Eastern Telecom vs Eastern Telecom Employees Union

8/12/2019 Eastern Telecom vs Eastern Telecom Employees Union

1/25

Republic of the Philippines

Supreme Court

Manila

THIRD DIVISION


2/25

EASTERN

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

PHILIPPINES, INC,

Petitioner,

- versus -

EASTERN TELECOMS

EMPLO!EES UNION,

Respondent.

"R No #$%&&%

Present:

VELASCO, JR.,J.,Chairperson,

BERSAM!,

ABA",

ME!"O#A, and

PERLAS-BER!ABE,JJ.

Promul$ated:

%e&ruar' (, )*+)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D E C I S I O N

MENDOZA, J.:

"esi$nated as additional mem&er in lieu o Asso/iate Justi/e "iosdado M. Peralta, per Rale

dated Jul' +, )*+*.


3/25

Beore t0e Court is a petition or revie1 on /ertiorari see2in$ modii/ation

o t0e June )3, )**( "e/ision+4+5 o t0e Court o Appeals (CA)and its "e/em&er

+), )**( Resolution,)4)5 in CA-6.R. SP !o. 7+789, annullin$ t0e April )(, )**3

Resolution45 o t0e !ational La&or Relations Commission (NLRC) in !LRC-

!CR-CC-***)8-*9 entitled ;In the Matter of the Labor Dispute in Eastern

Telecounications, !hilippines, Inc."

The '(cts

As s'nt0esi


4/25

+pril 4. The company"s main ground in postponing the payment ofbonuses is due to allege continuing deterioration of company"s financialposition $hich started in the year . 0o$ever, ETPI $hile postponingpayment of bonuses sometime in +pril 4, such payment $ould also besub1ect to availability of funds.

Invo#ing the *ide +greement of the existing 2ollective 3argaining+greement for the period %-4 bet$een ETPI and ETE! $hichstated as follo$s

4. Employment Related Bonuses. The Company

confirms that the 14th, 15th and 16thmonth bonuses otherthan 1!thmonth pay" are #ranted.$

The union strongly opposed the deferment in payment of the bonuses byfiling a preventive mediation complaint $ith the 5263 on 7uly , ,the purpose of $hich complaint is to determine the date $hen the bonusshould be paid.

In the conference held at the 5263, ETPI reiterated its stand thatpayment of the bonuses $ould only be made in +pril 4 to $hich dateof payment, the union agreed. Thus, considering the agreement forgedbet$een the parties, the said agreement $as reduced to a 6emorandum of+greement. The union re8uested that the President of the company shouldbe made a signatory to the agreement, ho$ever, the latter refused to sign.In addition to such a refusal, the company made a sudden turnaround inits position by declaring that they $ill no longer pay the bonuses until theissue is resolved through compulsory arbitration.

The company"s change in position $as contained in a letter dated+pril %4, 4 $ritten to the union by 6r. *onny 7avier, 9ice-President for0uman :esources and +dministration, stating that ;the deferred releaseof bonuses had been superseded and voided due to the union"s filing of theissue to the 5263 on 7uly %bonuses" to any and all union members.=

Thus, on +pril /, 4, ETE! filed a 5otice of *tri#e on the

ground of unfair labor practice for failure of ETPI to pay the bonuses ingross violation of the economic provision of the existing 23+.

?n 6ay %@, 4, the *ecretary of Aabor and Employment, finding

that the company is engaged in an industry considered vital to theeconomy and any $or# disruption thereat $ill adversely affect not only its


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operation but also that of the other business relying on its services,certified the labor dispute for compulsory arbitration pursuant to +rticle/ (8) of the Aabor 2ode as amended.

