Froel Pu-od v Ablaze Builders | G.R No. 230791| J. Tia! Pe"i"io#ers$ FROEL M. PU-OD, BOMBOM L. LAYAONA, DANILO L. ORSAL, JOSEPH B. FLORES AND JOEL M. PU-OD Res%o#de#"s$ ABLAZE Res%o#de#"s$ ABLAZE BUILDERS, BUILDERS, INC./ROLANDO INC./ROLANDO PAMPOLINO PAMPOLINO FA&T'$ Respon Responden dent- t-o!p o!p"n# "n# A$%"&e A$%"&e B'(%de B'(%de)s, )s, In., In., *e"ded *e"ded $# (ts p)es(d p)es(dent ent,, p)(+"t p)(+"te e )espon )esponden dentt Ro%"nd Ro%"ndo o P"!po%(no, (s en"ed (n t*e onst)'t(on $'s(ness. $'s(ness. Respondents p)"t(e *()e onst)'t(on o)e)s, 0o)e!"n, "nd ot*e) pe)sonne% on " pe) p)o1et $"s(s. Respondents *()ed pet(t(one)s on d(00e)ent d"tes, pos(t(ons "nd d"(%# s"%")(es, "s 0o%%os2 Na!e (a"e o) *!%lo+!e#" Posi"io# (ail+ 'alar+ F)oe% M. P'-od J'ne 3456 C")pente) P*p674.44 Joe% M. P'-od 47/48/48 9e%de) P*p674.44 Bo!$o! L. L"#"on" 47/5:/48 M"son P*p674.44 Josep* B. F%o)es 47/33/56 He%pe) P*p384.44 D"n(%o L. O)s"% 55/5;/55 M"son P*p674.44<:=
So!et(!e (n J'ne 3456 Respondents *()ed pet(t(one)s to o) (n (ts p)o1et %o"ted "t Roes A+en'e, >'e&on C(t# ?>C P)o1et@ 0o) t*e 0(n(s*(n p*"se. Fe$)'")# 38, 345 " p)o1et en(nee) o0 )espondents "%%eed%# to%d t*e pet(t(one)s t*"t t*e# ")e "%)e"d# te)!(n"ted 0)o! t*e() e!p%o#!ent $e"'se t*e)e "s no !o)e o) to $e done, e+en (0 (n )e"%(t#, t*e p*"se on *(* t*e# e)e o)(n on "s not #et o!p%eted D'e to t*e +e)$"% d(s!(ss"%, Pet(t(one)s 0(%ed " o!p%"(nt 0o) (%%e"% d(s!(ss"% ""(nst Respondents $e0o)e t*e L"$o) A)$(te) ?LA@ Pet(t(one)s "d!(tted t*"t t*e# no %one) *ose to $e )e(nst"ted d'e to t*e st)"(ned )e%"t(ons*(p o0 o t*e p")t(es Pet(t(one)s )espondents 'ne)e!on(o's%# te)!(n"ted t*e() e!p%o#!ent (t*o't (+(n t*e! "n oppo)t'n(t# to o ep%"(n t*e() s(de. *e# ")e ent(t%ed to t*e() !one# %"(!s, "s 0o%%os2 s"%")# d(00e)ent("% t*()teent* ?56 t*@ !ont* p"# o se)+(e (nent(+e %e"+e p"# *o%(d"# p"# )e0'nd 0o) (%%e"% ded't(ons (n%'d(n !o)"% d"!"es, ee!p%")# d"!"es "nd "tto)ne#s 0ees Respondents *e o!p"n# d(d not te)!(n"te pet(t(one)s e!p%o#!ent, $'t )"t*e), t*(s (s " "se o0 "$"ndon!ent o o0 o) on t*e p")t o0 t*e pet(t(one)s C%"(!ed t*"t so!et(!e (n Fe$)'")# 345, "0te) t*e )es(n"t(on o0 (ts p)o1et s(te en(nee), En). o Ro!eo C"%!" ?En). C"%!"