REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION Regional Arbitration Branch No III Cit! o" San Fernan#o$ Pa%&anga ROSALINA ' DOMIN(O$ Co%&lainant$ )er*+*
NLRC CASE No RAB III ,-./0-/1.02 3Labor Arbiter4 Hon Lean#ro M 5o*e6
MECTAP INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENT SER'ICES INC$ Re*&on#ent* 7......................... 7............ .......................... .......................... .......................7 ..........7
POSITION PAPER co+n +n*e *el$ l$ +n +nto to th thi* i* Ho Hono nora rabl ble e O8 O8ce ce$$ RESPONDENTS $ b! co re*&ect"+ll! re*&ect"+ll ! *tate4
STATEMENT OF FACTS AND RELEVANT ANTECEDENTS
0 Co%&laina nan nt a& a&& &lie# a* a Do%e*tic Hel&er 9ith re*&on#ent MECTAP "or it* "oreign &rinci&al in Mala!*ia She 9a* gi)en the &ro&er orientation an# %a#e to co%&l! 9ith the nee#e# re:+ire%ent* / Co%& Co %&la laiina nant nt agr agree# tha thatt her her %ont %onthl hl! ! *alar *alar! ! *hall *hall be On One e Th Tho+ o+*a *an# n# T9o H+ H+n# n#rre# Ma Mala la!* !*ia ian n Ri Ring nggi gitt 3R 3RM M 0$/,,oo6$ 9hich i* e:+i)alent to US;2,,oo$ an# to be &ai# in Mala!*ian Ringgit$ a* e)i#ence# b! the 5ob De*cri&tion #+l! *igne# b! co%&lainant$ a &hotoco&! o" 9hich i* hereto attache# attach e# an# %ar
1 U&o &on n *+b +b%i %i** **iion b! co% co%&la lain inan antt to re*& re*&on on#e #ent nt* * o" her &a&er* an# tra)el #oc+%ent*$ co%&lainant *igne# an o)er*ea* e%&lo!%ent contract an# the *a%e 9a* &roce**e# b! re re*&o *&on#e n#ent nt 9it 9ith h POE POEA A 9hi 9hich ch e)e e)ent+a nt+alll lll! ! a&& a&&ro ro)e# )e# her &a&er* "or #e&lo!%ent to Mala!*ia? 2 Co%&lainant re*&on#ent*?
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@ On A&ril /$ /,01$ re*&on#ent #e&lo!e# co%&lainant to Mala!*ia to her agree# e%&lo!er an# at their agree# %onthl! *alar!? Co%&lainant 9a* gi)en the &ac Co%&lainant *tate# in her G+itclai%* a* "ollo9*4 “I, ROSALINA DOMINGO, of legal age, Single/Maie!, Fili"ino an! #i$% P%ili""ine A!!e&& a$ Ri'al, N(e)a E*i+a, an! Mala&ian A!!e&& a$ -. alan SS0/12 Pe$aling aa, af$e %a)ing 3een !(l &#on $o la#, !e"o&e an! &a4 .5 T%a$ I %ee3 ie)o*a3l an! a3&ol($el !i&*%age 6 Mala&ian Agen* 7 2
SRIMANISA #i$% 3(&ine&& a!!e&& a$ 8(ala L(6"(, Mala&ia an! 6 P%ili""ine Agen* MECTAP xxxx, i$& O9*e& an! S$a: fo6 an an! all lia3ili$ie& an! o3liga$ion& ai&ing fo6 o, *onne*$e! #i$% 6 o)e&ea& e6"lo6en$; 05 T%a$ I %a)e no 6oe *lai6& o !e6an!&, 6one$a o, o$%e#i&e again&$ &ai! Mala&ian Agen* SRIMANISA an! P%ili""ine Agen* MECTAP, i$& O9*e& an! S$a: an! E6"loee& %a)ing 3een e $o !e&i&$ fo6 ini$ia$ing, in&$i$($ing an! "o&e*($ing an &(i$, a*$ion o, "o*ee!ing again&$ &ai! Mala&ian Agen* SRIMANISA an! P%ili""ine Agen* i$& O9*e&, S$a: an! e6"loee& ai&ing fo6 6 o)e&ea& e6"lo6en$; ?5 T%a$ I (n!e&$an! an! a**e"$ $%a$ $%i& A9!a)i$ &%all *on&$i$($e an! 6a3e in)o>e! a& $o$al !efen&e in an a*$ion o "o*ee!ing& 3efoe NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION @NLRC PILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOMENT ADMINISTRATION @POEA; 15 T%a$ I %a)e ea! an! (n!e&$oo! $%e *on$en$& %eeof an! no fa(!, )iolen*e o in$i6i!a$ion %a& 3een e6"loe! again&$ an "e&on; 5 T%a$ I a6 exe*($ing $%i& A9!a)i$ >no#ingl, #illingl an! )ol(n$ail $o a$$e&$ $o $%e $($% of $%e foegoing an! fo #%a$e)e o$%e legal "("o&e& i$ 6a &e)e; 5 T%a$ I f(ll (n!e&$an! $%e a3o)e $e6& an! *on!i$ion& an! I &ign $%i& A9!a)i$ feel an! )ol(n$ail5”
A &hotoco&! o" her *ai# =A8#a)it o" Relea*e$ ai)er G+itclai%> i* hereto attache# an# %ar