+cting on the certified labor dispute, a hearing $as called on 7uly

%/, 4 $herein the parties have submitted that the issues for resolutionare (%) unfair labor practice and () the grant of %4th, %thand %/thmonthbonuses for , and %4thmonth bonus for 4. Thereafter, they $eredirected to submit their respective position papers and evidence in supportthereof after $hich submission, they agreed to have the case consideredsubmitted for decision.4'4

n its position paper,3435 t0e Eastern =ele/oms Emplo'ees >nion (ETE%)

/laimed t0at Eastern =ele/ommuni/ations P0ilippines, n/. (ET!I)0ad /onsistentl'

and voluntaril' &een $ivin$ out +9t0mont0 &onus durin$ t0e mont0 o April, and

+3t0and +?t0mont0 &onuses ever' "e/em&er o ea/0 'ear (sub&ect bonuses)to its

emplo'ees rom +783 to )**), even 10en it did not reali t0eori /ontended t0at t0e un@ustiied and mali/ious reusal o t0e /ompan'

to pa' t0e su&@e/t &onuses 1as a /lear violation o t0e e/onomi/ provision o t0e

9495d. at 8?-8(.

3435d. at 979-3+9.


6/25

CBA and /onstitutes unair la&or pra/ti/e (%L!).A//ordin$ to E=E>, su/0 reusal

1as not0in$ &ut a plo' to spite t0e union or &rin$in$ t0e matter o dela' in t0e

pa'ment o t0e su&@e/t &onuses to t0e !ational Con/iliation and Mediation Board

(NCM'). t pra'ed or t0e a1ard o moral and eemplar' dama$es as 1ell as

attorne's ees or t0e unair la&or pra/ti/e alle$edl' /ommitted &' t0e /ompan'.

On t0e ot0er 0and, E=P in its position paper,?4?5 uestioned t0e aut0orit' o

t0e !LRC to ta2e /o$ni


7/25

%urt0er, E=P ar$ued t0at t0e &onus provision in t0e )**+-)**9 CBA Side

A$reement 1as a mere airmation t0at t0e distri&ution o &onuses 1as

dis/retionar' to t0e /ompan', premised and /onditioned on t0e su//ess o t0e

&usiness and availa&ilit' o /as0. t su&mitted t0at said &onus provision partoo2 o

t0e nature o a ;one-time $rant 10i/0 t0e emplo'ees ma' demand onl' durin$ t0e

'ear 10en t0e Side A$reement 1as ee/uted and 1as never intended to /over t0e

entire term o t0e CBA. %inall', E=P emp0asi


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*? ?:DE:ED.&'&

Respondent E=E> moved or re/onsideration &ut t0e motion 1as denied &'t0e !LRC in its Resolution dated Au$ust +, )**3.

A$$rieved, E=E> iled a petition or /ertiorari(4(5 &eore t0e CA as/ri&in$

$rave a&use o dis/retion on t0e !LRC or disre$ardin$ its eviden/e 10i/0

alle$edl' 1ould prove t0at t0e su&@e/t &onuses 1ere part o t0e union mem&ers1a$es, salaries or /ompensations. n addition, E=E> asserted t0at t0e !LRC

/ommitted $rave a&use o dis/retion 10en it ruled t0at E=P is not /ontra/tuall'

&ound to $ive said &onuses to t0e union mem&ers.

n its assailed June )3, )**( "e/ision, t0e CA de/lared t0at t0e Side

A$reements o t0e +77( and )**+ CBA /reated a /ontra/tual o&li$ation on E=P to

/oner t0e su&@e/t &onuses to its emplo'ees 1it0out ualii/ation or /ondition. t

also ound t0at t0e $rant o said &onuses 0as alread' ripened into a /ompan'

pra/ti/e and t0eir denial 1ould amount to diminution o t0e emplo'ees &eneits. t

0eld t0at E=P /ould not see2 reu$e under Arti/le +)?8 o t0e Civil Code &e/ause

t0is provision 1ould appl' onl' 10en t0e dii/ult' in ulillin$ t0e /ontra/tual

o&li$ation 1as maniestl' &e'ond t0e /ontemplation o t0e parties, 10i/0 1as not

t0e /ase t0erein. =0e CA, 0o1ever, sustained t0e !LRC indin$ t0at t0e alle$ation

8485d. at 7*.

