AMA COMPUTER COLLEGE, PARAÑAQUE, and/or AMABLE C. AGUILUZ IX, President, MRS. CELESTE BASALE, S!"oo# $ire!tor, MS. SOCORRO, MR. PATRIC% AZAZA, GRACE BERAIA and MA&AL &ACOB, Petitioners, 's. ROLA$O A. AUSTRIA, Res(ondent. )a!ts Be*ore t"is Co+rt is a Petition *or Re'ie on Certiorari- +nder R+#e o* t"e R+#es o* Ci'i# Pro!ed+re Pro!ed+re see0in1 t"e re'ersa# o* t"e Co+rt o* A((ea#s 2CA3 $e!ision4 dated Mar!" 45, 466 "i!" a7r8ed it" 8odi9!ation t"e $e!ision: o* t"e ationa# La;or Re#ations Co88ission 2LRC3, dated Mar!" :-, 466:.
T"e )a!ts )a!ts
Petitioner Petitioner AMA Co8(+ter Co##e1e, Para
or1ani?ed +nder t"e #as o* t"e P"i#i((ines. P"i#i((ines. T"e rest o* t"e (etitioners are (rin!i(a# o7!ers o* AMA. Res(ondent Ro#ando A. A+stria 2res(ondent3 as "ired ;> AMA on (ro;ationar> e8(#o>8ent as a !o##e1e dean on A(ri# 4, 4666. On A+1+st 44, 4666, res(ondent@s a((oint8ent as dean as !on9r8ed ;> AMA@s O7!erin C"ar1e 2OIC3, A!ade8i! Aairs, in "is Me8orand+8, "i!" readsD
A*ter a t"oro+1" e'a#+ation o* t"e (er*or8an!e o* Mr. Ro#ando A+stria as $ean, e are "a((> to in*or8 >o+ t"at "e is "ere;> o7!ia##> !on9r8ed as $ean o* AMA Co##e1e Para
In 'ie o* t"is, "e i## ;e entit#ed to a trans(ortation a##oan!e o* One T"o+sand )i'e F+ndred Sit> Pesos 2P-,6.663.
In t"e e'ent t"at Mr. Mr. A+stria 1i'es +( t"e $ean (osition or *ai#s to 8eet t"e standards o* t"e 2si!3 ;ased on t"e e'a#+ation o* "is i88ediate s+(erior, "e s"a## ;e !onsidered *or a *a!+#t> (osition and t"e a((ointee a1rees t"at "e s"a## #ose t"e trans(ortation a##oan!e a##oan!e "e enHo>s as $ean and ;e entit#ed to "is *a!+#t> rate.
So8eti8e in A+1+st 4666, res(ondent as !"ar1ed it" 'io#atin1 AMA@s E8(#o>ees@ Cond+!t and $is!i(#ine (ro'ided in its Orientation Fand;oo0 2Fand;oo03, as *o##osD -3 #ea0in1 o* test =+estions 43 *ai#+re to 8onitor 1enera# re=+ire8ents 'ita# to t"e o(erations o* t"e !o8(an> and :3 1ross ine7!ien!>. In a Me8orand+8J dated A+1+st 45, 4666, res(ondent re*+ted t"e !"ar1es a1ainst "i8. T"erea*ter, res(ondent as (#a!ed on (re'enti'e s+s(ension *ro8 Se(te8;er J, 4666 to O!to;er -6, 4666. oti!es5 o* In'esti1ation ere sent to res(ondent. E'ent+a##>, on Se(te8;er 45, 4666, res(ondent as in*or8ed o* "is dis8issa#. On O!to;er 4, 4666, res(ondent 9#ed a Co8(#aint-- *or I##e1a# $is8issa#, I##e1a# S+s(ension, onPa>8ent o* Sa#ar> and -:t" Mont" Pa> it" (ra>er *or $a8a1es and Attorne>Ks )ees a1ainst AMA and t"e rest o* t"e (etitioners. Tria# on t"e 8erits ens+ed. T"e La;or Ar;iterKs R+#in1 In "is $e!ision-4 dated $e!e8;er , 4666, t"e La;or Ar;iter "e#d t"at (etitioners a!!orded res(ondent d+e (ro!ess. T"e La;or Ar;iter "oe'er, a#so "e#d t"at res(ondent s+;stantia##> re*+ted t"e !"ar1es o* 1ross ine7!ien!>, in!o8(eten!e, and #ea0in1 o* test =+estions 9#ed a1ainst "i8. B+t sin!e res(ondent !an no #on1er ;e reinstated ;e>ond Se(te8;er -, 4666 as "is desi1nation as !o##e1e dean as on#> +nti# s+!" date, res(ondent s"o+#d instead ;e (aid "is !o8(ensation and trans(ortation a##oan!e *or t"e (eriod *ro8 Se(te8;er J, 4666 to Se(te8;er -, 4666, or t"e sa#ar> and ;ene9ts it""e#d (rior t"ereto. T"+sD FERE)ORE, (re8ises !onsidered, H+d18ent is "ere;> rendered orderin1 res(ondent AMA Co8(+ter Co##e1e, Para !o8(#ainant@s (ro(ortionate sa#ar> *or t"e (eriod ;e1innin1 J Se(te8;er 4666 to - Se(te8;er 4666. A11rie'ed, res(ondent a((ea#ed t"e said $e!ision to t"e LRC.