Case Digest (G.R. No. 155037)
Facts:
- Anvil Ensembles Garment hired Melecio Bonabon as a probationary driver on January 7, 1997, with a monthly salary of P4,500.
- On March 25, 1997, Bonabon was abruptly informed not to report for work, without any explanation.
- Bonabon requested to keep his job, citing limited employment opportunities, but his plea was ignored.
- On September 3, 1997, Bonabon filed a Complaint for Illegal Dismissal (NLRC Case No. RAB-IV-9-9316-97-RI).
- The petitioner claimed Bonabon was negligent in handling a cutting machine, leading to P8,000 in repair costs.
- The Labor Arbiter ruled on July 31, 1998, that the petitioner failed to prove negligence and that Bonabon was not given procedural due process.
- Bonabon was ordered reinstated with back wages of P72,900 and attorney's fees.
- The NLRC affirmed the Labor Arbiter's decision on November 23, 1999.
- The Court of Appeals dismissed the petition for certiorari on January 18, 2002, modifying the award by removing attorney's fees.
- The petitioner's motion for reconsideration was denied on August 23, 2002.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Court of Appeals did not err in affirming the NLRC's ruling; Bonabon's dismissal was illegal.
- The evidence presented by the petitioner was insufficient to justify Bonabon's dismissal.
- The petitioner fail...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court upheld the findings of the Labor Arbiter, NLRC, and Court of Appeals, emphasizing respect for factual determinations made by quasi-judicial bodies when supported by substantial evidence.
- The petitioner's evidence, particularly the joint affidavit, lacked specific details about Bonabon's alleged negligence.
- The affidavit did not provide concrete evidence of gross negligence, which is necessary for valid dismissal under Article 28...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 155037)
Facts:
The case involves Anvil Ensembles Garment as the petitioner and Melecio Bonabon as the respondent. The events leading to the case began on January 7, 1997, when Anvil Ensembles Garment hired Bonabon as a company driver on a probationary basis, with a monthly salary of P4,500. On March 25, 1997, the petitioner informed Bonabon not to report for work anymore, without providing any explanation for this abrupt termination. In response, Bonabon pleaded to retain his job, citing the scarcity of employment opportunities, but his request was ignored. Consequently, on September 3, 1997, Bonabon filed a Complaint for Illegal Dismissal against Anvil Ensembles Garment, which was registered as NLRC Case No. RAB-IV-9-9316-97-RI.
In the proceedings before the Labor Arbiter, the petitioner submitted a joint affidavit from two employees, Sally Duquila and Marivic Santos, claiming that Bonabon had been negligent in handling a cutting machine that was damaged while being transported. They alleged that this negligence resulted in an expense of P8,000 for repairs, which was the basis for Bonabon's dismissal. However, the Labor Arbiter ruled on July 31, 1998, that the petitioner had failed to substantiate the claim of negligence and that Bonabon had not been afforded procedural due process during his termination. The Labor Arbiter ordered Bonabon’s reinstatement and awarded him back wages amounting to P72,900, plus attorney's fees.
The petitioner appealed the decision to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), which affirmed the Labor Arbiter's ruling in a resolution dated November 23, 1999. The petitioner then sought a reconsideratio...