(4(5d. at 93*-9(*.


9/25

o >LP 1as devoid o merit. =0e dispositive portion o t0e uestioned de/ision

reads:

B0E:EC?:E, premises considered, the instant petition is:+5TED and the resolution of the 5ational Aabor :elations2ommission dated +pril


10/25

II

THE COURT O' APPEALS COMMITTED "RAVE ERROR O' LA)

)HEN IT DISRE"ARDED THE RULE THAT 'INDIN"S O' 'ACTS O'

0UASI1UDICIAL -ODIES ARE ACCORDED 'INALIT! I' THE! ARE

SUPPORTED -! SU-STANTIAL EVIDENCE CONSIDERIN" THAT

THE CONCLUSIONS O' THE NLRC )ERE -ASED ON SU-STANTIAL

AND OVER)HELMIN" EVIDENCE AND UNDISPUTED 'ACTS

III

IT )AS A "RAVE ERROR O' LA) 'OR THE COURT O' APPEALS TO

CONSIDER THAT THE -ONUS "IVEN -! EASTERN

COMMUNICATIONS TO ITS EMPLO!EES IS NOT DEPENDENT ON

THE REALI2ATION O' PRO'ITS

IV

THE COURT O' APPEALS COMMITTED A "RAVE ERROR O' LA)

)HEN IT DISRE"ARDED THE UNDISPUTED 'ACT THAT EASTERN

COMMUNICATIONS IS SU''ERIN" 'ROM TREMENDOUS

'INANCIAL LOSSES, AND ORDERED EASTERN COMMUNICATIONS

TO "RANT THE -ONUSES RE"ARDLESS O' THE 'INANCIAL

DISTRESS O' EASTERN COMMUNICATIONS

V

THE COURT O' APPEALS COMMITTED A "RAVE ERROR O' LA)

)HEN IT ARRIVED AT THE CONCLUSION THAT THE "RANT O'


11/25

-ONUS "IVEN -! EASTERN COMMUNICATIONS TO ITS

EMPLO!EES HAS RIPENED INTO A COMPAN! PRACTICE+*4+*5

A /areul perusal o t0e voluminous pleadin$s iled &' t0e parties leads t0e

Court to /on/lude t0at t0is /ase revolves around t0e ollo1in$ /ore issues:

+. D0et0er or not petitioner E=P is lia&le to pa' +9 t0, +3t0and +?t0

mont0 &onuses or t0e 'ear )** and +9 t0mont0 &onus or t0e 'ear)**9 to t0e mem&ers o respondent union and

). D0et0er or not t0e CA erred in not dismissin$ outri$0t E=E>s

petition or /ertiorari.

E=P insists t0at it is under no le$al /ompulsion to pa' +9t0, +3t0and +?t0

mont0 &onuses or t0e 'ear )** and +9t0 mont0 &onus or t0e 'ear )**9

/ontendin$ t0at t0e' are not part o t0e demanda&le 1a$e or salar' and t0at t0eir

$rant is /onditional &ased on su//essul &usiness perorman/e and t0e availa&ilit'

o /ompan' proits rom 10i/0 to sour/e t0e same. =o t01art E=E>s monetar'

/laims, it insists t0at t0e distri&ution o t0e su&@e/t &onuses alls 1ell 1it0in t0e

/ompan's prero$ative, &ein$ an a/t o pure $ratuit' and $enerosit' on its part.

=0us, it /an 1it00old t0e $rant t0ereo espe/iall' sin/e it is /urrentl' pla$ued 1it0

e/onomi/ dii/ulties and inan/ial losses. t alle$es t0at t0e /ompan's is/al

situation $reatl' de/lined due to tremendous and etraordinar' losses it sustained

&e$innin$ t0e 'ear )***. t /laims t0at it /annot &e /ompelled to a/t li&erall' and

+*4+*5d. at 9.