@, t*e pet(t(one)s stopped "ppe")(n 0o) o), *(* "'sed de%"# (n t*e t')no+e) o0 t*e p)o1et to )espondents %(ent. Respondents *"s not #et $een 0'%%# p"(d $# (ts %(ent d'e to d(s'ss(ons on pen"%t(es. o Respondent Respondents s !"de e00o)ts e00o)ts (n o!!'n(" o!!'n("t(n t(n (t* pet(t(one) pet(t(one)s, s, spe(0( spe(0("%%# "%%#,, t*)o'* t*)o'* o!p%"(n" o!p%"(n"nt nt o L"#"on", $'t to no "+"(%. Respondents e)e o!pe%%ed to en"e t*e se)+(es o0 ot*e) pe)sonne% 0o) t*e o!p%et(on o0 t*e o >C p)o1et. A%%eed t*"t t*e o!p"n# ne+e) *e")d 0)o! t*e pet(t(one)s ""(n, eept on t*e (n0o)!"t(on (+en o $# En). En). C"%!" to t*e e00et t*"t pet(t(one)s pet(t(one)s *"+e "%)e"d# "%)e"d# "epted "epted e!p%o#!ent e!p%o#!ent "t "not*e) "not*e) onst)'t(on o!p"n# *e en(nee)s den(ed 'nde) o"t* t*"t e(t*e) o0 t*e! (n0o)!ed t*e pet(t(one)s on Fe$)'")# 38, 345, o o0 t*e() "%%eed +e)$"% d(s!(ss"% %"(!e %"(!ed d t*"t t*"t t*e pet(t( pet(t(one one)s )s e)e e)e not 'nde)p 'nde)p"(d "(d,, ons(d ons(de)( e)(n n t*"t t*"t d')(n d')(n t*e o')se o')se o0 t*e() t*e() o e!p%o#!ent t*e# e)e p)o+(ded (t* t)"nspo)t"t(on "%%o"nes, $o")d(n *o'ses, 0)ee $'t %(!(ted 'se o0 e%et)((t# "nd "te) LA )ende)ed " de(s(on ""(nst t*e pet(t(one)s, t*e)e$# d(s!(ss(n t*e() o!p%"(nt t*e)e "s no d(s!(ss"%, "t'"% o) onst)'t(+e, o!!(tted $# )espondents, s(ne t*e pet(t(one)s o *"+e 0"(%ed to s'$st"nt("te t*e() "%%e"t(on o0 t*e 0"t o0 d(s!(ss"%. *e LA den(ed t*e pet(t(one)s t*e() !one# %"(!s o NLRC (ss'ed )eso%'t(on (n 0"+o) o0 t*e pet(t(one)s Re+e)se LAs de(s(on. *e%d )espondents %("$%e to p"# t*e pet(t(one)s t*e() $""es "nd sep")"t(on p"#. o Respondent 0(%ed " Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Reconsideration with Substitution of Counsel and subsequently a Motion for Reconsideration Bot* den(ed $# NLRC CA )ende)ed " de(s(on, )"nt(n t*e pet(t(on "nd )e+e)s(n t*e NLRC de(s(on. ,R de#ied
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$)'s*ed "s(de te*n("%(t(es "nd )'%ed t*"t t*e NLRC (s (+en t*e d(s)et(on to ee)(se %($e)"%(t# to en"$%e (t to "se)t"(n t*e 0"ts o0 t*e "se speed(%# "nd o$1et(+e%# (t*o't "n# (%% (ntent to e") o't t*e %"$o)e)s )eso')es. 0o'nd t*"t )espondents e)e not (n "n# "# !ot(+"ted to 'nneess")(%# de%"# t*e )eso%'t(on o0 t*e "se. pet(t(one)s 0"(%ed to est"$%(s* t*e 0"t o0 t*e() d(s!(ss"% "nd t*"t t*e# "$"ndoned t*e() e!p%o#!ent.
