G.R. No. 170139, August 05, 2014 SAMEER OVERSEAS PLACEMENT AGENCY, INC. INC., Petitioner , v. OY C. CA!ILES, Respondent .
FACTS OF THE CASE: Petitioner, Sameer Overseas Placement Agency, Inc., is a recruitment and placement agency. Responding to an ad it published, respondent, Joy C. Cabiles, submitted her application for a uality control !ob in "ai#an, and signed #ith a one$year employment contract for a monthly salary of %"&'(,)*+.++. "he agency reuired her to pay a placement fee of +,+++.++ #hen she signed the t he employment contract. She #as deployed to #or- in "ai#an "ai#an for acoal, acoal, but #as given a position as a cutter. Sameer Overseas Placement Agency claims that on July '/, '00, a certain 1r. 2u#ang from acoal informed Joy, #ithout prior notice, that she #as terminated and that 3she should immediately report to their office to get her salary and passport.4 She #as as-ed to 3prepare for immediate repatriation.4 Joy claims that she #as told t old that from June 5* to July '/, '00, she only onl y earned a total of %"&0,+++. According to her, acoal acoal deducted %"&),+++ to cover her plane tic-et to 1anila. She filed a filed a complaint #ith the %ational 6abor Relations Commission against petitioner and acoal for illegal dismissal. S"#$$%&s '$($)s$* o
Respondent7s termination #as due to her inefficiency, negligence in her duties, and her 3failure to comply #ith the #or- reuirements 8of9 her foreign 8employer9: "he agency also claimed that it did not as- for a placement fee of %"&+,+++.++ ;evidenced by an OR bearing %"
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< 5+,)*+.++=: o
Petitioner added that acoal7s accreditation #ith petitioner had already been transferred to the Pacific 1anpo#er > 1anagement Services, Inc. ;Aug. +*, '00= thus, obligation is substituted #ith Pacific, #hich the latter denied
L"+o% A%+t$% Ru-)g*
Case is dismissed ? Rationale@ Complaint is based on mere allegations.
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%o ecess payment of placement fees, based on the official receipt presented presented by petitioner
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"ransfer of obligation to Pacific is immaterial
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NLRC Ru-)g*
Joy is illegally dismissed
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Reiterated the doctrine that the burden of proof to sho# that the dismissal #as based on a !ust or valid cause belongs to the employer It found that Sameer Overseas Placement Agency failed to prove that there #ere !ust causes for termination.
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"here #as no sufficient proof to sho# that respondent #as inefficient in her #or- and that she failed to comply #ith company reuirements./' Burthermore, procedural due process #as not observed in terminating respondent.
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id not rule on the issue of reimbursement of placement fees for lac- of !urisdiction
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It refused to entertain the issue of the alleged transfer of obligations to Pacific.
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It did not acuire !urisdiction over that issue because Sameer Overseas Placement Agency failed to appeal the 6abor Arbiter7s decision not to rule on t he matter.
Sameer filed for MR but NLRC dismissed; filed for petition for certiorari at CA CA Ru-)g* o
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Affirmed %6RC #ith respect to t he finding of illegal dismissal, Joy7s entitlement to the euivalent of three months #orth of salary, reimbursement of #ithheld repatriation epense, and attorney7s fees. Remanded case to %6RC to address the validity of petitioner7s petiti oner7s allegations against Pacific.
