March 6, 990

M"NI#" !#!C'RIC C$M "N , petitioner,

%&.

N"'I$N"# #"($R R!#"'I$NS C$MMISSI$N an3 IS"G"NI 1. ! #" CR ,re&pon3ent.

"ti+ano S. G)e%arra, 5r., 5o&e %. (a+aoing an3 Gi+ S. San iego or petitioner.'eotico R. )e%e3o or pri%ate re&pon3ent.

G"NC" C$, 5. p

'he propriety o the rein&tate ent o an e p+oyee a& or3ere3 *y the Nationa+ #a*or

Re+ation& Co i&&ion i& in i&&)e in thi& etition.'he recor3 o the ca&e 3i&c+o&e& that the herein pri%ate re&pon3ent I&agani 1. e #a Cr):a& an e p+oyee o the herein petitioner Mani+a !+ectric Co pany. ;i& principa+ 3)tie&inc+)3e rea3ing e+ectric 0, 980.

It appear& that on $cto*er 20, 98?, a S)n3ay, the pri%ate re&pon3ent an3 hi& *rother-in-+a:, a certain 5ai e R. M)nera o 'on3o, Mani+a, :ere in the %icinity o the NRCo po)n3 in aco, Mani+a. So e re&i3ent& in the area reporte3 their pre&ence to the

*arangay a)thoritie& :ho in t)rn in%ite3 the o%er to the po+ice &tation or @)e&tioning.':o re&i3ent& o the +oca+ity i+e3 their re&pecti%e &:orn &tate ent& to the e ect that the

pri%ate re&pon3ent an3 hi& *rother-in-+a: ha3 *een intro3)cing the &e+%e& to certainre&i3ent& a& in&pector& o the petitioner ir an3, in the proce&&, ha3 *een eAtorting

oney ro the in re+ation to &o e a++ege3 i++ega+ e+ectrica+ connection& 3i&co%ere3 *ythe t:o.

" certain !3i+*erto $. Sierra, +ine patro+ in&pector o the petitioner ir , :a& pre&ent3)ring the po+ice in%e&tigation. ;e &tate3 that an e+ectric eter :a& in3ee3 i++ega++y


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in&ta++e3 at the re&i3ence o one Mr&. $rta+e a o No. >>2 NR Co po)n3, aco,Mani+a ina& )ch a& the &a e ha3 *een pre%io)&+y recor3e3 a& the e+ectric eter in&ta++e3at the re&i3ence o one "g)e3a ". CaBiga+ o Sta. "na, Mani+a :hich, ho:e%er, ha3 *eenreca++e3 ear+ier an3 3)+y rep+ace3. 'he in&pector a+&o &ai3 that the pri%ate re&pon3ent ha3no a)thority to in&ta++ e+ectric eter&.

It a+&o appear& that t:o cri ina+ ca&e& :ere in&tit)te3 again&t the pri%ate re&pon3ent, oneor ro**ery-eAtortion i+e3 *y !ncarnacion "+ipio, a re&i3ent o aco, Mani+a, an3

another or @)a+i ie3 the t i+e3 *y !3i+*erto Sierra, the in&pector. 'he ir&t ca&e :a&3i& i&&e3 or ai+)re to pro&ec)te. 'he other ca&e :a& +i e:i&e 3i& i&&e3 on the gro)n3o in&) icient e%i3ence.$n ece *er 2, 98?, the pri%ate re&pon3ent :a& pre%enti%e+y &)&pen3e3 *y petitioner.'herea ter, or on ece *er 9, 98?, the petitioner initiate3 it& o:n a3 ini&trati%ein%e&tigation o the atter. 'he pri%ate re&pon3ent 3enie3 *eing re&pon&i*+e or any

i&con3)ct. ;e &)* itte3 a &:orn &tate ent a++eging that on $cto*er 20, 98?, hi& *rother-in-+a: :ante3 to &ee a certain rien3 at the NR Co po)n3 in aco, Mani+a an3

that he agree3 to acco pany hi D that on their :ay to the NR co po)n3, they :ent toSta. "na, Mani+a to p)++ o)t the inacti%ate3 e+ectric eter o "g)e3a ". CaBiga+ :hich heai+e3 to p)++ o)t a e: 3ay& ear+ier a& in&tr)cte3 *y hi& &)perior& *eca)&e it :o)+3 ha%e