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9/N CA e))ed *en (t "+e d'e o')se to Respondents Pet(t(on 0o) Ce)t(o)")( N/ 9/N Pet(t(one)s e)e (%%e"%%# d(s!(ssed 9/N t*e# "$"ndoned t*e# o) N/ N/
'& RNG$ The petition lacks merit. PROCEDR!" #SSE$ C! did not err when it %a&e due course to Res'ondents( Petition for Certiorari *e 3455 NLRC R'%es o0 P)oed')e !"nd"te t*"t " !ot(on 0o) )eons(de)"t(on o0 t*e NLRC de(s(on !'st $e 0(%ed (t*(n 54 "%end") d"#s 0)o! )ee(pt o0 s"(d de(s(on, ot*e)(se, t*e de(s(on s*"%% $eo!e 0(n"% "nd ee'to)# A !ot(on 0o) )eons(de)"t(on o0 t*e NLRC de(s(on !'st $e 0(%ed $e0o)e t*e )e!ed# o0 " pet(t(on 0o) certiorari !"# $e "+"(%ed o0, to en"$%e t*e o!!(ss(on to p"ss 'pon "nd o))et (ts !(st"es (t*o't t*e (nte)+ent(on o0 t*e o')ts. F"(%')e to 0(%e " !ot(on 0o) )eons(de)"t(on o0 t*e de(s(on (s " p)oed')"% de0et t*"t ene)"%%# "))"nts " d(s!(ss"% o0 t*e pet(t(on 0o) certiorari SC *e%d t*"t desp(te p)oed')"% %"pses, 0'nd"!ent"% ons(de)"t(on o0 s'$st"nt("% 1'st(e !"# "))"nt t*(s Co')t to de(de " "se on t*e !e)(ts )"t*e) t*"n d(s!(ss (t on " te*n("%(t#. In so do(n, 9e ee)(se o') p)e)o"t(+e (n %"$o) "ses t*"t no 'nd'e s#!p"t*# (s to $e "o)ded to "n# %"(! o0 p)oed')"% !(sstep, t*e (de" $e(n t*"t o') poe) !'st $e ee)(sed "o)d(n to 1'st(e "nd eG'(t# "nd s'$st"nt("% !e)(ts o0 t*e ont)o+e)s#, (n o)de) to "+o(d 0')t*e) de%"# L(e(se, t*e NLRC (s not )est)(ted $# t*e te*n("% )'%es o0 p)oed')e "nd (s "%%oed to $e %($e)"% (n t*e "pp%("t(on o0 (ts )'%es (n *e")(n "nd de(d(n %"$o) "ses Unde) Set(on 3, R'%e I o0 t*e 344: Re+(sed R'%es o0 P)oed')e "nd )e(te)"ted +e)$"t(! (n t*e s"!e p)o+(s(on o0 t*e 3455 NLRC R'%es o0 P)oed')e, (t (s p)o+(ded t*"t2 Section 2. Construction. *ese R'%es s*"%% $e %($e)"%%# onst)'ed to "))# o't t*e o$1et(+es o0 o t*e Const(t't(on, t*e L"$o) Code o0 t*e P*(%(pp(nes "nd ot*e) )e%e+"nt %e(s%"t(ons, "nd to "ss(st t*e p")t(es (n o$t"(n(n 1'st, eped(t(o's "nd (nepens(+e )eso%'t(on "nd sett%e!ent o0 %"$o) d(sp'tes. Section 10. Technical Rules Not Binding. *e )'%es o0 p)oed')e "nd e+(dene p)e+"(%(n (n o o')ts o0 %" "nd eG'(t# s*"%% not $e ont)o%%(n "nd t*e Co!!(ss(on s*"%% 'se e+e)# "nd "%% )e"son"$%e !e"ns to "se)t"(n t*e 0"ts (n e"* "se speed(%# "nd o$1et(+e%#, (t*o't )e")d to te*n("%(t(es o0 %" o) p)oed')e, "%% (n t*e (nte)est o0 d'e p)oess. In "n# p)oeed(n $e0o)e t*e Co!!(ss(on, t*e p")t(es !"# $e )ep)esented $# %e"% o'nse% $'t (t s*"%% $e t*e d't# o0 t*e C*"()!"n, "n# P)es(d(n Co!!