VIRGILIO G. ANABE vs. ASIAN CONSTRUCTION (ASIAKONSTRUKT) G.R. No. 183233 Decembe 23! 2""# $ACTS% T&e 'eo*e +,s &e- b es'o*-e* As,* As,* Co*s/co* (As,0o*s/0) ,s ,-o ec&*c,*o'e,o . s sevces +ee em*,e- o* &e o/*- o4 ee*c&me*. e &/s 45e- , com'5,* 4o 55e,5 -smss,5 ,*- 55e,5 -e-/co* o4 &s ',. Bec,/se As,0o*s/0 As,0o*s/0 4,5e- o s/bm 4*,*c,5 4 *,*c,5 s,eme*s o 'ove 5osses! &e L,bo Abe /5e- &, 'eo*e +,s *o v,5-5 -smsse-. -smsse-. Res'o*-e*s ,e o-ee- o ', ', V5o V5o A*,-e A*,-e &s 13& mo*& ',! ',! 55e,5 -e-/co*s ,*- oveme ', 6&e* &e c,se +,s e5ev,e- o &e NLRC! As,0o*s/0 As,0o*s/0 s/bme- &e ce4e- /e co'es o4 &e A/-e$*,*c,5 S,eme*s 4om 1##8 o 2"""! NLRC mo-4e- &e L,bo Abe7s Decso* Decso* b &o5-* &, 'eo*e +,s *o 55e,55 -smsse-smsse- ,*- e-/ce- &e emb/s,b5e emb/s,b5e ,mo/* o4 55e,5 55e,5 -e-/co*s. eo*e 45e- , 9oo* 4o Reco*s-e,o* b/ +,s -e*e-. e &e* ,''e,5e- o &e Co/ o4 A''e,5s +&c& ,44me- &e -ecso* e*-ee- b &e NLRC. e*ce! &s ,''e,5. ISSUE% 6&e&e o *o &e 'eo*e7s -smss,5 o* &e o/*- o4 ee*c&me* +,s :/s4eRULING% T&e SC ,*e- &e 'eo* ,*- em,*-e- &e c,se o &e NLRC 4o ecom'/,o* o4 &e mo*e, ,+,-. Ree*c&me* s &e em*,o* o4 em'5ome* *,e- b &e em'5oe &o/& *o 4,/5 o4 ,*- +&o/ 'e:/-ce o &e em'5oees. em'5oees. I s esoe- o -/* -/* 'eo-s o4 b/s*ess b/s*ess ecesso* ,*- s eco*;eeco*;e- b Ac5e 283 o4 &e L,bo Co-e To e44ec e44ec , v,5- ee*c&me*! &e 4o55o+* e5eme*s m/s be 'ese*% (1) &e ee*c&me* s e,so*,b5 *ecess, ,*- 50e5 o 'eve* b/s*ess 5osses< (2) &e em'5oe seves +e* *oce bo& o &e em'5oees co*ce*e- ,*- &e De',me* o4 L,bo ,*- Em'5ome* , 5e,s , mo*& be4oe &e *e*-e-,e o4 ee*c&me*< (3) &e em'5oe ',s &e ee*c&e- em'5oee se',,o* ', * ,* ,mo/* 'escbe- b &e Co-e< Co-e< (=) &e em'5oe e>ecses s s 'eo,ve o ee*c& * oo- 4,&< ,*- (?) &e &e em'5oe /ses 4, ,*- e,so*,b5e ce, * ,sce,** +&o +o/5- be ee*c&e- o e,*e-. I* &e 'ese* c,se! As,0o*s/0 As,0o*s/0 4,5e- o 'ove &, +,s s/44e* b/s*ess 5osses o +,,* , v,5ee*c&me* o4 s em'5oees ,*- 4,5e- o s/bm s ,/-e- 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s +&* &e +o e,s &, &e c,se +,s 'e*-* be4oe &e L,bo Abe. Abe. I s/bme- &em o*5 ,4e eceve- &e ,-vese :/-me* o4 &e L,bo L,bo Abe. Abe. O* ,''e,5! &e NLRC s *o 'ec5/-e- 4om ecev* ev-e*ce o* ,''e,5 ,s ec&*c,5 /5es o4 ev-e*ce ,e *o b*-* * 5,bo c,ses. ee! &e -e5, * &e s/bmsso* o4 ev-e*ce s&o/5- &,ve bee* c5e,5 e>'5,*e- ,*- s&o/5- ,-e@/,e5 'ove &e em'5oe7s ,55e,o* o4 &e c,/se 4o em*,o* b/ &e em'5oe -- *o 'ov-e ,* ,* e>'5,*,o*. T&/s! &e L,bo ,be7s -ecso* +,s ,44me- ,*- &e -smss,5 o4 &e 'eo*e o* ,cco/* o4 ee*c&me* s &e5- /*:/s4e-.