12/25

/oner upon its emplo'ees additional &eneits over and a&ove t0ose mandated &'

la1 10en it /annot aord to do so. t posits t0at so lon$ as t0e $ivin$ o &onuses

1ill result in t0e inan/ial ruin o an alread' distressed /ompan', t0e emplo'er

/annot &e or/ed to $rant t0e same.

E=P urt0er avers t0at t0e a/t o $ivin$ t0e su&@e/t &onuses did not ripen

into a /ompan' pra/ti/e ar$uin$ t0at it 0as al1a's &een a /ontin$ent one dependent

on t0e reali


13/25

t0at t0e CA /ourt s0ould 0ave rerained rom ta/2lin$ issues o a/t and, instead,

limited itsel on issues o @urisdi/tion and $rave a&use o @urisdi/tion amountin$ to

la/2 or e/ess o it.

The Cou3t4s Rulin5

As a $eneral rule, in petitions or revie1 under Rule 93, t0e Court, not &ein$

a trier o a/ts, does not normall' em&ar2 on a re-eamination o t0e eviden/e

presented &' t0e /ontendin$ parties durin$ t0e trial o t0e /ase /onsiderin$ t0at t0e

indin$s o a/ts o t0e CA are /on/lusive and &indin$ on t0e Court. =0e rule,

0o1ever, admits o several e/eptions, one o 10i/0 is 10en t0e indin$s o t0e

appellate /ourt are /ontrar' to t0ose o t0e trial /ourt or t0e lo1er administrative

&od', as t0e /ase ma' &e.++4++5 Considerin$ t0e in/on$ruent a/tual /on/lusions o

t0e CA and t0e !LRC, t0is Court inds tsel o&li$ed to resolve it.

=0e pivotal uestion determinative o t0is /ontrovers' is 10et0er t0e

mem&ers o E=E> are entitled to t0e pa'ment o +9t0, +3t0and +?t0mont0 &onuses

or t0e 'ear )** and +9t0mont0 &onus or 'ear )**9.

Ater an assiduous assessment o t0e re/ord, t0e Court inds no merit in t0e

petition.

++4++5Ne Cit 'uil*ers, Inc. #. National Labor Relations Coission, 977 P0il. )*8, )+)-)+

F)**3G.


14/25

%rom a le$al point o vie1, a &onus is a $ratuit' or a/t o li&eralit' o t0e

$iver 10i/0 t0e re/ipient 0as no ri$0t to demand as a matter o ri$0t. +)4+)5 =0e

$rant o a &onus is &asi/all' a mana$ement prero$ative 10i/0 /annot &e or/ed

upon t0e emplo'er 10o ma' not &e o&li$ed to assume t0e onerous &urden o

$rantin$ &onuses or ot0er &eneits aside rom t0e emplo'ees &asi/ salaries or

1a$es.+4+5

A &onus, 0o1ever, &e/omes a demanda&le or enor/ea&le o&li$ation 10en it

is made part o t0e 1a$e or salar' or /ompensation o t0e emplo'ee.+94+95

Parti/ularl' instru/tive is t0e rulin$ o t0e Court in Metro Transit +rani$ation,

Inc. #. National Labor Relations Coission,+34+35 10ere it 1as 1ritten:

Bhether or not a bonus forms part of $ages depends upon thecircumstances and conditions for its payment. If it is additionalcompensation $hich the employer promised and agreed to give $ithoutany conditions imposed for its payment, such as success of business orgreater production or output, then it is part of the $age. 3ut if it is paidonly if profits are realiFed or if a certain level of productivity is achieved, itcannot be considered part of the $age. Bhere it is not payable to all but

+)4+)5!hilippine National Construction Corp. #. National Labor Relations Coission, 93

P0il. )9, + F+778G.

+4+5Tra*er-s Roal 'an #. National Labor Relations Coission, 6.R. !o. ((+?(, Au$ust

*, +77*, +(7 SCRA )89, )88.

+9[14]!hilippine National Construction Corp. #. National Labor Relations Coission , ??P0il. ?8( F+777G!hilippine Duplicators, Inc. #. National Labor Relations Coission, ++ P0il.