(ss(one) o) Co!!(ss(one) to ee)(se o!p%ete ont)o% o0 t*e p)oeed(ns "t "%% st"es. SC )((d )'%es o0 p)oed')e !'st (+e "# to t*e de!"nds o0 s'$st"nt("% 1'st(e, "nd t*"t t*e "se !'st $e de(ded on t*e !e)(ts. p)e+"(%(n t)end (s to "o)d p")t# %(t("nts t*e "!p%est oppo)t'n(t# 0o) t*e p)ope) "nd 1'st o dete)!(n"t(on o0 t*e() "'ses, 0)ee 0)o! t*e onst)"(nts o0 need%ess te*n("%(t(es espe("%%# so (n t*(s "se *e)e t*e +")#(n "nd on0%(t(n 0"t'"% de%($e)"t(ons o0 t*e LA, t*e NLRC "nd t*e CA ")e 0"to)ed (n. S)ST!*T#!" #SSES$ Ne(t*e) (%%e"% d(s!(ss"% $# t*e e!p%o#e) no) "$"ndon!ent $# t*e e!p%o#ees e(sts (n t*(s "se *GA (',''A SC "")e o0 t*e 0"!(%(") )'%e (n %"$o) "ses t*"t t*e e!p%o#e) *"s t*e $')den o0 p)o+(n t*"t t*e o te)!(n"t(on "s 0o) " +"%(d o) "'t*o)(&ed "'se SC st)essed t*"t (t )e!"(ns (n'!$ent 'pon t*e e!p%o#ees t*"t t*e# s*o'%d 0()st est"$%(s* $# o o!petent e+(dene t*e 0"t o0 t*e() d(s!(ss"% 0)o! e!p%o#!ent S(ne "n "%%e"t(on (s not e+(dene, (t (s e%e!ent")# t*"t " p")t# "%%e(n " )(t("% 0"t !'st s'ppo)t o *(s "%%e"t(on (t* s'$st"nt("% It *"s "%so $een *e%d t*"t t*e e+(dene to p)o+e t*e 0"t o0 d(s!(ss"% !'st $e %e"), pos(t(+e "nd o on+(n(n. # ases o) illeal dis!issal be)ore "4e e!%lo+er !us" bear "4e burde# o) %roo) "o es"ablis4 o "4a" "4e "er!i#a"io# 5as )or a valid or au"4orized ause "4e e!%lo+ees !us" )irs" %rove b+ subs"a#"ial evide#e "4e )a" o) "4eir dis!issal )ro! servie. oiall+ i) "4ere is #o dis!issal "4e# "4ere a# be #o 6ues"io# as "o "4e leali"+ or illeali"+ "4ereo).
PR*'*NT &A'* t*e)e (s no "!p%e e+(dene to est"$%(s* " 'rima facie "se t*"t pet(t(one)s e)e d(s!(ssed 0)o! e!p%o#!ent. *"t t*e# e)e to%d on Fe$)'")# 38, 345 $# one o0 )espondents p)o1et en(nee) t*"t t*e() e!p%o#!ent *"s $een te)!(n"ted s(ne t*e)e (s no !o)e o) to $e done (s "t $est, spe'%"t(+e. Ident(t# o0 t*e p)o1et en(nee) "s not )e+e"%ed. No p)oo0 t*"t )espondents "'t*o)(&ed t*e 'nn"!ed p)o1et en(nee), o) "n# p)o1et en(nee) 0o) t*"t !"tte), to not(0# t*e pet(t(one)s o0 t*e() "%%eed d(s!(ss"%. Pet(t(one)s e)e %(e(se (nons(stent "s to t*e d"te o0 t*e() "%%eed e!p%o#!ent "nd 'nde) *"t p")t('%") ()'!st"ne e)e t*e# d(s!(ssed 0)o! e!p%o#!ent. Respondents p)esented "00(d"+(ts ee'ted $# t*e() p)o1et en(nee)s, En). C"%!" "nd En). B""%so, J)., *o "d"!"nt%# den(ed t*"t t*e# e"sed t*e pet(t(one)s o't o0 t*e() e!p%o#!ent No (nd("t(on t*"t pet(t(one)s e)e $"))ed 0)o! )espondents p)e!