ANTONIO LOCSIN, II, Petitioner vs. MEKENI FOOD CORPORATION, Respondent. G.R. NO. 191!" De#e$%er 9, !1& Doctrine: In t'e (%sen#e o) spe#i*# ter$s (nd #onditions +overnin+ t'e #(r p(n (rr(n+e$ent (rr(n+e$ent %et-een t'e petitioner petitioner (nd Meeni, Meeni, ( /0(si#ont /0(si#ontr(#t0 r(#t0( ( re(tion re(tion -(s #re(t #re(ted ed %et-een %et-een t'e$. t'e$. Conse/ Conse/0en 0ent2 t2,, Meeni Meeni $(2 not enri#' enri#' itse) itse) %2 #'(r #'(r+i +in+ n+ peti petitio tioner ner )or t'e t'e 0s 0se e o) its its ve'i ve'i# #e e -'i# -'i#' ' is ot'e ot'err-is ise e (%so (%so0 0te te2 2 ne#ess(r2to t'e )0 (nd e3e#tive pro$otion o) its %0siness.
Facts Meeni o3ered Antonio Lo#sin II t'e position o) Re+ion( S(es M(n(+er to over see Meeni4s N(tion( C(pit( Re+ion S0per$(ret. In (ddition to ( #o$pens(tion (nd %ene*t p(#(+e, Meeni o3ered petitioner ( #(r p(n. Meeni4s o3er -(s #ont(ined in (n O3er S'eet. To To %e (%e to e3e#tive2 #over 'is (ppointed s(es territor2, Meeni )0rnis'ed petitioner -it' ( 0sed 5ond( Civi# #(r v(0ed (t P6!,!!!.!!, -'i#' 0sed to %e t'e servi#e ve'i#e o) petitioner4s i$$edi(te s0pervisor. Petitioner p(id )or 'is "!7 s'(re t'ro0+' s((r2 ded0#tions o) P",!!!.!! e(#' $ont'. Lo#s Lo#sin in resi resi+n +ned. ed. 82 t'en t'en,, ( tot( tot( o) P1 P11 1," ,"!! !! '(d '(d %een %een ded0 ded0#t #ted ed )ro$ )ro$ 'is 'is $ont'2 s((r2 (nd (ppied (s p(rt o) t'e e$po2ee4s s'(re in t'e #(r p(n. In 'is resi+n(tion etter, Lo#sin $(de (n o3er to p0r#'(se 'is servi#e ve'i#e %2 p(2in+ t'e t'e o0ts o0tst( t(nd ndin in+ + %((n %((n#e #e.. T'e T'e p(rt p(rtie ies s #o0 #o0d d not not (+ree (+ree on t'e t'e ter$ ter$s s o) t'e t'e proposed p0r#'(se. Petitioner t'0s ret0rned t'e ve'i#e to Meeni. Petitioner $(de person( (nd -ritten )oo-0ps re+(rdin+ 'is 0np(id s((ries (nd o3er to p0r#'(se 'is servi#e ve'i#e. Meeni repied t'(t t'e #o$p(n2 #(r p(n %ene*t (ppied on2 to e$po2ees -'o '(ve %een -it' t'e #o$p(n2 )or *ve 2e(rs )or t'is re(son, Lo#sin '(s to p(2 P11:,&6!.!! i) 'e opts to p0r#'(se t'e s($e. Petitioner *ed (+(inst Meeni, ( Co$p(int )or t'e re#over2 o) $onet(r2 #(i$s -'i# -'i#' ' -ere -ere e(r$ e(r$(r (r ed )or )or 'is 'is #ost #osts s'( '(ri rin+ n+ in t'e t'e #(r #(r p(n p(n.. T'e T'e #(se #(se -(s -(s do#eted in t'e NLRC.