9*8, 9+7 F+773G.

+34+35+3 P0il. (?*, (8+ F+773G.


15/25


16/25

A readin$ o t0e a&ove provision reveals t0at t0e same provides or t0e

$ivin$ o +9t0, +3t0and +?t0mont0 &onuses ithout /ualification. =0e 1ordin$ o

t0e provision does not allo1 an' ot0er interpretation. =0ere 1ere no /onditions

spe/iied in t0e CBA Side A$reements or t0e $rant o t0e &eneits /ontrar' to t0e

/laim o E=P t0at t0e same is @ustiied onl' 10en t0ere are proits earned &' t0e

/ompan'. =erse and /lear, t0e said provision does not state t0at t0e su&@e/t &onuses

s0all &e made to depend on t0e E=Ps inan/ial standin$ or t0at t0eir pa'ment 1as

/ontin$ent upon t0e reali intended t0at t0e su&@e/t

&onuses 1ould &e dependent on t0e /ompan' earnin$s, su/0 intention s0ould 0ave

&een epressl' de/lared in t0e Side A$reements or t0e &onus provision s0ould 0ave

&een deleted alto$et0er. n t0e a&sen/e o an' proo t0at E=Ps /onsent 1as

vitiated &' raud, mista2e or duress, it is presumed t0at it entered into t0e Side

A$reements voluntaril', t0at it 0ad ull 2no1led$e o t0e /ontents t0ereo and t0at

it 1as a1are o its /ommitment under t0e /ontra/t. Veril', &' virtue o its

in/orporation in t0e CBA Side A$reements, t0e $rant o +9t0, +3t0and +?t0mont0

&onuses 0as &e/ome more t0an @ust an a/t o $enerosit' on t0e part o E=P &ut a

/ontra/tual o&li$ation it 0as underta2en. Moreover, t0e /ontinuous /onerment o

&onuses &' E=P to t0e union mem&ers rom +77( to )**) &' virtue o t0e Side


17/25

A$reements evidentl' ne$ates its ar$ument t0at t0e $ivin$ o t0e su&@e/t &onuses is

a mana$ement prero$ative.

%rom t0e ore$oin$, E=P /annot insist on &usiness losses as a &asis or

disre$ardin$ its underta2in$. t is maniestl' /lear t0at alt0ou$0 it in/urred

&usiness losses o +97,*?(,*?.** in t0e 'ear )***, it /ontinued to distri&ute +9t0,

+3t0and +?t0mont0 &onuses or said 'ear. !ot1it0standin$ su/0 0u$e losses, E=P

entered into t0e )**+-)**9 CBA Side A$reement on Septem&er , )**+ 10ere&' it

/ontra/ted to $rant t0e su&@e/t &onuses to E=E> in no un/ertain terms. E=P/ontinued to sustain losses or t0e su//eedin$ 'ears o )**+ and )**) in t0e

amounts o 9(,8(,*+.** and +3,989,999.**, respe/tivel'. Still and all, t0is

did not deter it rom 0onorin$ t0e &onus provision in t0e Side A$reement as it

/ontinued to $ive t0e su&@e/t &onuses to ea/0 o t0e union mem&ers in )**+ and

)**) despite its alle$ed pre/arious inan/ial /ondition. Parent0eti/all', it must &e

emp0asi


18/25

durin$ t0e 'ear t0e Side A$reement 1as si$ned. =0e Court uotes 1it0 approval

t0e o&servation o t0e CA in t0is re$ard:

ETPI argues that assuming the bonus provision in the *ide+greement of the %-4 23+ entitles the union members to thesub1ect bonuses, it is merely in the nature of a ;one-time= grant and notintended to cover the entire term of the 23+. The contention is untenable.The bonus provision in 8uestion is exactly the same as that contained inthe *ide +greement of the %@@ mem&ers under t0e Side A$reements, its /urrent inan/ial

dii/ulties s0ould 0ave released it rom t0e o&li$ator' or/e o said /ontra/t

invo2in$ Arti/le +)?8 o t0e Civil Code. Said provision de/lares:

+rticle %/&. Bhen the service has become so difficult as to bemanifestly beyond the contemplation of the parties, the obligor may alsobe released therefrom, in $hole or in part.