ISSUE OF THE CASE: o
O% the Court of Appeals erred #hen it affirmed the ruling of the %ational 6abor Relations Commission finding respondent illegally dismissed and a#arding her three months7 #orth of salary, the reimbursement of the cost of her repatriation, and attorney7s fees despite the alleged eistence of !ust causes of termination: O% there #as a !ust cause for termination because there #as a finding of acoal that respondent #as inefficient in
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her #or-: o
O% Pacific that should no# assume responsibility for acoal7s contractual obligations to the #or-ers originally recruited by petitioner
SC RULING/RATIONALE:
1.) JUST CAUSE: o
Sameer Overseas Placement Agency’s et!t!"n !s #!t$"%t mer!t& SC '!n( '"r res"n(ent&
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Sameer Overseas Placement Agency 'a!le( t" s$"# t$at t$ere #as )%st ca%se '"r ca%s!ng *"y’s (!sm!ssal& T$e eml"yer+ ,ac"al+ als" 'a!le( t" acc"r( $e r (%e r"cess "' la#&
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Indeed, employers have the prerogative to impose productivity and quality standards at work. They may also impose reasonable rules to ensure that the employees comply with these standards. 59 Failure to comply may be a just cause or their dismissal. !ertainly, employers cannot be compelled to retain the services o an employee who is guilty o acts that are inimical to the interest o the employer. "hile the law acknowledges the plight and vulnerability o workers, it does not #authori$e the oppression or sel%destruction o the employer.& 'anagement prerogative is recogni$ed in law and in our jurisprudence.This prerogative, however, should not be abused. It is #tempered with the employee(s right to security o tenure. "orkers are entitled to substantive and procedural due process beore termination. They may not be removed rom employment without a valid or just cause as determined by law and without going through the proper procedure.)ecurity o tenure or labor is guaranteed by our !onstitution
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,!t$ resect t" t$e r!g$ts "' "verseas F!l!!n" #"r-ers+ '"ll"# t$e r!nc!le "' le* loci contractus&
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P!nne( . Triple +ight Integrated )ervices, Inc. v. -!
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Art!cle 0 "' t$e La1"r C"(e en%merates t$e )%st ca%ses "' term!nat!"n 1y t$e eml"yer& T$%s: Art& 0& Term!nat!"n 1y eml"yer& An eml"yer may term!nate an eml"yment '"r any "' t$e '"ll"#!ng ca%ses: 2a3 Ser!"%s
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m!sc"n(%ct "r #!ll'%l (!s"1e(!ence 1y t$e eml"yee "' t$e la#'%l "r(ers "' $!s eml"yer "r reresentat!ve !n c"nnect!"n #!t$ $!s #"r-4213 Gr"ss an( $a1!t%al neglect 1y t$e eml"yee "' $!s (%t!es42c3 Fra%( "r #!ll'%l 1reac$ 1y t$e eml"yee "' t$e tr%st re"se( !n $!m 1y $!s eml"yer "r (%ly a%t$"r!5e( reresentat!ve42(3 C"mm!ss!"n "' a cr!me "r "''ense 1y t$e eml"yee aga!nst t$e ers"n "' $!s eml"yer "r any !mme(!ate mem1er "' $!s 'am!ly "r $!s (%ly a%t$"r!5e( reresentat!ves42e3 Ot$er ca%ses anal"g"%s t" t$e '"reg"!ng& o
Pet!t!"ner’s allegat!"n t$at res"n(ent #as !ne''!c!ent !n $er #"r- an( negl!gent !n $er (%t!es may+ t$ere'"re+ c"nst!t%te a )%st ca%se '"r term!nat!"n %n(er Art!cle 0213+ 1%t "nly !' et!t!"ner #as a1le t" r"ve !t&