-: T"e LRCKs R+#in1 On Mar!" :-, 466:, t"e LRC, in its $e!ision,- *o+nd 8erit in res(ondentKs a((ea#. T"e LRC o(ined t"at t"e (etitioners did not !ontra'ene res(ondentKs a##e1ation t"at "e "ad attained re1+#ar stat+s a*ter ser'in1 t"e t"ree 2:38ont" (ro;ationar> (eriod re=+ired +nder t"e Fand;oo0.- T"+s, "i#e t"e LRC s+stained t"e La;or Ar;iterKs 9ndin1 t"at (etitioners *ai#ed to esta;#is" t"e 1ro+nds *or res(ondentKs dis8issa#, it "e#d t"at t"e La;or Ar;iter erred in de!#arin1 t"at res(ondentKs a((oint8ent as on#> *ro8 A(ri# 4 to Se(te8;er -,
4666. A!!ordin1#>, t"e LRC de!#ared t"at res(ondent as a re1+#ar e8(#o>ee and t"at "e as i##e1a##> dis8issed. e'ert"e#ess, t"e LRC "e#d t"at reinstate8ent o+#d not (ro8ote ind+stria# "ar8on> "en!e, t"e LRC dis(osed o* t"e !ase in t"is iseD PREMISES COSI$ERE$ t"e $e!ision o* $e!e8;er , 4666 is ACATE$ and a ne one entered de!#arin1 !o8(#ainant i##e1a##> dis8issed. Res(ondents are dire!ted to (a> !o8(#ainant se(aration (a> !o8(+ted at one 2-3 8ont" (er >ear o* ser'i!e in addition to *+## ;a!0a1es *ro8 Se(te8;er 45, 4666 +nti# $e!e8;er , 4666, or in t"e a8o+nt o* one "+ndred t"o+sand t"ree "+ndred se'ent> ei1"t(esos N J6/-66 2P-66,:J.J63. T"e CAKs R+#in1 On Mar!" 45, 466, t"e CA "e#d t"at ;ased on t"e Fand;oo0 and on res(ondentKs a((oint8ent, it !an ;e in*erred t"at res(ondent as a re1+#ar e8(#o>ee, and as s+!", "is e8(#o>8ent !an on#> ;e ter8inated *or an> o* t"e !a+ses (ro'ided +nder Arti!#e 4J444 o* t"e La;or Code and a*ter o;ser'an!e o* t"e re=+ire8ents o* d+e (ro!ess. )+rt"er8ore, t"e CA +("e#d t"e La;or Ar;iter@s and t"e LRC@s si8i#ar 9ndin1s t"at res(ondent s+7!ient#> re;+tted t"e !"ar1es a1ainst "i8 and t"at (etitioners *ai#ed to (ro'e t"e 1ro+nds *or res(ondentKs dis8issa# Iss+e -. "at is t"e nat+re o* res(ondentKs e8(#o>8ent 4. as "e #a*+##> dis8issed Fe#d T"e instant !ase *a##s s=+are#> it"in t"e a*oresaid e!e(tion. T"e La;or Ar;iter "e#d t"at, "i#e (etitioners did not (ro'e t"e eisten!e o* H+st !a+ses in order to arrant res(ondentKs dis8issa#, t"e #atterKs e8(#o>8ent as dean !eased to eist +(on e(iration o* res(ondentKs ter8 o* e8(#o>8ent on Se(te8;er -, 4666. In s+8, t"e La;or Ar;iter "e#d t"at t"e nat+re o* res(ondentKs e8(#o>8ent is one *or a 9ed ter8. On t"e ot"er "and, t"e LRC and t"e CA ;ot" "e#d t"at res(ondent is a re1+#ar e8(#o>ee ;e!a+se res(ondent "ad *+##> ser'ed t"e t"ree 2:38ont" (ro;ationar> (eriod re=+ired in t"e Fand;oo0, "i!" t"e (etitioners *ai#ed to den> or !ontra'ene in t"e (ro!eedin1s ;e*ore t"e La;or Ar;iter. Prior to "is dis8issa#, res(ondent "e#d t"e (osition o* !o##e1e dean. T"e #etter o* a((oint8ent states t"at "e as o7!ia##> !on9r8ed as $ean o* AMA Co##e1e, Para8ent as dean is one it" a 9ed ter8. e "e#d t"at Arti!#e 4J6 o* t"e La;or Code does not (ros!ri;e or (ro"i;it an e8(#o>8ent !ontra!t it" a 9ed (eriod. E'en i* t"e d+ties o* t"e e8(#o>ee !onsist