eo*e s &/s e*5e- o &e +* e5e4s o4 ',me* o4 b,c0+,es ,*- o&e be*e4s 4om &e me o4 &s -smss,5 /' o &e 4*,5 o4 &s Co/7s Decso*! ,*- e*s,eme* +&o/ 5oss o4 se*o &s o! * 5e/ &eeo4! ',me* o4 se',,o* ',.
VIRGILIO G. ANABE,
G.R. No. !"#$## Petitioner,
ese*%
ves/s
UNO! C.J., Chairperson, CARIO 9ORALES! VELASCO! R. ! LEONARDODE CASTRO! ,*BERSA9IN! JJ.
ASIAN CONSTRUCTION (ASIAKONSTRUKT), ZENAIDA P. ANGELES AND N.O. GARCIA, Responents.
om/5,e-% Decembe 23! 2""#
> >
DECISIO N
CARPIO %ORALES, J.&
V5o G. A*,be ('eo*e) +,s &e- b es'o*-e* As,* Co*s/co* (As,0o*s/0) ,s ,-o ec&*c,*o'e,o o* A'5 1?! 1##3. B *oce -,e- Se'embe 8! 1###! &e +,s ,-vse- &, &s sevces +o/5- be! ,s &e +,s * 4,c! em*,e- e44ecve Ocobe 8! 1### o* &e o/*- o4 ee*c&me*. eo*e &/s 45e- o* $eb/, 1"! 2""" , com'5,* 11 4o 55e,5 -smss,5 ,*- 55e,5 -e-/co* ,* ',me* o4 oveme ',! 'em/m ',! &o5-, ',! sevce *ce*ve 5e,ve ',! ,*- 13 & mo*& ',. As,0o*s/0! ,b/* 'eo*es ee*c&me* o s/--e* b/s*ess eves,5 * &e co*s/co* *-/s! ,vee-! &o+eve! &, 'eo*es mo*e c5,ms &,ve bee* o44se ,,*s &s o/s,*-* ,cco/*,b5es.
B Decso* 22 o4 /*e 2#! 2""1! &e L,bo Abe! 4*-* &, As,0o*s/0 4,5e- o s/bm 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s o 'ove 5osses! /5e- &, 'eo*e +,s *o v,5-5 -smsse-. T&/s &e -s'ose-% 6ERE$ORE! 'emses co*s-ee-! :/-me* s &eeb e*-ee- 4*-* &e es'o*-e*s 5,b5e 4o 55e,5 -smss,5 ,*- co*se@/e*5 o-ee- o e*s,e com'5,*,* o &s 4ome 'oso* o s e@/v,5e* +&o/ 5oss o4 se*o &s ,*- o&e 'v5ees! +& 4/55 b,c0+,es ,*- be*e4s 4om -,e o4 -smss,5 /' o ,c/,5 -,e o4 e*s,eme* +&c& s * &e ,mo/* o4 13F!2.1= ,s o4 &s mo*&. Res'o*-e*s ,e 50e+se o-ee- o ', com'5,*,* &s 13 & mo*& ', * &e ,mo/* o4 =!2?#.F= ,*55e,5 -e-/co*s * &e ,mo/* o4 1F=!#F".2= ,*- oveme ', * &e ,mo/* o4 F.11 /*-e',me* o4 oveme ', ,s com'/e- b &e Com'/,o* ,*- E>,m*,o* U* o4 &e NLRC. Res'o*-e*s ,e 4/&e o-ee- o ', com'5,*,* e* 'ece* (1"H) o4 &e o,5 ,+,- ,s ,o*es 4ees.