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T$e 1%r(en "' r"v!ng t$at t$ere !s )%st ca%se '"r term!nat!"n !s "n t$e eml"yer& 6T$e eml"yer m%st a''!rmat!vely s$"# rat!"nally a(e7%ate ev!(ence t$at t$e (!sm!ssal #as '"r a )%st!'!a1le ca%se&8 Fa!l%re t" s$"# t$at t$ere #as val!( "r )%st ca%se '"r term!nat!"n #"%l( necessar!ly mean t$at t$e (!sm!ssal #as !llegal&
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T" s$"# t$at (!sm!ssal res%lt!ng 'r"m !ne''!c!ency !n #"r- !s val!(+ !t m%st 1e s$"#n t$at: 93 t$e eml"yer $as set stan(ar(s "' c"n(%ct an( #"r-mans$! aga!nst #$!c$ t$e
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eml"yee #!ll 1e )%(ge(4
3 t$e stan(ar(s "' c"n(%ct an( #"r-mans$! m%st $ave 1een c"mm%n!cate( t" t$e
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eml"yee4 an( 3 t$e c"mm%n!cat!"n #as ma(e at a reas"na1le t!me r!"r t" t$e eml"yee’s
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er'"rmance assessment& T$e reg%lar eml"yee m%st c"nstantly attemt t" r"ve t" $!s "r $er eml"yer t$at $e "r s$e
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meets all t$e stan(ar(s '"r eml"yment& C"%rts s$"%l( rema!n v!g!lant "n allegat!"ns "' t$e eml"yer’s 'a!l%re t" c"mm%n!cate #"r- stan(ar(s t$at #"%l( g"vern "ne’s eml"yment 6!' ;t$ese are< t" (!sc$arge !n g""( 'a!t$ ;t$e!r< (%ty t" a()%(!cate&8
2.) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENT o
Pet!t!"ner 'a!le( t" c"mly #!t$ t$e (%e r"cess re7%!rement A val!( (!sm!ssal re7%!res 1"t$ a val!( ca%se an( a($erence t" t$e val!( r"ce(%re "'
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(!sm!ssal&T$e eml"yer !s re7%!re( t" g!ve t$e c$arge( eml"yee at least t#" #r!tten n"t!ces 1e'"re term!nat!"n& One "' t$e #r!tten n"t!ces m%st !n'"rm t$e eml"yee "' t$e art!c%lar acts t$at may ca%se $!s "r
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$er (!sm!ssal&== T$e "t$er n"t!ce m%st 6;!n'"rm< t$e eml"yee "' t$e eml"yer’s (ec!s!"n&8 As!(e 'r"m t$e n"t!ce re7%!rement+ t$e eml"yee m%st als" 1e g!ven 6an ""rt%n!ty t" 1e $ear(&8 &3 Republic Act No. 8!2" ot#e$%i&e '(o%( & t#e Mi*$(t +o$'e$& (, O-e$&e& ilipi(o& Act o/ 100 o
Res"n(ent *"y Ca1!les+ $av!ng 1een !llegally (!sm!sse(+ !s ent!tle( t" $er salary '"r t$e %ne>!re( "rt!"n "' t$e eml"yment c"ntract t$at #as v!"late( t"get$er #!t$ att"rney’s 'ees an( re!m1%rsement "' am"%nts #!t$$el( 'r"m $er salary&
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Sec 9? "' RA 9?0 @ ONEB CLAIS
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SEC& 9& REPATRIATION OF ,ORDERS4 EERGENCB REPATRIATION FUN
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T$e re!nstatement "' t$e cla%se !n Re%1l!c Act N"& 0? #as n"t yet !n e''ect at t$e t!me "' res"n(ent’s term!nat!"n 'r"m #"r- !n 9=& Republic Act No. 8042 before it was amended by Republic Act No. 10022 governs this case.
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Re%1l!c Act& N"& 9??+ v!"lates t$e c"nst!t%t!"nal r!g$ts t" e7%al r"tect!"n an( (%e r"cess& ! reiterate their finding in errano v. "allant #aritime that limiting wages that
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should be recovered by an illegally dismissed overseas wor$er to three months is both a violation of due process and the e%ual protection clauses of the !onstitution. Res"n(ent *"y Ca1!les !s ent!tle( t" $er salary '"r t$e %ne>!re( "rt!"n "' $er c"ntract+