=0e Court is not persuaded.

+(4+(5d. at +(.


19/25

=0e parties to t0e /ontra/t must &e presumed to 0ave assumed t0e ris2s o

unavora&le developments. t is, t0ereore, onl' in a&solutel' e/eptional /0an$es

o /ir/umstan/es t0at euit' demands assistan/e or t0e de&tor.+74+75 n t0e /ase at

&en/0, t0e Court determines t0at E=Ps /laimed depressed inan/ial state 1ill not

release it rom t0e &indin$ ee/t o t0e )**+-)**9 CBA Side A$reement.

E=P appears to &e 1ell a1are o its deterioratin$ inan/ial /ondition 10en

it entered into t0e )**+-)**9 CBA Side A$reement 1it0 E=E> and o&li$ed itsel

to pa' &onuses to t0e mem&ers o E=E>. Considerin$ t0at E=P 0ad &een

/ontinuousl' suerin$ 0u$e losses rom )*** to )**), its &usiness losses in t0e

'ear )** 1ere not ea/tl' unoreseen or unepe/ted. Conseuentl', it /annot &e

said t0at t0e dii/ult' in /ompl'in$ 1it0 its o&li$ation under t0e Side A$reement

1as ;maniestl' &e'ond t0e /ontemplation o t0e parties. Besides, as 0eld in

Central 'an of the !hilippines #. Court of Appeals,)*4)*5 mere pe/uniar' ina&ilit'

to ulill an en$a$ement does not dis/0ar$e a /ontra/tual o&li$ation. Contra/ts,

on/e pere/ted, are &indin$ &et1een t0e /ontra/tin$ parties. O&li$ations arisin$

t0ererom 0ave t0e or/e o la1 and s0ould &e /omplied 1it0 in $ood ait0. E=P

/annot rene$e rom t0e o&li$ation it 0as reel' assumed 10en it si$ned t0e )**+-

)**9 CBA Side A$reement.

+74+750o #. 1oo* 1est Lan*, Inc., 6.R. !o. +(?)(, April 8, )*+*, ?+8 SCRA 39+, 33*.

)*4)*5)) P0il. )??, )89 F+7(3G.


20/25

6rantin$ aruen*ot0at t0e CBA Side A$reement does not /ontra/tuall' &ind

petitioner E=P to $ive t0e su&@e/t &onuses, nevert0eless, t0e Court inds t0at its

a/t o $rantin$ t0e same 0as &e/ome an esta&lis0ed /ompan' pra/ti/e su/0 t0at it

0as virtuall' &e/ome part o t0e emplo'ees salar' or 1a$e. A &onus ma' &e

$ranted on euita&le /onsideration 10en t0e $ivin$ o su/0 &onus 0as &een t0e

/ompan's lon$ and re$ular pra/ti/e. n!hilippine Appliance Corporation #. Court

of Appeals,)+4)+5it 1as pronoun/ed:

To be considered a ;regular practice,= ho$ever, the giving of the

bonus should have been done over a long period of time, and must besho$n to have been consistent and deliberate. The test or rationale of thisrule on long practice re8uires an indubitable sho$ing that the employeragreed to continue giving the benefits #no$ing fully $ell that saidemployees are not covered by the la$ re8uiring payment thereof.

=0e re/ords s0o1 t0at E=P, aside rom /ompl'in$ 1it0 t0e re$ular +t0

mont0 &onus, 0as &een urt0er $ivin$ its emplo'ees +9t0

mont0 &onus ever' Aprilas 1ell as +3t0and +?t0mont0 &onuses ever' "e/em&er o t0e 'ear, 1it0out ail,

rom +783 to )**) or or )8 'ears 10et0er it earned proits or not. =0e

/onsidera&le len$t0 o time E=P 0as &een $ivin$ t0e spe/ial $rants to its

emplo'ees indi/ates a unilateral and voluntar' a/t on its part to /ontinue $ivin$

said &eneits 2no1in$ t0at su/0 a/t 1as not reuired &' la1. A//ordin$l', a

/ompan' pra/ti/e in avor o t0e emplo'ees 0as &een esta&lis0ed and t0e pa'ments

made &' E=P pursuant t0ereto ripened into &eneits en@o'ed &' t0e emplo'ees.

