JOSE SONZA VS. ABS-CBN BROADCASTING CORPORATION G.R. No. 138051 June 10, 2004
FACTS ACTS:: In May May 19 1994 94,, AB ABSS-CB CBN N sin! sin!" " an a# a#!!$! !!$!n% n% &i%' &i%' %'! %'! M!( M!( an" an" Jay Jay Mana Mana! !$! $!n% n% an" an" D!)!(*+$!n% C*#+*#a%i*n MJMDC. ABS-CBN &as #!+#!s!n%!" y i%s /*#+*#a%! *0/!#s &'i(! MJMDC &as #!+#!s!n%!" y S*na, as P#!si"!n% an" !n!#a( $ana!#, an" Tian/* as i%s EVP an" %#!as2#!#. R!3!##!" %* in %'! a#!!$!n% as a!n%, MJMDC a#!!" %* +#*)i"! S*nas s!#)i/!s !5/(2si)!(y %* ABSCBN as %a(!n% 3*# #a"i* an" %!(!)isi*n. ABS-CBN a#!!" %* +ay S*na a $*n%'(y %a(!n% 3!! *3 P617, 777 3*# %'! 8#s% y!a# an" P61,777 3*# %'! s!/*n" an" %'i#" y!a#. On A+#i( 199, S*na &#*%! a (!%%!# %* ABS-CBN;s P#!si"!n%, E2!ni* <*+! III, &'!#! '! i##!)*/a(y #!sin!" in )i!& *3 %'! #!/!n% !)!n%s /*n/!#nin 'is +#*#a$ an" /a#!!#. T'! a/%s *3 %'! s%a%i*n a#! )i*(a%i)! *3 %'! A#!!$!n% A#!!$!n% an" sai" (!%%!# &i(( s!#)! s!#)! as n*%i/! *3 #!s/issi*n #!s/issi*n *3 sai" /*n%#a/%. /*n%#a/%. T'! (!%%!# a(s* a(s* /*n%a /*n%ain! in!" " %'! &ai)!# &ai)!# an" #!n2n #!n2n/ia /ia%i* %i*n n 3*# #!/*) #!/*)!#y !#y *3 %'! #!$ai #!$ainin nin a$*2n% a$*2n% s%i+2( s%i+2(a%! a%!" " 2% #!s!#)!s %'! #i'% %* s!!= #!/*)!#y *3 %'! *%'!# !n!8%s 2n"!# sai" A#!!$!n%. A3%!# %'! sai" (!%%!#, S*na 8(!" &i%' %'! D!+a#%$!n% *3
*&!)!#, ABS-CBN /*n%in2!" %* #!$i% S*nas $*n%'(y %a(!n% 3!!s 2% *+!n!" an*%'!# a//*2n% 3*# %'! sa$! +2#+*s!.
>E< >E
S*na S*na is an
T'! !(!$!n%s *3 an !$+(*y!!-!$+(*y!# #!(a%i*ns'i+ a#!: s!(!/%i*n an" !na!$!n% *3 %'! !$+(*y!!, %'! +ay$!n% *3 &a!s, %'! +*&!# *3 "is$issa( an" %'! !$+(*y!#s +*&!# %* /*n%#*( %'! !$+(*y!! *n %'! $!ans an" $!%'*"s y &'i/' %'! &*#= is a//*$+(is'!". T'! (as% !(!$!n%, %'! s*-/a((!" /*n%#*( %!s%, is %'! $*s% i$+*#%an% !(!$!n%. Selection and Engagement of Employee ABS-CBN !na!" SONZAs s!#)i/!s %* /*-'*s% i%s %!(!)isi*n an" #a"i* +#*#a$s !/a2s! *3 SONZAs +!/2(ia# s=i((s, %a(!n% an" /!(!#i%y /!(!#i%y s%a%2s. SONZA /*n%!n"s %'a% %'! "is/#!%i*n "is/#!%i*n 2s!" y #!s+*n"!n% in s+!/i8/a((y s!(!/%in an" 'i#in /*$+(ainan% *)!# *%'!# #*a"/as%!#s *3 +*ssi(y si$i(a# !5+!#i!n/! an" 2a(i8/a%i*n as /*$+(ainan% !(i!s #!s+*n"!n%s /(ai$ *3 in"!+!n"!n% /*n%#a/%*#s'i+. >*&!)!#, >*&!)!#, in"!+!n"!n% in"!+!n"!n% /*n%#a/%*#s /*n%#a/%*#s *3%!n *3%!n +#!s!n% +#!s!n% %'!$s!()!s %'!$s!()!s %* +*ss!ss +*ss!ss 2ni2! s=i((s, !5+!#%is! !5+!#%is! *# %a(!n% %a(!n% %* "is%in2is' "is%in2is' %'!$ %'!$ 3#*$ *#"ina *#"ina#y #y !$+(*y!!s. !