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0, On No)e%ber /-$ /,01$ co%&lainant ret+rne# bac< ho%e to the Phili&&ine*? 00 A"ter nine 36 %onth* "ro% her arri)al$ that i*$ on A+g+*t 00$ /,02$ co%&lainant le# thi* ca*e be"ore thi* Honorable O8ce a&&arentl! #i*regar#ing her G+ticlai% be"ore re*&on#ent* an# the O8ce o" the Labor Attache in Mala!*ai No9$ *he clai%* ACTUAL illegal #i*%i**al$ non. &a!%ent o" *alar!9age* an# attorne!J* "ee* Hence$ thi* &o*ition &a&er III ISSUE HETHER OR NOT THIS CASE SHOULD BE DISMISSED BECAUSE COMPLAINANT IS (UILTY OF ESTOPPEL AND LACHES IN FILIN( THIS CASE A(AINST THE RESPONDENTS HETHER OF DISMISSAL
NOT
THERE
IS
ACTUAL
ILLE(AL
HETHER OR NOT COMPLAINANT HAS CAUSE OF ACTION A(AINST THE RESPONDENTS I' DISCUSSIONS
Ba*ic i* the &rinci&le that he 9ho i* negligent or o%itte# to a**ert a right 9ithin a rea*onable ti%e i* &re*+%e# that he ha* either aban#one# or #ecline# to a**ert *+ch a right Thi* i* the *a%e *it+ation in thi* ca*e Co%&lainant entere# into a *ettle%ent 9ith the re*&on#ent an# *he e7ec+te# the =A8#a)it o" Relea*e$ ai)er G+itclai%> In "act$ e)en a"ter *he ret+rne# bac< to the Phili&&ine*$ neither #i# co%&lainant le i%%e#iatel! an! co%&laint "or +n#er&a!%ent o" *alar! nor #e%an# "ro% the re*&on#ent* her allege# clai%* She 9aite# the la&*e o" nine 36 %onth* be"ore co%ing to thi* Honorable O8ce an# le# the &re*ent co%&laint
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5+ri*&r+#ence on thi* %atter i* 9ell.*ettle# here a &art! *lee&* on hi* right* an# allo9* lache* to *et in$ the *a%e i* "atal to hi* ca*e 3Peri:+et$ 5r )* Inter%e#iate A&&ellate Co+rt$ /1SCRA 6 Lache* ha# been #ene# a* the "ail+re or neglect "or an +nrea*onable an# +ne7&laine# length o" ti%e$ to #o that 9hich b! e7erci*ing #+e #iligence co+l# or *ho+l# ha)e been #one earlier? it i* negligence or o%i**ion to a**ert a right 9ithin a rea*onable ti%e$ 9arranting a &re*+%&tion that the &art! entitle# to a**ert it either ha* aban#one# it or #ecline# to a**ert it 3OliKon )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ /1 SCRA 02-6 It i* to be note# in thi* ca*e that co%&lainant 9a* #e&lo!e# on A&ril /$ /,01$ an# a"ter *he entere# into a *ettle%ent 9ith the e%&lo!er an# recei)ing con*i#eration thereo"$ *he ca%e bac< to the Phili&&ine* on No)e%ber /-$ /,02 I%%e#iatel! a"ter her arri)al$ co%&lainant co+l# ha)e le# thi* ca*e be"ore thi* Honorable O8ce$ b+t *he #i# not$ in*tea#$ onl! a"ter the la&*e o" nine 36 %onth*$ that i*$ onl! on A+g+*t 00$ /,02 9hen *he le# thi* ca*e be"ore thi* Honorable O8ce Thi* #ela!e# action in ling thi* ca*e i* "atal to co%&lainantJ* ca+*e o" action a*
LACHES ha*
alrea#! *et in The la9 hel&* the )igilant b+t not tho*e 9ho *lee& on their right* For ti%e i* a %ean* o" #e*tro!ing obligation* an# action*$ beca+*e ti%e r+n* again*t the *loth"+l an# conte%ner* o" their o9n right* 3(onKale* )* Inter%e#iate A&&ellate Co+rt$ 0@ SCRA @$ 5an+ar! /$ 0--6 5
Lache* i* the "ail+re or neglect$ "or an +nrea*onable length o" ti%e to #o that 9hich b! e7erci*ing #+e #iligence co+l# or *ho+l# ha)e been #one earlier? it i* negligence or o%i**ion to a**ert a right 9ithin a rea*onable ti%e 9arranting a &re*+%&tion that the &art! entitle# to a**ert it ha* either aban#one# it or ha* #ecline# to a**ert it 3Cor%ero )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ et al$ /2 SCRA /0 0@? Bailon.Ca*ilao )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ 0, SCRA 1- 0--? 'illa%or )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ 0/ SCRA @2 0--? Marcelino )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ /0, SCRA 222$ 22 0/? Ching )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ 0-0 SCRA $ 0 0,6 Lache* ha* al*o been #ene# a* *+ch neglect or o%i**ion to a**ert a right ta