(ses o) e)e ot*e)(se dep)(+ed o0 "n# o) "ss(n!ent "0te) t*e "%%eed +e)$"% d(s!(ss"%. E+(dene s*oed t*"t )espondents t)(ed to ont"t t*e!, $'t (ts e00o)t "s to no "+"(%. ConseG'ent%#, )espondents %e")ned t*"t pet(t(one)s e)e "%)e"d# )epo)t(n 0o) o) (n "not*e) onst)'t(on o!p"n#. T4us i# "4e abse#e o) a#+ s4o5i# o) a# over" or %osi"ive a" %rovi# "4a" res%o#de#"s o 4ad dis!issed %e"i"io#ers "4e la""ers lai! o) illeal dis!issal a##o" be sus"ai#ed as "4e sa!e 5ould be sel)-servi# o#e"ural a#d o) #o %roba"ive value Aba#do#!e#" SC 0(nds t*"t pet(t(one)s d(d not "$"ndon t*e() e!p%o#!ent, "s e))oneo's%# %"(!ed $# t*e o )espondents. A$"ndon!ent (s " !"tte) o0 (ntent(on "nd "nnot %(*t%# $e p)es'!ed 0)o! e)t"(n eG'(+o"% "ts. o It (s (n'!$ent 'pon t*e e!p%o#e) to p)o+e t*e to e%e!ents t*"t !'st on') (n o)de) 0o) "n "t to o onst(t'te "$"ndon!ent2 F()st, )espondents !'st p)o+(de e+(dene t*"t pet(t(one)s 0"(%ed to )epo)t 0o) o) 0o) "n 'n1'st(0("$%e )e"son. Seond, )espondents !'st p)o+e pet(t(one)s o+e)t "ts s*o(n " %e") (ntent(on to se+e) t*e() t(es (t* t*e() e!p%o#e), (t* t*e seond e%e!ent "s t*e !o)e dete)!(n"t(+e 0"to), "nd $e(n !"n(0ested $# so!e o+e)t "ts. *e )eo)d s*os t*"t )espondents p)o00e)ed not*(n $e#ond $")e "%%e"t(ons to p)o+e t*"t o pet(t(one)s *"d "$"ndoned t*e() e!p%o#!ent. A%t*o'* )espondents !"de "n e00o)t (n )eG'()(n pet(t(one)s to )et')n to o), t*e)e "s ne(t*e) o p)oo0 t*"t pet(t(one)s 0"(%')e to o!p%# (t* t*e s"!e "s 0o) "n 'n1'st(0("$%e )e"son No p)oo0 t*"t pet(t(one)s "$sene "!o'nted to " %e") (ntent(on to se+e) t*e() e!p%o#!ent. o Me)e "$sene o) 0"(%')e to )epo)t 0o) o), e+en "0te) not(e to )et')n, does not neess")(%# "!o'nt o to "$"ndon!ent SC pet(t(one)s 0(%ed " o!p%"(nt 0o) (%%e"% d(s!(ss"% (t*o't opt(n to $e )e(nst"ted, "nd "d!(tt(n o (n t*e() Re+oinder t*"t )e(nst"te!ent (s no %one) 0e"s($%e d'e to st)"(ned )e%"t(ons*(p. *(s "t o0 0(%(n t*e o!p%"(nt (s (nons(stent (t* "$"ndon!ent o0 e!p%o#!ent. *(s e00et(+e%# o ne"tes "n# s'est(on t*"t t*e# *"d t*e (ntent(on to "$"ndon t*e() e!p%o#!ent. Respondents 0"(%ed to s*o " %e") p)oo0 o0 de%($e)"te "nd 'n1'st(0(ed (ntent on t*e p")t o0 t*e o pet(t(one)s to se+e) t*e e!p%o#e) e!p%o#ee )e%"t(ons*(p. *e ope)"t(+e "t (s st(%% t*e e!p%o#ees '%t(!"te "t o0 p'tt(n "n end to t*e() e!p%o#!ent, *(* (s o tot"%%# !(ss(n (n t*(s "se. (ele"io# o) A5a5rd o) Ba85aes a#d 'e%ara"io# Pa+ In "ses *e)e t*e)e (s $ot* "n "$sene o0 (%%e"% d(s!