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!n acc"r(ance #!t$ Sect!"n 9? "' Re%1l!c Act N"& 0?& T$e a#ar( "' t$e t$ree.m"nt$ e7%!valence "' res"n(ent’s salary m%st 1e m"(!'!e( acc"r(!ngly& S!nce s$e starte( #"r-!ng "n *%ne + 9= an( #as term!nate( "n *%ly 9+ 9=+ res"n(ent !s ent!tle( t" $er salary 'r"m *%ly 9+ 9= t" *%ne + 90& 6T" r%le "t$er#!se #"%l( 1e !n!7%!t"%s t" et!t!"ner an( "t$er OF,s+ an( #"%l(+ !n e''ect+ sen( a #r"ng s!gnal t$at r!nc!als/eml"yers an( recr%!tment/mann!ng agenc!es may v!"late an OF,’s sec%r!ty "' ten%re #$!c$ an eml"yment c"ntract em1"(!es an( act%ally r"'!t 'r"m s%c$ v!"lat!"n 1ase( "n an %nc"nst!t%t!"nal r"v!s!"n "' la#&8 Res"n(ent !s als" ent!tle( t" an !nterest "' er ann%m "n $er m"ney cla!ms 'r"m t$e
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'!nal!ty "' t$!s )%(gment&
!.) IA3IITIES O EMPO4ER
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SC clar!'y t$e l!a1!l!t!es "' ,ac"al as r!nc!al an( et!t!"ner as t$e eml"yment agency t$at 'ac!l!tate( res"n(ent’s "verseas eml"yment& Sect!"n 9? "' t$e !grant ,"r-ers an( Overseas F!l!!n"s Act "' 9 r"v!(es t$at t$e '"re!gn
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eml"yer an( t$e l"cal eml"yment agency are )"!ntly an( severally l!a1le '"r m"ney cla!ms !ncl%(!ng cla!ms ar!s!ng "%t "' an eml"yer.eml"yee relat!"ns$! an(/"r (amages& T$!s sect!"n als" r"v!(es t$at t$e er'"rmance 1"n( '!le( 1y t$e l"cal agency s$all 1e ans#era1le '"r s%c$ m"ney cla!ms "r (amages !' t$ey #ere a#ar(e( t" t$e eml"yee& T$!s r"v!s!"n !s !n l!ne #!t$ t$e state’s "l!cy "' a''"r(!ng r"tect!"n t" la1"r an( allev!at!ng
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#"r-ers’ l!g$t& o
T$e !grant ,"r-ers an( Overseas F!l!!n"s Act "' 9 ens%res t$at "verseas #"r-ers $ave rec"%rse !n la# (es!te t$e c!rc%mstances "' t$e!r eml"yment& Jy r"v!(!ng t$at t$e l!a1!l!ty "' t$e '"re!gn eml"yer may 1e 6en'"rce( t" t$e '%ll e>tent8 aga!nst t$e l"cal agent+ t$e "verseas #"r-er !s ass%re( "' !mme(!ate an( s%''!c!ent ayment "' #$at !s (%e t$em&
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P!nne( @ Pr!et" vs NLRC The !ourt is not unaware o the many abuses suered by our overseas workers in the
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oreign land where they have ventured, usually with heavy hearts, in pursuit o a more ulilling uture. /reach o contract, maltreatment, rape, insuicient nourishment, sub%human lodgings, insults and other orms o debasement, are only a ew o the inhumane acts to which they are subjected by their oreign e mployers, who probably eel they can do as they please in their own country. "hile these workers may indeed have relatively little deense against e*ploitation while they are abroad, that disadvantage must not continue to burden them when they return to their own territory to voice their muted complaint. There is no reason why, in their very own land, the protection o our own laws cannot be e*tended to them in ull measure or the redress o their grievances.
T#e ,eci&io( o/ t#e Cou$t o/ Appel& i& AIRMED %it# 5o,i/ictio(. Petitio(e$ S5ee$ O-e$&e& Plce5e(t A*e(c6 i& ORDERED to p6 $e&po(,e(t Jo6 C. Cbile& t#e 5ou(t e7ui-le(t to #e$ &l$6 /o$ t#e u(epi$e, po$tio( o/ #e$ e5plo65e(t co(t$ct t ( i(te$e&t o/ 9 pe$ ((u5 /$o5 t#e /i(lit6 o/ t#i& ;u,*5e(t. Petitio(e$ i& l&o ORDERED to $ei5bu$&e $e&po(,e(t t#e %it##el, NT<=". &l$6 (, p6 $e&po(,e(t tto$(e6>& /ee& o/ NT<=. t ( i(te$e&t o/ 9 pe$ ((u5 /$o5 t#e /i(lit6 o/ t#i& ;u,*5e(t. T#e clu&e" ?o$ /o$ t#$ee @=) 5o(t#& /o$ e-e$6 6e$ o/ t#e u(epi$e, te$5" %#ic#e-e$ i& le&& i( Sectio( B o/ Republic Act No. 122 5e(,i(* Sectio( 1 o/ Republic Act No. 8!2 i& ,ecl$e, u(co(&titutio(l (," t#e$e/o$e" (ull (, -oi,.