*een incon%enient or hi to per or hi& eter-rea3ing 3)tie& :hi+e carrying aro)n3 ane+ectric eterD that )pon their arri%a+ in aco, Mani+a, he notice3 that the re&i3ence oMr&. $rta+e a apparent+y ha3 an e+ectrica+ &er%ice connection *)t 3i3 not ha%e an e+ectric

eter an3 that accor3ing+y, he :ante3 to con ront herD that hi& *rother-in-+a: ta+ e3 toMr&. $rta+e aD that hi& *rother-in-+a: in&ta++e3 the inacti%ate3 e+ectric eter at there&i3ence o Mr&. $rta+e aD that he o*Becte3 to :hat hi& *rother-in-+a: 3i3D that the

*arangay a)thoritie& arri%e3 an3 a& e3 the to i3enti y the &e+%e&D an3 that 3e&piteha%ing i3enti ie3 the &e+%e&, they :ere *ro)ght to the po+ice &tation. ;e 3enie3 ha%ingeAtorte3 oney ro any*o3y. ;i& *rother-in-+a: a3 itte3 ha%ing ta+ e3 to Mr&.$rta+e a an3 ha%ing in&ta++e3 the inacti%ate3 e+ectric eter at her re&i3ence *)t a33e3 thathe :a& ere+y p+aying a pran on her ina& )ch a& &he +oo e3 %ery ner%o)&. Nonethe+e&&,he 3enie3 ha%ing eAtorte3 oney ro anyone.

$n March >, 986, the pri%ate re&pon3ent :a& 3i& i&&e3 ro hi& e p+oy ent. 'hi& pro pte3 hi to i+e a Co p+aint or i++ega+ 3i& i&&a+ again&t the petitioner *e ore the Nationa+ #a*or Re+ation& Co i&&ion. 'he ca&e :a& 3oc ete3 a& N#RC-NCR Ca&e No.?-2098-86.In 3)e ti e, the +a*or ar*iter a&&igne3 to the ca&e 3eci3e3 in a%or o the petitioner on the

*a&i& o po&ition paper& &)* itte3 *y the partie&, an3 :itho)t con3)cting a c+ari icatoryhearing. 'he +a*or ar*iter o*&er%e3 that the a3 i&&ion a3e *y the *rother-in-+a: o the

pri%ate re&pon3ent to the e ect that he :a& the one :ho in&ta++e3 the inacti%ate3 e+ectriceter at the re&i3ence o Mr&. $rta+e a i& contrary to co on eAperience an3 :a&

pro*a*+y a3e B)&t to &a%e hi& *rother-in-+a:, the pri%ate re&pon3ent, ro +o&ing hi& Bo*.'he +a*or ar*iter a+&o o)n3 the a++egation& o the pri%ate re&pon3ent an3 hi& *rother-in-+a: too incre3i*+e to *e+ie%e. 'he pertinent portion& o the 3eci&ion o the +a*or ar*iterare a& o++o:&


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. . . the a3 i&&ion o co p+ainantE& *rother-in-+a: that he :a& the one :ho in&ta++e3 the p)++e3-o)t or ro en e+ectric eter o a certain c)&to er, "g)e3a ". CaBiga+ to there&i3ence o #y3ia /. $rta+e a, o%er the a++ege3 %ehe ent o*Bection& o co p+aint, i& ono o ent, con&i3ering that &)ch an a++egation i& too prepo&tero)& to *e ta en a& thena e3 tr)th, *eca)&e it i& contrary to nat)re, rea&on or co on &en&e. It i& o)r %ie: that

&)ch in&in)ation :a& re&orte3 to *y the , in or3er to &a%e the & in o co p+ainant :hoha& nothing to +o&e, *)t e%erything to gain in &)ch a &it)ation.