$+(*y!!s. T'! s+!/i8/ s+!/i8/ s!(!/%i s!(!/%i*n *n an" 'i#in 'i#in *3 SONZA, SONZA, !/a2s! *3 'is 2ni2! s=i((s, %a(!n% an" /!(!#i%y s%a%2s n*% +*ss!ss!" y *#"ina#y !$+(*y!!s, is a /i#/2$s%an/! in"i/a%i)!, 2% n*% /*n/(2si)!, /*n/(2si)!, *3 an in"!+!n"!n% /*n%#a/%2a( #!(a%i*ns'i+. I3 SONZA "i" n*% +*ss!ss s2/' 2ni2! s=i((s, %a(!n% an" /!(!#i%y s%a%2s, ABS-CBN &*2(" n*% 'a)! !n%!#!" in%* %'! A#!!$!n% &i%' SONZA 2% &*2(" 'a)! 'i#!" 'i$ %'#*2' i%s +!#s*nn!( "!+a#%$!n% 2s% (i=! any *%'!# !$+(*y!!. Payment of Wages
ABS-CBN "i#!/%(y +ai" SONZA 'is $*n%'(y %a(!n% 3!!s &i%' n* +a#% *3 'is 3!!s *in %* MJMDC. SONZA ass!#%s %'a% %'is $*"! *3 3!! +ay$!n% s'*&s %'a% '! &as an !$+(*y!! *3 ABS-CBN. SONZA a(s* +*in%s *2% %'a% ABS-CBN #an%!" 'i$ !n!8%s an" +#i)i(!!s &'i/' '! &*2(" n*% 'a)! !n*y!" i3 '! &!#! %#2(y %'! s2!/% *3 a )a(i" * /*n%#a/%. A(( %'! %a(!n% 3!!s an" !n!8%s +ai" %* SONZA &!#! %'! #!s2(% *3 n!*%ia%i*ns %'a% (!" %* %'! A#!!$!n%. I3 SONZA &!#! ABS-CBNs !$+(*y!!, %'!#! &*2(" ! n* n!!" 3*# %'! +a#%i!s %* s%i+2(a%! *n !n!8%s s2/' as SSS, M!"i/a#!, 5 5 5 an" 16%' $*n%' +ay &'i/' %'! (a& a2%*$a%i/a((y in/*#+*#a%!s in%* !)!#y !$+(*y!#-!$+(*y!! /*n%#a/%. @'a%!)!# !n!8%s SONZA !n*y!" a#*s! 3#*$ /*n%#a/% an" n*% !/a2s! *3 an !$+(*y!#-!$+(*y!! #!(a%i*ns'i+. In a""i%i*n, SONZAs %a(!n% 3!!s a#! s* '2! an" *2% *3 %'! *#"ina#y %'a% %'!y in"i/a%! $*#! an in"!+!n"!n% /*n%#a/%2a( #!(a%i*ns'i+ #a%'!# %'an an !$+(*y!#!$+(*y!! #!(a%i*ns'i+. ABS-CBN a#!!" %* +ay SONZA s2/' '2! %a(!n% 3!!s +#!/is!(y !/a2s! *3 SONZAs 2ni2! s=i((s, %a(!n% an" /!(!#i%y s%a%2s n*% +*ss!ss!" y *#"ina#y !$+(*y!!s. Power of Dismissal F*# )i*(a%i*n *3 any +#*)isi*n *3 %'! A#!!$!n%, !i%'!# +a#%y $ay %!#$ina%! %'!i# #!(a%i*ns'i+. SONZA 3ai(!" %* s'*& %'a% ABS-CBN /*2(" %!#$ina%! 'is s!#)i/!s *n #*2n"s *%'!# %'an #!a/' *3 /*n%#a/%, s2/' as #!%#!n/'$!n% %* +#!)!n% (*ss!s as +#*)i"!" 2n"!# (a*# (a&s. D2#in %'! (i3! *3 %'! A#!!$!n%, ABS-CBN a#!!" %* +ay SONZAs %a(!n% 3!!s as (*n as AGENT an" Jay S*na s'a(( 3ai%'32((y an" /*$+(!%!(y +!#3*#$ !a/' /*n"i%i*n *3 %'is A#!!$!n%. E)!n i3 i% s2!#!" s!)!#! 2sin!ss (*ss!s, ABS-CBN /*2(" n*% #!%#!n/' SONZA !/a2s! ABS-CBN #!$ain!" *(ia%!" %* +ay SONZAs %a(!n% 3!!s "2#in %'! (i3! *3 %'! A#!!$!n%. T'is /i#/2$s%an/! in"i/a%!s an in"!+!n"!n% /*n%#a/%2a( #!(a%i*ns'i+ !%&!!n SONZA an" ABS-CBN. SONZA a"$i%s %'a% !)!n a3%!# ABS-CBN /!as!" #*a"/as%in 'is +#*#a$s, ABS-CBN s%i(( +ai" 'i$ 'is %a(!n% 3!!s. P(ain(y, ABS-CBN a"'!#!" %* i%s 2n"!#%a=in in %'! A#!!