)+4)+56.R. !o. +9799, June , )**9, 9* SCRA 3)3, 3).


21/25

=0e $ivin$ o t0e su&@e/t &onuses /annot &e peremptoril' 1it0dra1n &'

E=P 1it0out violatin$ Arti/le +** o t0e La&or Code:

+rt. %. Prohibition against elimination or diminution of benefits.G 5othing in this 3oo# shall be construed to eliminate or in any $aydiminish supplements, or other employee benefits being en1oyed at thetime of promulgation of this 2ode.

=0e rule is settled t0at an' &eneit and supplement &ein$ en@o'ed &' t0e

emplo'ees /annot &e redu/ed, diminis0ed, dis/ontinued or eliminated &' t0e

emplo'er. =0e prin/iple o non-diminution o &eneits is ounded on t0e

/onstitutional mandate to prote/t t0e ri$0ts o 1or2ers and to promote t0eir 1elare

and to aord la&or ull prote/tion.))4))5

nterestin$l', E=P never presented /ountervailin$ eviden/e to reute

E=E>s /laim t0at t0e /ompan' 0as &een /ontinuousl' pa'in$ &onuses sin/e +783

up to )**) re$ardless o its inan/ial state. ts ailure to /ontrovert t0e alle$ation,

10en it 0ad t0e opportunit' and resour/es to do so, 1or2s in avor o E=E>. =ime

and a$ain, it 0as &een 0eld t0at s0ould dou&ts eist &et1een t0e eviden/e presented

&' t0e emplo'er and t0e emplo'ee, t0e s/ales o @usti/e must &e tilted in avor o

t0e latter.)4)5

))4))5Arco Metal !ro*ucts Co., Inc. #. 0aahan N Ma Manaaa 0a Arco Metal2NA1L%,

6.R. !o. +8*89, Ma' +9, )**(, 339 SCRA ++*, ++(.

)4)53u2iro #. A*orable,6.R. !o. +?*73),9(* P0il. 378, ?*3 F)**9G.


22/25

)HERE'ORE, t0e petition is DENIED. =0e June )3, )**( "e/ision o

t0e Court o Appeals and its "e/em&er +), )**( Resolution are A''IRMED.

SO ORDERED.

OSE CATRAL MENDO2A

Asso/iate Justi/e


23/25

DE CO!C>R:

PRES-ITERO VELASCO, R

Asso/iate Justi/e

C0airperson

LUCAS P -ERSAMIN RO-ERTO A A-AD

Asso/iate Justi/e Asso/iate Justi/e

ESTELA M PERLAS1-ERNA-E

Asso/iate Justi/e

A T T E S T A T I O N


24/25

attest t0at t0e /on/lusions in t0e a&ove "e/ision 0ad &een rea/0ed in

/onsultation &eore t0e /ase 1as assi$ned to t0e 1riter o t0e opinion o t0e Courts

"ivision.

PRES-ITERO VELASCO, R

Asso/iate Justi/e

C0airperson, =0ird "ivision

C E R T I ' I C A T I O N

Pursuant to Se/tion +, Arti/le V o t0e Constitution and t0e "ivision

C0airpersons Attestation, /erti' t0at t0e /on/lusions in t0e a&ove "e/ision 0ad

&een rea/0ed in /onsultation &eore t0e /ase 1as assi$ned to t0e 1riter o t0e

opinion o t0e Courts "ivision.

RENATO C CORONA

C0ie Justi/e


25/25

Eastern Telecom vs Eastern Telecom Employees Union

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