. . . . 'he 3enia+ an3 a+i*i that :a& gi%en *y the co p+ainant i& too har3 to *e+ie%e,con&i3ering that the inci3ent occ)rre3 3)ring hi& o -3)ty 0 3ay&, the petitioner%io+ate3 petition 4, R)+e FI1 o the R)+e& i p+e enting (ata& a *an&a (+g. >0 :hich

pro%i3e& that no pre%enti%e &)&pen&ion &ha++ +a&t +onger than >0 3ay& an3 that,accor3ing+y, the petitioner ir &ho)+3 pay the pri%ate re&pon3ent hi& &a+arycorre&pon3ing to the perio3 o hi& pre%enti%e &)&pen&ion in eAce&& o the aAi )

perio3, i.e., the a o)nt o ?,?42.00. 'he +a*or ar*iter a+&o r)+e3 that not:ith&tan3ing hi& B)&t 3i& i&&a+, the pri%ate re&pon3ent :a& entit+e3 to &o e inancia+ a&&i&tance or rea&on&o po&&e&&ion in the a o)nt o one-ha+ onth &a+ary or e%ery year o &er%ice, i.e.,

6,927.?0, th)& *ringing the tota+ a o)nt in a%or o the pri%ate re&pon3ent to2,469.?0. 2

'he pri%ate re&pon3ent *ro)ght an appea+ to the /o)rth i%i&ion o the Co i&&ion onthe gro)n3 that the 3eci&ion o the +a*or ar*iter i& contrary to +a: an3 the act& o theca&e. > In a 3eci&ion pro )+gate3 on 5)+y 8, 988, 4 the Co i&&ion &et a&i3e theappea+e3 3eci&ion an3 he+3 that the pri%ate re&pon3ent :a& i++ega++y 3i& i&&e3. 'heCo i&&ion 3irecte3 the petitioner ir to rein&tate the pri%ate re&pon3ent, :itho)t3epri%ation o hi& &eniority right&, an3 to pay hi *ac :age& e ecti%e March ?, 987,)nti+ hi& act)a+ rein&tate ent. 'he petitioner ir :a& a+&o in&tr)cte3 to pay the pri%atere&pon3ent hi& t:o onth& &a+ary :ithhe+3 3)ring the perio3 o hi& pre%enti%e &)&pen&ionin eAce&& o the >0-3ay aAi ) perio3 a++o:e3 *y +a:, i.e., ro 5an)ary 2, 986 toMarch >, 986. 'he Co i&&ion +i e:i&e r)+e3 that in the e%ent that rein&tate ent i& not

ea&i*+e, the petitioner ir &ho)+3 pay the pri%ate re&pon3ent the corre&pon3ing&eparation *ene it&.

'he Co i&&ion o*&er%e3 that the pri%ate re&pon3ent :a& ne%er gi%en the chance tocon ront hi& acc)&er& an3 that :a& 3enie3 proce3)ra+ 3)e proce&& 3)ring the co pany


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+i e+y . Re&pon3ent co pany appear& to ha%e 3i&cri inate3 again&t co p+ainant *y&ing+ing hi o)t, there *eing no e%i3ence on recor3 a& to :hether the or er too any&tep& to in%e&tigate the i++ega+ po:er +ine connection& 3i&co%ere3 *y co p+ainant. It i&rather )n)&)a+ :hy Sierra eroe3 in on the a++ege3 the t o co pany property *yco p+ainant an3 he 3i3 not ta e any &tep&, or )ch +e&& reco en3 one, on the a)thor&o the i++ega+ po:er +ine connection&. . . .4. It ha& re aine3 )n3i&p)te3 that co p+ainant ha3 a +a: )+ or B)&ti ia*+e rea&on in

p)++ing o)t the ro en e+ectric eter at the or er re&i3ence o "g)e3a CaBiga+ at )nta,Sta. "na, Mani+a. Con&e@)ent+y, the charge& o @)a+i ie3 the t again&t co p+ainant co)+3not pro&per or +ac o act)a+ an3 +ega+ *a&i&. . . .

?. Co p+ainant ha3 a %a+i3 eAp+anation or *eing at the NR Co po)n3, aco,Mani+a on $cto*er 20, 98? a ter co ing ro )nta, Sta. "na *eca)&e they :ere+oo ing or the rien3 o hi& *rother-in-+a:, 5ai e M) era . . .6. 'here i& no 3irect e%i3ence c+ear+y &ho:ing that co p+ainant ha3 a++ege3+yco itte3 &erio)& or gra%e i&con3)ct a& :o)+3 B)&ti y hi& 3i& i&&a+. . . .'he circ) &tance& a*o)t the $cto*er 20, 98? inci3ent at the NR Co po)n3 :a&can3i3+y eAp+aine3 *y 5ai e M) era, co p+ainantE& *rother-in-+a:, 3)ring the co panyin%e&tigation . . .