$!n% %* /*n%in2! +ayin SONZAs %a(!n% 3!!s "2#in %'! #!$ainin (i3! *3 %'! A#!!$!n% !)!n i3 ABS-CBN /an/!((!" SONZAs +#*#a$s %'#*2' n* 3a2(% *3 SONZA. Power of Control SONZA /*n%!n"s %'a% ABS-CBN !5!#/is!" /*n%#*( *)!# %'! $!ans an" $!%'*"s *3 'is &*#=. SONZAs a#2$!n% is $is+(a/!". ABS-CBN !na!" SONZAs s!#)i/!s s+!/i8/a((y %* /*-'*s% %'! M!( Jay +#*#a$s. ABS-CBN "i" n*% assin any *%'!# &*#= %* SONZA. T* +!#3*#$ 'is &*#=, SONZA *n(y n!!"!" 'is s=i((s an" %a(!n%. >*& SONZA "!(i)!#!" 'is (in!s, a++!a#!" *n %!(!)isi*n, an" s*2n"!" *n #a"i* &!#! *2%si"! ABS-CBNs /*n%#*(. SONZA "i" n*% 'a)! %* #!n"!# !i'% '*2#s *3 &*#= +!# "ay. T'! A#!!$!n% #!2i#!" SONZA %* a%%!n" *n(y #!'!a#sa(s an" %a+ins *3 %'! s'*&s, as &!(( as +#!- an" +*s%-+#*"2/%i*n s%a $!!%ins. ABS-CBN /*2(" n*% "i/%a%! %'! /*n%!n%s *3 SONZAs s/#i+%. >*&!)!#, %'! A#!!$!n% +#*'ii%!" SONZA 3#*$ /#i%i/iin in 'is s'*&s ABS-CBN *# i%s in%!#!s%s. T'! /(!a# i$+(i/a%i*n is %'a% SONZA 'a" a 3#!! 'an" *n &'a% %* say *# "is/2ss in 'is s'*&s +#*)i"!" '! "i" n*% a%%a/= ABS-CBN *# i%s in%!#!s%s. S!/*n", SONZA 2#!s 2s %* #2(! %'a% '! &as ABS-CBNs !$+(*y!! !/a2s! ABS-CBN s2!/%!" 'i$ %* i%s #2(!s an" s%an"a#"s *3 +!#3*#$an/!. SONZA /(ai$s %'a% %'is in"i/a%!s ABS-CBNs /*n%#*( n*% *n(y H*)!# 'is $ann!# *3 &*#= 2% a(s* %'! 2a(i%y *3 'is &*#=. T'! A#!!$!n% s%i+2(a%!s %'a% SONZA s'a(( ai"! &i%' %'! #2(!s an" s%an"a#"s *3 +!#3*#$an/! /*)!#in %a(!n%s *3 ABS-CBN. T'! A#!!$!n% "*!s n*% #!2i#! SONZA %* /*$+(y &i%' %'! #2(!s an" s%an"a#"s *3 +!#3*#$an/! +#!s/#i!" 3*# !$+(*y!!s *3 ABS-CBN. T'! /*"! *3 /*n"2/% i$+*s!" *n SONZA 2n"!# %'! A#!!$!n% #!3!#s %* %'! T!(!)isi*n an" Ra"i* C*"! *3 %'! a+isanan n $a B#*a"/as%!# sa Pi(i+inas BP, &'i/' 'as !!n a"*+%!" y %'! COMPANK ABS-CBN as i%s C*"! *3 E%'i/s. T'! BP /*"! a++(i!s %* #*a"/as%!#s, n*% %* !$+(*y!!s *3 #a"i* an" %!(!)isi*n s%a%i*ns. B#*a"/as%!#s a#! n*% n!/!ssa#i(y !$+(*y!!s *3 #a"i* an" %!(!)isi*n s%a%i*ns. C(!a#(y, %'! #2(!s an" s%an"a#"s *3 +!#3*#$an/! #!3!##!" %* in %'! A#!!$!n% a#! %'*s! a++(i/a(! %* %a(!n%s an" n*% %* !$+(*y!!s *3 ABS-CBN. In any !)!n%, n*% a(( #2(!s i$+*s!" y %'! 'i#in +a#%y *n %'! 'i#!" +a#%y in"i/a%! %'a% %'! (a%%!# is an !$+(*y!! *3 %'! 3*#$!#. In %'is /as!, SONZA 3ai(!" %* s'*& %'a% %'!s! #2(!s /*n%#*((!" 'is +!#3*#$an/!. @! 8n" %'a% %'!s! !n!#a( #2(!s a#! $!#!(y 2i"!(in!s %*&a#"s %'! a/'i!)!$!n% *3 %'! $2%2a((y "!si#!" #!s2(%, &'i/' a#! %*+-#a%in %!(!)isi*n an" #a"i* +#*#a$s %'a% /*$+(y &i%' s%an"a#"s *3 %'! in"2s%#y.