LA: Dire#ted t'e resp. to deiver to #o$p(in(nt t'e #(r 0pon (tter4s p(2$ent o) P1!!,;&".6;. NLRC: LA4s de#ision is revised (nd set (side. Ordered Meeni to p(2 #o$p(in(nt $one2. Petit etitio ioner ner4s 4s ($ort ($orti<( i<(ti tion on p(2$ p(2$ent ents s s' s'o0 o0d d %e rei$% rei$%0r 0rse sed d i) not, not, 0n=0 0n=0st st enri# enri#'$ '$en entt -o0 -o0d d res0 res0t t,, (s t'e t'e ve'i ve'i# #e e re$( re$(ine ined d in t'e t'e poss posses essi sion on (nd (nd o-ners'ip o) Meeni. Meeni *ed *ed ( Petit Petition ion )or Certio Certior(r r(rii -it' -it' t'e CA, s(2in+ s(2in+ t'(t t'(t t'e NLRC NLRC CA: Meeni #o$$itted GAOD in 'odin+ it i(%e to petitioner (s it '(d no =0risdi#tion to resove petitioner4s #(i$s, -'i#' (re ( re #ivi in n(t0re. GRANTED.
NLRC MODIFIED in t'(t t'e rei$%0rse$ent o) Lo#sin4s p(2$ent 0nder t'e #(r p(n in t'e ($o0nt o) P11,"!!.!!, (nd t'e p(2$ent to 'i$ o) Meeni4s "!7 s'(re in t'e ($o0nt o) P11,"!!.!! (re DELETED. T'e rest o) t'e de#ision is AFFIRMED. In t'e (%sen#e o) eviden#e (s to t'e stip0(tions o) t'e #(r p(n (rr(n+e$ent %et-een Meeni (nd petitioner, t'e CA tre(ted petitioner4s $ont'2 #ontri%0tions in t'e tot( ($o0nt o) P11,"!!.!! (s rent(s )or t'e 0se o) 'is servi#e ve'i#e )or t'e d0r(tion o) 'is e$po2$ent -it' Meeni. T'e (ppe(te #o0rt (ppied Arti#es 1;6;1;6: o) t'e Civi Code, (nd (dded t'(t t'e inst($ents p(id %2 petitioner s'o0d not %e ret0rned to 'i$ in(s$0#' (s t'e ($o0nts (re not 0n#ons#ion(%e. T'ere)ore, Meeni '(s no o%i+(tion to ret0rn t'ese p(2$ents to Lo#sin. Converse2, Meeni '(s no ri+'t to de$(nd t'e p(2$ent o) t'e %((n#e o) t'e p0r#'(se pri#e )ro$ Lo#sin sin#e t'e (tter '(s (re(d2 s0rrendered possession o) t'e ve'i#e. Ot'er-ise, t'ere is 0n=0st enri#'$ent.
Issue >'et'er petitioner is entited to ( re)0nd o) ( t'e ($o0nts (ppied to t'e #ost o) t'e servi#e ve'i#e 0nder t'e #(r p(n.