It i& c+ear ro the oregoing &tate ent& o M)nera that he a+one :a& re&pon&i*+e or thein&ta++ation o the p)++e3-o)t e+ectric eter o CaBiga+ :hich he pre i&e3 *y 3oing it or

)n )pon o*&er%ing that the &tore-o:ner . . . +oo e3 ner%o)& :hen


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AAA AAA AAA

e are not &aying that co p+ainant &ho)+3 *e co en3e3. e 3o recogni e thatco p+ainant to &o e 3egree &ha++ *e &)*Becte3 to 3i&cip+inary action or hi& ina*i+ity to

pre%ai+ )pon hi& *rother-in-+a: . . . . ()t :e co)+3 not recogni e &ai3 inci3ent a+one

a o)nting to &erio)& i&con3)ct on the part o co p+ainant a& :o)+3 B)&ti y hi& o)tright3i& i&&a+ ro the &er%ice. . . .

AAA AAA AAA

In the in&tant ca&e, re&pon3ent ha3 not e%en e&ta*+i&he3 the charge& o *reach o tr)&tagain&t co p+ainant *y prepon3erance o e%i3ence. . . .'here i& a+&o 3o)*t on :hether or not the po&ition o co p+ainant 3e +a Cr) a& eterrea3er in%o+%e& one o tr)&t an3 con i3ence :ith re&pect to the H)&e an3 po&&e&&ion oco pany propertyH . . . the principa+ 3)tie& o co p+ainant *eing Hto rea3 e+ectric eter&an3 3e+i%er notice& o e+ectric con&) ptionH . . . .

AAA AAA AAA

!%en a&&) ing that re&pon3ent in the in&tant ca&e ay ha%e &o e ca)&e or gro)n3 toi po&e 3i&cip+inary action )pon co p+ainant, the anner in :hich it con3)cte3 it&co pany in%e&tigation ai+e3 to o*&er%e air p+ay a& the acc)&er& o co p+ainant :erene%er pre&ente3 or con rontation, hence, a o)nting to 3epri%ation o co p+ainant o thee&&entia+ re@)ire ent& to proce3)ra+ 3)e proce&&. "n3 3)ring the ar*itration procee3ing&,co p+ainant :a& neither a or3e3 the opport)nity to con ront hi& acc)&er&.

AAA AAA AAA ?

Not &ati& ie3 there:ith, the petitioner ir e+e%ate3 the ca&e to thi& Co)rt on the gro)n3&that the Co i&&ion an3 it& o:n R)+e& :hen it ren3ere3 the @)e&tione3 eci&ion, the&ai3 eci&ion goe& again&t e&ta*+i&he3 B)ri&pr)3ence, an3 that the Co i&&ion co itte3a gra%e a*)&e o 3i&cretion :hen it ren3ere3 the &a e. 'he petitioner aintain& that theRe%i&e3 R)+e& o the Nationa+ #a*or Re+ation& Co i&&ion, the +a*or ar*iter i& gi%en the3i&cretion to 3eter ine :hether or not a c+ari icatory hearing i& nece&&ary an3,accor3ing+y, the Co i&&ion &ho)+3 not a)+t hi or eAerci&ing hi& 3i&cretion. 'he

petitioner ir a+&o arg)e& that the Co i&&ion 3i3 not a3here to the prono)nce ent& othi& Co)rt to the e ect that the in3ing& o act a3e *y the +a*or ar*iter, :hen &)pporte3

*y &)*&tantia+ e%i3ence, &ho)+3 not *e 3i&t)r*e3. 'he i&&)ance o a te porary re&trainingor3er :a& +i e:i&e &o)ght *y the petitioner petitioner ir .