o* a!ti'ities ne!essar> or desira;#e in t"e +s+a# ;+siness o* t"e e8(#o>er, t"e (arties are *ree to a1ree on a 9ed (eriod o* ti8e *or t"e (er*or8an!e o* s+!" a!ti'ities. T"ere is not"in1 essentia##> !ontradi!tor> ;eteen a de9nite (eriod o* e8(#o>8ent and t"e nat+re o* t"e e8(#o>ee@s d+ties )irst. T"e #etter o* a((oint8ent as !#ear. Res(ondent as !on9r8ed as $ean o* AMA Co##e1e, Para t"is Co+rt, e "ad ta0en noti!e, t"at ;> a> o* (ra!ti!e and tradition, t"e (osition o* dean is nor8a##> an e8(#o>8ent *or a 9ed ter8.: A#t"o+1" it does not a((ear on re!ord and neit"er as it a##e1ed ;> an> o* t"e (arties t"at res(ondent, ot"er t"an "o#din1 t"e (osition o* dean, !on!+rrent#> o!!+(ied a tea!"in1 (osition, it !an ;e ded+!ed *ro8 t"e #ast (ara1ra(" o* said #etter t"at t"e res(ondent s"a## ;e !onsidered *or a *a!+#t> (osition in t"e e'ent "e 1i'es +( "is deans"i( or *ai#s to 8eet AMAKs standards. S+!" (ro'ision reasona;#> ser'es t"e intention set *ort" in Brent S!"oo# t"at t"e deans"i( 8a> ;e rotated a8on1 t"e ot"er 8e8;ers o* t"e *a!+#t>.
Se!ond. T"e *a!t t"at res(ondent did not si1n t"e #etter o* a((oint8ent is o* no 8o8ent. T"e *a!t t"at res(ondent 'o#+ntari#> a!!e(ted t"e e8(#o>8ent, ass+8ed t"e (osition, and (er*or8ed t"e *+n!tions o* dean is !#ear indi!ation t"at "e 0noin1#> and 'o#+ntari#> !onsented to t"e ter8s and !onditions o* t"e a((oint8ent, in!#+din1 t"e 9ed (eriod o* "is deans"i(. Ot"er t"an t"e "andritten notes 8ade in t"e #etter o* a((oint8ent, no e'iden!e as e'er (resented to s"o t"at res(ondent@s !onsent as 'itiated, or t"at res(ondent o;He!ted to t"e said a((oint8ent or to an> o* its !onditions. )+rt"er8ore, in "is stat+s as dean, t"ere !an ;e no 'a#id in*eren!e t"at "e as s"a!0#ed ;> an> *or8 o* 8ora# do8inan!e eer!ised ;> AMA and t"e rest o* t"e (etitioners. T"+s, t"e +nani8o+s 9ndin1 o* t"e La;or Ar;iter, t"e LRC and t"e CA t"at res(ondent ade=+ate#> re*+ted a## t"e !"ar1es a1ainst "i8 ass+8es re#e'an!e on#> inso*ar as res(ondent@s dis8issa# *ro8 t"e ser'i!e as ee!ted ;> (etitioners ;e*ore e(iration o* t"e 9ed (eriod o* e8(#o>8ent. Tr+e, (etitioners erred in dis8issin1 t"e res(ondent, a!tin1 on t"e 8ista0en ;e#ie* t"at res(ondent as #ia;#e *or t"e !"ar1es #e'e#ed a1ainst "i8. B+t res(ondent a#so !annot !#ai8 entit#e8ent to an> ;ene9t oin1 *ro8 s+!" e8(#o>8ent a*ter Se(te8;er -, 4666, ;e!a+se t"e e8(#o>8ent, "i!" is t"e so+r!e o* t"e ;ene9ts, "ad, ;> t"en, a#read> !eased to eist. )ina##>, "i#e t"is Co+rt ad"eres to t"e (rin!i(#e o* so!ia# H+sti!e and (rote!tion to #a;or, t"e !onstit+tiona# (o#i!> to (ro'ide s+!" (rote!tion to #a;or is not 8eant to ;e an instr+8ent to o((ress e8(#o>ers. T"e !o88it8ent +nder t"e *+nda8enta# #a is
t"at t"e !a+se o* #a;or does not (re'ent +s *ro8 s+stainin1 t"e e8(#o>er "en t"e #a is !#ear#> on its side. FERE)ORE, t"e instant Petition is GRATE$ and t"e CA $e!ision in CAG.R. SP o. J is REERSE$ and SET ASI$E. T"e $e!ision o* t"e La;or Ar;iter, dated $e!e8;er , 4666, is "ere;> REISTATE$. o !osts.