Held: Petitioner: CA erred in tre(tin+ 'is $ont'2 #ontri%0tions to t'e #(r p(n (s rent(s )or t'e 0se o) 'is servi#e ve'i#e d0rin+ 'is e$po2$ent t'e #(r p(n -'i#' 'e (v(ied o) -(s ( %ene*t (nd it )or$ed p(rt o) t'e p(#(+e o) e#ono$i# %ene*ts +r(nted to 'i$ -'en 'e -(s 'ired (s Re+ion( S(es M(n(+er. Petitioner s0%$its t'(t t'is is s'o-n %2 t'e O3er S'eet -'i#' -(s s'o-n to 'i$ (nd -'i#' %e#($e t'e %(sis )or 'is de#ision to (##ept t'e o3er (nd -or )or Meeni. Petitioner (dds t'(t t'e (%sen#e (n2 eviden#e s'o-in+ #onditions o) t'e Meeni #o$p(n2 #(r p(n #(nnot =0sti)2 ( rei(n#e on Meeni4s se)servin+ #(i$s t'(t t'e )0 ter$s t'ereo) (ppied on2 to e$po2ees -'o '(ve %een -it' t'e #o$p(n2 )or (t e(st *ve 2e(rs. Fin(2, petitioner s0%$its t'(t t'e r0in+ in t'e Eis#o Too #(se #(nnot (pp2 to 'is #(se %e#(0se t'e #(r p(n s0%=e#t o) t'e s(id #(se invoved ( #(r o(n, -'i#' 'is #(r p(n %ene*t -(s not it -(s p(rt o) 'is #o$pens(tion p(#(+e, (nd t'e ve'i#e -(s (n i$port(nt #o$ponent o) 'is -or -'i#' re/0ired #onst(nt (nd 0ninterr0pted $o%iit2. Petitioner #(i$s t'(t t'e #(r p(n -(s in )(#t $ore %ene*#i( to Meeni t'(n to 'i$ %esides, 'e did not #'oose to (v(i o) it, (s it -(s si$p2 i$posed 0pon 'i$. 5e #on#0des t'(t it is on2 =0st t'(t 'is p(2$ents s'o0d %e re)0nded (nd ret0rned to 'i$.
Respondent: Meeni (sserts )0rt'er t'(t t'e servi#e ve'i#e -(s $ere2 ( o(n -'i#' '(d to %e p(id t'ro0+' t'e $ont'2 s((r2 ded0#tions.I) it is not (o-ed to re#over on t'e o(n, t'is -o0d #onstit0te 0n=0st enri#'$ent on t'e p(rt o) petitioner.
Ruling Meeni #(r p(n o3ered to petitioner -(s s0%=e#t to no ot'er ter$ or #ondition t'(n t'(t Meeni s'( #over one'() o) its v(0e, (nd petitioner s'( in t0rn p(2 t'e ot'er '() t'ro0+' ded0#tions )ro$ 'is $ont'2 s((r2. Meeni '(s not s'o-n t'(t t'ere (re ot'er ter$s (nd #onditions +overnin+ its #(r p(n (+ree$ent -it' petitioner. T'ere is no eviden#e to s0++est t'(t i) petitioner )(ied to #o$pete2 #over one'() o) t'e #ost o) t'e ve'i#e, t'en ( t'e ded0#tions )ro$ 'is s((r2 +oin+ to t'e #ost o) t'e ve'i#e -i %e tre(ted (s rent(s )or 'is 0se t'ereo) -'ie -orin+ -it' Meeni, (nd s'( not %e re)0nded. T'0s, t'e CA4s rei(n#e on Eis#o Too is -it'o0t %(sis, (nd its #on#0sions (rrived (t in t'e /0estioned de#ision (re $(ni)est2 $ist(en. To repe(t -'(t -(s s(id in Eis#o Too ? First. Petitioner does not deny that private respondent Rolando Lantan acquired the vehicle in question under a car plan for executives of the Elizalde group of companies. Under a typical car plan, the company advances the purchase price of a car to e paid ac! y the employee through monthly deductions from his salary. "he company retains o#nership of the motor vehicle until it shall have een fully paid for. $o#ever, retention of registration of the car in the company%s name is only a form of a lien on the vehicle in the event that the employee #ould ascond efore he has fully paid for it. "here are also stipulations