O* ,''e,5! &e N,o*,5 L,bo Re5,o*s Commsso* (NLRC)! ,0* *o co*s-e,o* &e ce4e- /e co'es o4 &e A/-e- $*,*c,5 S,eme*s 4om 1##8 o 2""" s/bme- b As,0o*s/0! ',5 ,*e- &e ,''e,5 b Reso5/o* 33 o4 9,c& 1"! 2""=. I mo-4e- &e L,bo Abes Decso* b 1 2 3
&o5-* &, 'eo*e +,s *o 55e,55 -smsse-. 6&5e ,44me- &e ,+,- o4 &e 13
&
mo*& ',!
oveme ', ,*- ,o*es 4ees! o-ee- &e ',me* o 'eo*e o4 1#!1" ,s se',,o* ',.
9oeove! &e NLRC e-/ce- &e emb/s,b5e ,mo/* o4 55e,5 -e-/co*s 4om 1F=!#F".2= o 88!""".""! ,oc*,* &, 'eo*e s o*5 e*5e- o mo*e c5,ms 4om 1##1###! &e c5,ms 'o &eeo &,v* ,5e,- 'escbe-.
eo*es moo* 4o eco*s-e,o* +,s -e*e- b O-e == -,e- A//s 31! 2""?! &e*ce! &e ,''e,5e- o &e Co/ o4 A''e,5s! ,ss,5* &e co*s-e,o* b &e NLRC o4 &e A/-e- $*,*c,5 S,eme*s +&c& +ee s/bme- o*5 o* ,''e,5.
B Decso* ?? o4 Decembe 2F! 2""! &e ,''e55,e co/ &e5- &, &ee +,s *o ,ve ,b/se o4 -sceo* o* &e ', o4 &e NLRC +&e* co*s-ee- &e 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s ,s &e ,5e,- 4om ', o4 &e eco-s o* ,''e,5.
C* Clarion Printing House, Inc. v. NLRC, FF &e ,''e55,e co/ *oe- &, &e NLRC s *o 'ec5/-e- 4om ecev* ev-e*ce o* ,''e,5 ,s ec&*c,5 /5es o4 'oce-/e ,e *o b*-* * 5,bo c,ses. A*- ,44me- &e /5* o4 &e NLRC &, 'eo*e s o*5 e*5e- o &e 55e,5 -e-/co*s 4o &e 'eo- 1##1### * &e ,mo/* o4 88!""".""! ,s &e 'esc've 'eo- 4o mo*e c5,ms s o*5 &ee e,s 4om &e me &e c,/se o4 ,co* ,cc/es.
eo*es moo* 4o eco*s-e,o* &,v* bee* -e*e- b Reso5/o* o4 A'5 2! 2""8! &e 45e- &e 'ese* 'eo*! m,*,** &, &e +,s 55e,55 -smsse- ,s As,0o*s/0 4,5e- o 'ove &, +,s s/44e* b/s*ess 5osses o +,,* , v,5- ee*c&me* o4 s em'5oees< ,*- As,0o*s/0 = ? F
be5,e-5 s/bme- 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s +ee *o s&o+* o be *e+5 4o/*- ev-e*ce ,*- /*,v,5,b5e -/* &e 'ocee-*s be4oe &e L,bo Abe o &/s c,s -o/bs ,s o &e ve,c.
T&e 'eo* s partly meoo/s.
Ree*c&me* s &e em*,o* o4 em'5ome* *,e- b &e em'5oe &o/& *o 4,/5 o4 ,*+&o/ 'e:/-ce o &e em'5oees! s esoe- o -/* 'eo-s o4 b/s*ess ecesso*! *-/s,5 -e'esso*! o se,so*,5 45/c/,o*s o -/* 5/55s occ,so*e- b 5,c0 o4 o-es! s&o,e o4 m,e,5s! co*veso* o4 &e '5,* 4o , *e+ 'o-/co* 'o,m o &e *o-/co* o4 *e+ me&o-s o moe e44ce* m,c&*e o o4 ,/om,o*. I s , m,*,eme* 'eo,ve esoe- o! o ,vo- o m*m;e b/s*ess 5osses! 88 ,*- s eco*;e- b Ac5e 283 o4 &e L,bo Co-e! ,s ,me*-e-! viz %
A. 283. Closure of establishment an reuction of personnel .T&e em'5oe m, ,5so em*,e &e em'5ome* o4 ,* em'5oee -/e o > > > ee*c&me* to pre'ent osses o &e c5os* o cess,o* o4 o'e,o*s o4 &e es,b5s&me* > > > b sev* , +e* *oce o* &e +o0e ,*- &e DOLE , 5e,s o*e mo*& be4oe &e *e*-e- -,e &eeo4. > > > I* c,se o4 ee*c&me* o 'eve* 5osses! &e se',,o* ', s&,55 be e@/v,5e* o o*e (1) mo*& ', o , 5e,s o*e&,54 mo*& ', 4o eve e, o4 sevce +&c&eve s &&e. > > > (Em'&,ss o/s.)