(ss"% on t*e p")t o0 t*e e!p%o#e) "nd "n o "$sene o0 "$"ndon!ent on t*e p")t o0 t*e e!p%o#ees, t*e )e!ed# (s )e(nst"te!ent $'t (t*o't $""es. Hoe+e), ons(de)(n t*"t t*e )e(nst"te!ent "s "%)e"d# (!poss($%e $# )e"son o0 t*e st)"(ned o )e%"t(ons o0 t*e p")t(es, "nd t*e 0"t t*"t pet(t(one)s "%)e"d# 0o'nd "not*e) e!p%o#!ent, e"* p")t# !'st $e") *(s o) *e) on %oss, t*'s, p%"(n t*e! on eG'"% 0oot(n. MZR Industries et.al. !. Ma"en Colam#ot *ese ()'!st"nes, t"en toet*e), the lack o$ o e!idence o$ dismissal and the lack o$ intent on the part o$ the respondent to a#andon his %ork the remed& is reinstatement #ut %ithout #ack%ages. 'o%e!er considering that reinstatement is no longer applica#le due to the strained relationship #et%een the parties and that Colam#ot alread& $ound another emplo&ment each part& must #ear his or her o%n loss thus placing them on e(ual $ooting . o
e)(%#, in a case %here the emplo&ee)s $ailure to %ork %as occasioned neither #& his a#andonment nor #& a termination the #urden o$ economic loss is not right$ull& shi$ted to the emplo&er* each part& must #ear his o%n loss In s'!, t*e NLRC )'%(n *o%d(n t*"t respondents %ere not constructi!el& dismissed and that the& did not a#andon their "o#s must #e reinstated su#"ect to the modi$ication that the a%ard o$ separation pa& in their $a!or must #e deleted. B"sed on t*e dot)(nes e!$od(ed (n t*e "0o)e!ent(oned "ses, t*(s Co')t (s onst)"(ned to )'%e o t*"t t*e pet(t(one)s ")e not ent(t%ed to t*e "")d o0 $""es "nd sep")"t(on p"#. Cons(de)(n t*"t pet(t(one)s ess"t(on o0 e!p%o#!ent "s ne(t*e) $)o'*t "$o't $# "$"ndon!ent o no) (%%e"% d(s!(ss"%, "nd t*e() )e(nst"te!ent (s no %one) 0e"s($%e d'e to st)"(ned )e%"t(ons "nd $e"'se t*e# d(d not opt to $e )e(nst"ted, o'p%ed (t* t*e 0"t t*"t t*e# "%)e"d# 0o'nd e!p%o#!ent e%se*e)e, t*e %e"% e00et (s t*"t t*e $')den o0 eono!( %oss (s not )(*t0'%%# s*(0ted to t*e e!p%o#e) t*e p")t(es !'st $e") t*e $')den o0 t*e() on %oss. J(G,*NT$ :*R*F/R*, 9e (*N; t*e pet(t(on. *e De(s(on d"ted No+e!$e) 8, 345K "nd Reso%'t(on d"ted M")* 34, 3457 o0 t*e Co')t o0 Appe"%s (n CA-.R. SP No. 53;74, ")e *e)e$# R*<*R'*( "nd '*T A'(* "nd " ne 1'd!ent (s )ende)ed de%")(n pet(t(one)s 0"(%')e to p)o+e t*e 0"t o0 t*e() d(s!(ss"% "nd t*"t )espondento!p"n# (n t')n, 0"(%ed to s*o "$"ndon!ent on t*e p")t o0 t*e pet(t(one)s. *'s, pet(t(one)s ")e not ent(t%ed to t*e() !one# %"(!s, e(t*e) (n t*e 0o)! o0 $""es o) sep")"t(on p"#.