'he Co)rt note& that the ain p+ea3ing i& erroneo)&+y captione3 H etition or Re%ie:.H'hi& error not:ith&tan3ing, an3 in the intere&t o B)&tice, the Co)rt re&o+%e3 to treat the&a e a& a &pecia+ ci%i+ action or certiorari in %ie: o the B)ri&3ictiona+ i&&)e& rai&e3herein. Moreo%er, +a*or ca&e& are re%ie:e3 *y thi& Co)rt on a &pecia+ ci%i+ action orcertiorari. 6


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$n ")g)&t ?, 988, the Co)rt re&o+%e3 to i&&)e a te porary re&training or3er enBoiningthe re&pon3ent& ro en orcing the @)e&tione3 eci&ion o the Co i&&ion. 7

$n Septe *er 4, 988, the $ ice o the So+icitor Genera+ &)* itte3 it& Co ent on theetition. 8 $n No%e *er 7, 988, the pri%ate re&pon3ent &)* itte3 hi& Co ent. 9 In

ine, the re&pon3ent& &)* it that the eci&ion o the Co i&&ion i& in accor3 :ith the+a: an3 B)ri&pr)3ence an3 that, accor3ing+y, the etition &ho)+3 *e 3i& i&&e3 or +ac oerit.

$n No%e *er 2>, 988, the Co)rt re&o+%e3 to gi%e 3)e co)r&e to the etition. 0 In 3)eti e, the ca&e :a& 3ee e3 &)* itte3 or 3eci&ion.

" ter a care )+ e%a+)ation o the entire recor3 o the ca&e, the Co)rt in3& the in&tantetition 3e%oi3 o erit. "& pointe3 o)t *y the So+icitor Genera+, a+tho)gh Section >,

R)+e 1II o the Re%i&e3 R)+e& o the Nationa+ #a*or Re+ation& Co i&&ion gi%e& the+a*or ar*iter the 3i&cretion to 3eter ine i a hearing i& nece&&ary )n3er the pre i&e&, thi&3i&cretion )&t *e eAerci&e3 pr)3ent+y. In the ca&e at *ar, it appear& that not:ith&tan3ing

the ani e&tation o the pri%ate re&pon3ent that he ne%er got the chance to con ront hi&acc)&er&, the +a*or ar*iter :ent on to re&o+%e the ca&e on the *a&i& o po&ition paper&.'h)&, the Co i&&ion correct+y o*&er%e3 that the +a*or ar*iter co itte3 a gra%e a*)&eo 3i&cretion in thi& partic)+ar in&tance.

It i& a :e++- no:n r)+e that *e ore an e p+oyer ay 3i& i&& an e p+oyee he )&t *ea or3e3 3)e proce&& :hich ean& a ong other&, the opport)nity to con ront the:itne&&e& again&t hi an3 to a33)ce e%i3ence in hi& 3e en&e. /ai+ing in thi&, the 3i& i&&a+o an e p+oyee i& not +a: )+ an3 &ho)+3 *e a&i3e.'he in3ing& o act a3e *y the +a*or ar*iter ay not *e 3i&t)r*e3 *y the re%ie:inga)thority a& +ong a& the &a e i& &)pporte3 *y &)*&tantia+ e%i3ence. In thi& ca&e, theCo i&&ion :a& o the %ie: that the +a*or ar*iter, co itte3 &erio)& error& in theappreciation o the act& o the ca&e an3, preci&e+y 3)e to the &a e, the Co i&&ion :enton to it& o:n e%a+)ation o the &ai3 act&. 'he action ta en *y the Co i&&ion in thi&regar3 :a& certain+y ca++e3 or con&i3ering o++o:ing atter&

< = 'he pri%ate re&pon3ent ha3 a p+a)&i*+e eAp+anation or p)++ing o)t an inacti%ate3e+ectric eter an3 or in *eing at the NR co po)n3 in aco, Mani+a on $cto*er 20,

98?D


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;!R!/$R!, in %ie: o the oregoing, the in&tant etition i& here*y ISMISS! or+ac o erit. 'he te porary re&training or3er i&&)e3 *y the Co)rt on ")g)&t ?, 988 i&here*y +i te3. 'he Co)rt a e& no prono)nce ent a& to co&t&.

S$ $R !R! .

Nar%a&a, Cr) , Gri o-"@)ino an3 Me3ia+3ea, 55., conc)r.

meralco vs nlrc 1990

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