in car plan agreements to the e&ect that should the employment of the employee concerned e terminated efore all installments are fully paid, the vehicle #ill e ta!en y the employer and all installments paid shall e considered rentals per agreement. It -(s $(de #e(r in t'e (%ove prono0n#e$ent t'(t inst($ents $(de on t'e #(r p(n $(2 %e tre(ted (s rent(s on2 -'en t'ere is (n e@press stip0(tion in t'e #(r p(n (+ree$ent to s0#' e3e#t. It -(s t'ere)ore p(tent error )or t'e (ppe(te #o0rt to (ss0$e t'(t, even in t'e (%sen#e o) e@press stip0(tion, petitioner4s p(2$ents on t'e #(r p(n $(2 %e #onsidered (s rent(s -'i#' need not %e ret0rned. Indeed, t'e Co0rt #(nnot (o- t'(t p(2$ents $(de on t'e #(r p(n s'o0d %e )or)eited %2 Meeni (nd tre(ted si$p2 (s rent(s )or petitioner4s 0se o) t'e #o$p(n2 servi#e ve'i#e. Nor $(2 t'e2 %e ret(ined %2 it (s p0rported o(n p(2$ents, (s it -o0d '(ve t'is Co0rt %eieve. In t'e *rst p(#e, t'ere is pre#ise2 no stip0(tion to s0#' e3e#t in t'eir (+ree$ent. Se#ond2, it $(2 not %e s(id t'(t t'e #(r p(n (rr(n+e$ent %et-een t'e p(rties -(s ( %ene*t t'(t t'e petitioner en=o2ed on t'e #ontr(r2, it -(s (n (%so0te ne#essit2 in Meeni4s %0siness oper(tions. Ce(r2, -it'o0t ( servi#e ve'i#e, Meeni4s %0siness #o0d on2 prosper (t ( sn(i4s p(#e, i) not #o$pete2 p(r(2
0n=0st2 enri#'ed or %ene*ted (t t'e e@pense o) (not'er. In t'e (%sen#e o) spe#i*# ter$s (nd #onditions +overnin+ t'e #(r p(n (rr(n+e$ent %et-een t'e petitioner (nd Meeni, ( /0(si#ontr(#t0( re(tion -(s #re(ted %et-een t'e$. Conse/0ent2, Meeni $(2 not enri#' itse) %2 #'(r+in+ petitioner )or t'e 0se o) its ve'i#e -'i#' is ot'er-ise (%so0te2 ne#ess(r2 to t'e )0 (nd e3e#tive pro$otion o) its %0siness. It $(2 not, 0nder t'e #(i$ t'(t petitioner4s p(2$ents #onstit0te rents )or t'e 0se o) t'e #o$p(n2 ve'i#e, re)0se to re)0nd -'(t petitioner '(d p(id, )or t'e re(sons t'(t t'e #(r p(n did not #(rr2 s0#' ( #ondition t'e s0%=e#t ve'i#e is (n od #(r t'(t is s0%st(nti(2, i) not )02, depre#i(ted t'e #(r p(n (rr(n+e$ent %ene*ted Meeni )or t'e $ost p(rt (nd (n2 person( %ene*t o%t(ined %2 petitioner )ro$ 0sin+ t'e ve'i#e -(s $ere2 in#ident(. Converse2, petitioner #(nnot re#over t'e $onet(r2 v(0e o) Meeni4s #o0nterp(rt #ontri%0tion to t'e #ost o) t'e ve'i#e t'(t is not propert2 or $one2 t'(t %eon+s to 'i$, nor -(s it intended to %e +iven to 'i$ in ie0 o) t'e #(r p(n. T'ere is 0n=0st enri#'$ent -'en ( person 0n=0st2 ret(ins ( %ene*t to t'e oss o) (not'er, or -'en ( person ret(ins $one2 or propert2 o) (not'er (+(inst t'e )0nd($ent( prin#ipes o) =0sti#e, e/0it2 (nd +ood #ons#ien#e.B T'e prin#ipe o) 0n=0st enri#'$ent re/0ires t-o #onditions 1 t'(t ( person is %ene*ted -it'o0t ( v(id %(sis or =0sti*#(tion, (nd t'(t s0#' %ene*t is derived (t t'e e@pense o) (not'er. T'e $(in o%=e#tive o) t'e prin#ipe (+(inst 0n=0st enri#'$ent is to prevent one )ro$ enri#'in+ 'i$se) (t t'e e@pense o) (not'er -it'o0t =0st #(0se or #onsider(tion.