To e44ec , v,5- ee*c&me*! &e 4o55o+* e5eme*s m/s be 'ese*% (1) &e ee*c&me* s e,so*,b5 *ecess, ,*- 50e5 o 'eve* b/s*ess 5osses +&c&! 4 ,5e,- *c/e-! ,e *o mee5 e minimis! b/ s/bs,*,5! seo/s! ,*- e,5! o o*5 4 e>'ece-! ,e e,so*,b5 mm*e* ,s 'eceveob:ecve5 ,*- * oo- 4,& b &e em'5oe< (2) &e em'5oe seves +e* *oce bo& o &e em'5oees co*ce*e- ,*- &e De',me* o4 L,bo ,*- Em'5ome* , 5e,s , mo*& be4oe &e *e*-e-,e o4 ee*c&me*< (3) &e em'5oe ',s &e ee*c&e- em'5oee se',,o* ', * ,* ,mo/* 8
'escbe- b &e Co-e< (=) &e em'5oe e>ecses s 'eo,ve o ee*c& * oo- 4,&< ,*- (?) &e em'5oe /ses 4, ,*- e,so*,b5e ce, * ,sce,** +&o +o/5- be ee*c&e- o e,*e-. ##
T&e 5osses m/s be supporte by sufficient an convincing evience !1"1" &e *om,5 me&o- o4 -sc&,* +&c& s &e s/bmsso* o4 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s -/5 ,/-e- b *-e'e*-e* e>e*,5 ,/-os.1111
I* &e 'ese* c,se! As,0o*s/0 4,5e- o s/bm s ,/-e- 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s +&* &e +o e,s &, &e c,se +,s 'e*-* be4oe &e L,bo Abe. I s/bme- &em o*5 ,4e eceve- &e ,-vese :/-me* o4 &e L,bo Abe.
I*-/b,b5! &e NLRC s *o 'ec5/-e- 4om ecev* ev-e*ce o* ,''e,5 ,s ec&*c,5 /5es o4 ev-e*ce ,e *o b*-* * 5,bo c,ses. T&ee s! &o+eve! , c,ve, o &s 'o5c. T&e -e5, * &e s/bmsso* o4 ev-e*ce s&o/5- be c5e,5 e>'5,*e- ,*- s&o/5- ,-e@/,e5 'ove &e em'5oes ,55e,o* o4 &e c,/se 4o em*,o*. 1212 I* &e 'ese* c,se! As,0o*s/0 'o44ee- *o e>'5,*,o* be&*- &e be5,e- s/bmsso*. A*- &e 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s 1313 s/bme- covee- &e 'eo- 1##82""". $/&e! *oe &, &e ,/-e- 4*,*c,5 s,eme* 1=1= cove* &e 'eo- 1##82""" +,s 'e',e- * A'5 2""1! +&c& bes &e @/eso* o4 &o+ &e m,*,eme* 0*e+ , s/c& -,e o4 &e com',*s &/e 5osses o :/s4 # 1" 11 12 13 1=
'eo*es ee*c&me* * 1###.
$/&emoe! 4om &e ce4c,o* 1?1? ss/e- b &e Sec/es ,*- E>c&,*e Commsso* (SEC)! +o/5- ,''e, &, As,0o*s/0 4,5e- o s/bm s 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s o &e SEC! ,s e@/e/*-e &e 5,+! 4o &e 'eo- 1##82""" ,*- 2""32""?! &eeb 5e*-* ce-e*ce o 'eo*es &eo &, &e 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s s/bme- o* ,''e,5 m, &,ve bee* 4,bc,e-. I*-ee-! As,0o*s/0 co/5&,ve e,s5 s/bme- s ,/-e- 4*,*c,5 s,eme*s -/* &e 'e*-e*c o4 &e 'ocee-*s , &e 5,bo ,bes 5eve5! es'ec,55 co*s-e* &, +,s * 5,e 2""1 &, &e c,se +,s -ec-e-.