That &rinci&le o" lache* i* a creation o" e:+it! 9hich$ a* *+ch$ i* a&&lie# not reall! to &enaliKe neglect or *lee&ing +&on one* right$ b+t rather to a)oi# recogniKing a right 9hen to #o *o 9o+l# re*+lt in a clearl! ine:+itable *it+ation A* an e:+itable #e"en*e$ lache* #oe* not concern it*el" 9ith the character o" the #e"en#ant* title$ b+t onl! 9ith 9hether or not b! rea*on o" the &lainti* long inaction or ine7c+*able neglect$ he *ho+l# be barre# "ro% a**erting thi* clai% at all$ beca+*e to allo9 hi% to #o *o 9o+l# be ine:+itable an# +n+*t to the #e"en#ant
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The #octrine o" lache* or *tale #e%an#* i* ba*e# +&on gro+n#* o" &+blic &olic! 9hich re:+ire*$ "or the &eace o" *ociet!$ the #i*co+rage%ent o" *tale clai%* an# i* &rinci&all! a :+e*tion o" the ine:+it! or +n"airne** o" &er%itting a right or clai% to be en"orce# or a**erte# The ti%e.honore# r+le anchore# on &+blic &olic! i* that relie" 9ill be #enie# to a litigant 9ho*e clai% or #e%an# ha* beco%e *tale or 9ho ha* ac:+ie*ce# "or an +nrea*onable length o" ti%e$ or 9ho ha* not been )igilant or 9ho ha* *le&t on hi* right* either b! negligence$ "oll! or inattention In other 9or#*$ &+blic &olic! re:+ire*$ "or the &eace o" *ociet!$ the #i*co+rage%ent o" clai%* gro9n
*tale
"or
non.a**ertion?
th+*
lache* i* an
i%&e#i%ent to the a**ertion or en"orce%ent o" a right 9hich ha* beco%e$ +n#er the circ+%*tance*$ ine:+itable or +n"air to &er%it>
Not9ith*tan#ing the "oregoing$ co%&lainant ha* no ca+*e o" action beca+*e all o" her *alarie* 9ere #+l! &ai# b! her e%&lo!er? in "act$ *he e7ec+te# a recei&t 3Anne7 =B> hereo"6
Nonethele**$ a* rea*one# o+t abo)e an# a* &ro)en b! #oc+%ent* *+b%itte# here9ith$ co%&lainant clai%* ha)e been *ettle# an# &ai# an# alrea#! e7ec+te# a :+itclai% an# relea*e in "a)or o" the re*&on#ent*$ hence thi* ca*e %+*t be #i*%i**e# It %a! be arg+e# that the co%&lainant 9o+l# not ha)e le# thi* ca*e i" there 9a* no )iolation o" her right Thi* arg+%ent
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lac<* ba*i* in "act an# in la9 beca+*e *o6"lainan$
of
allege!
illegal
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*o6"lainan$ %a& no *a(&e of a*$ion &%o(l! no$ 3e ignoe! on $%e "e$ex$ $%a$ %eein *o6"lainan$ #o(l! no$ %a)e e $%e "la*e of $%e e)i!en*e &(36i$$e! 3 %eein e&"on!en$& $%a$ in!ee! $%ee #a& no &(*% (n!e"a6en$”5
HEREFORE$ &re%i*e* con*i#ere#$ it i* %o*t re*&ect"+ll! %o)e# that the in*tant co%&laint be #i*%i**e# "or lac< o" %erit Other relie"* +*t an# e:+itable in the &re%i*e* are li
Att! RO(ER ALIM RODRI(UEQ Co+n*el "or Re*&on#ent* co MECTAP INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENT SER'ICES INC Roo%* 0,@ 0, 'IR B+il#ing 0-2, E Ro#rig+eK$ C+bao$ G+eKon Cit! PTR No -212-0 Pa*ig Cit! 5an+ar! 00$ /,01 IBP No --/@-2 Pa*ig Cit! 5an+ar! 0,$ /,01 MCLE No III .?1?2 Pa*ig Cit! A&ril /$ /,0, Roll No 21
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES6 6 SS
'ERIFICATION I$ METELINA B FORMENTO$ o" legal age an# Fili&ino$ a"ter ha)ing been #+l! *9orn to in accor#ance 9ith la9$ #e&o*e an# *tate THAT4 I a% the &re*i#ent o" Mecta& International Place%ent Ser)ice* Incor&orate#$ one o" the re*&on#ent* in the abo)e. entitle# ca*e$ that I ha)e ca+*e# the &re&aration an# ling o" the "oregoing POSITION PAPER an# I ha)e rea# an# +n#er*too# the content* thereo" an# the *a%e are tr+e an# correct to the be*t o" %! &er*onal
NOTARY PUBLIC
Co&! "+rni*he#4 ROSALINA DOMIN(O Co%&lainant
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