Case Digest (G.R. No. 223795)
Facts:
- Quintin V. Beltran was the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of AMA Computer College in Biñan, Laguna.
- He began his career with the AMA Education System in June 1990 as a Mathematics and CAD Instructor.
- Beltran was promoted through various roles, ultimately becoming COO in January 1999.
- In 2008, he sought early retirement based on a company policy that allowed such benefits.
- His application was verbally approved, but he left for the United States on June 3, 2008, before receiving formal documentation.
- Upon his return in September 2010, Beltran filed a complaint for retirement benefits and other monetary claims against AMA and its officials.
- AMA acknowledged his employment but contested the existence of a formal early retirement policy, claiming his application was disapproved prior to his departure.
- The Labor Arbiter dismissed his complaint due to insufficient evidence of the policy's existence.
- The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) partially granted his appeal regarding unpaid salary but denied his claim for retirement benefits.
- The Court of Appeals (CA) upheld the NLRC's decision, prompting Beltran to file a petition for review.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court granted Beltran's petition, reversing the decisions of both the Court of Appeals and the NLRC.
- The Court determined that Beltran was entitled to early retirement benefits, supported by substantial evidence of a consistent practice within the company....(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court highlighted that the burden of proof in labor cases rests with the claimant, necessitating substantial evidence.
- The Court criticized the NLRC and CA for failing to adequately consider affidavits from former employees that confirmed a consistent practice of granting early retirement benefits to employees with at least ten years of service.
- Procedural rules in labor cases perm...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 223795)
Facts:
The case of Quintin V. Beltran vs. AMA Computer College-Biñan pertains to Quintin V. Beltran, who served as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of AMA Computer College in Biñan, Laguna. Beltran's tenure with the AMA Education System began in June 1990, where he initially worked as a Mathematics and CAD Instructor. Over the years, he was promoted through various positions, ultimately becoming COO in January 1999. In 2008, Beltran sought early retirement, referencing a longstanding company policy that provided early retirement benefits for employees. His application was processed, and he received verbal confirmation of its approval. However, he had to travel to the United States on June 3, 2008, before receiving formal documentation of this approval. Upon returning in September 2010, Beltran filed a complaint for retirement benefits and other monetary claims against AMA and its officials. The respondents acknowledged Beltran's employment but disputed the existence of a formal early retirement policy, asserting that his application had been disapproved prior to his departure. The Labor Arbiter dismissed Beltran's complaint, citing a lack of evidence for the policy's existence. Although the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) partially granted his appeal concerning unpaid salary, it denied his claim for retirement benefits. The Court of Appeals...