$o 4,5/e &e* o4 As,0o*s/0 o c5e,5 ,*- s,s4,co5 s/bs,*,e s 4*,*c,5 5osses!
1F
1F
&e -smss,5 o4 'eo*e o* ,cco/* o4 ee*c&me* s /*:/s4e-. eo*e s &/s e*5e- o &e +* e5e4s o4 ',me* o4 b,c0+,es ,*- o&e be*e4s 4om &e me o4 &s -smss,5 /' o &e 4*,5 o4 &s Co/s Decso*! ,*- e*s,eme* +&o/ 5oss o4 se*o &s o! * 5e/ &eeo4! ',me* o4 se',,o* ',.
O* &e e-/co* o4 'eo*es mo*e c5,ms o* ,cco/* o4 'esc'o*! /*-e Ac5e 113# o4 &e Cv5 Co-e! ,co*s 'escbe b &e mee 5,'se o4 &e me 'escbe- b 5,+. T&, 5,+ m, e&e be &e Cv5 Co-e o s'ec,5 5,+s ,s s'ec4c,55 m,*-,e- b Ac5e 11=8. I* 5,bo c,ses! &e s'ec,5 5,+ o* 'esc'o* s Ac5e 2#1 o4 &e L,bo Co-e +&c& 'ov-es%
Ac5e 2#1. 9o*e C5,ms. A55 mo*e c5,ms ,s* 4om em'5oeem'5oee e5,o*s ,cc/* -/* &e e44ecv o4 &s Co-e s* +e ie -itin tree (#) e*rs ro/ te ti/e te 0*1se o *0tion *00r1e2 oter-ise te s* +e +*rre ore'er. (em'&,ss s/''5e-)
T&e L,bo Co-e &,s *o s'ec4c 'ovso* o* +&e* , mo*e, c5,m ,cc/es. T&/s! ,,* &e e*e,5 5,+ o* 'esc'o* ,''5es. Ac5e 11?" o4 &e Cv5 Co-e 'ov-es &,
1? 1F
Ac5e 11?". T&e me 4o 'esc'o* 4o ,55 0*-s o4 ,co*s! +&e* &ee s *o s'ec,5 'ovso* +&c& o-,*s o&e+se! s&,55 be co/*e- ro/ te * te /* +e +ro13t. (em'&,ss s/''5e-)
!he ay the action may be brought s &e -, , c5,m s,e- ,s , 5e,5 'ossb5. 11 I* &e 'ese* c,se! &e -, c,me +&e* 'eo*e 5e,*e- o4 As,0o*s/0s -e-/co* 4om &s s,5, o4 &e ,mo/* o4 ,-v,*ces &e &,- eceve- b/ &,-! b &s c5,m! bee* se5e-! &e s,me &,v* bee* e45ece- * &s ',s5's! &e*ce! s ,ss/me- &, &e 5e,*e- o4 , &e me &e eceve- &s mo*&5 ',c&ec0s.
As &/s coec5 /5e- b bo& &e NLRC ,*- &e ,''e55,e co/! o*5 &ose 55e,5 -e-/co*s m,-e 4om 1## o 1### +&e* &e +,s -smsse- c,* be c5,me-! &e &,v* 45e- &s com'5,* o*5 * $eb/, 2""". e &s o+* com'/,o* ,*- ,s 'o'e5 ,-o'e- b &e NLRC * s ,ss,5e- Reso5/o* -,e- 9,c& 1"! 2""=! 'eo*e s &/s e*5e- o emb/seme* o4 88!"""."".
45ERE6ORE ! &e 'eo* s GRANTED . T&e Co/ o4 A''e,5s Decso* -,e- Decembe 2F!
2"" ,*- Reso5/o* -,e- A'5 2! 2""8 ,e SET ASIDE. T&e Decso* o4 &e L,bo Abe -,e- /*e 2#! 2""1 s REINSTATED, +& &e %ODI6ICATION &, 'eo*e! V5o G. A*,be! s e*5e- o 88!"""."" e'ese** emb/seme* o4 &e 55e,5 -e-/co*s 4om &s s,5,.
T&e c,se s RE%ANDED o &e N,o*,5 L,bo Re5,o*s Commsso* +&c& s DIRECTED o ecom'/e 6IT DISATC &e mo*e, ,+,-s -/e 'eo*e.
SO ORDERED.
1
