Title
Goma vs. Pamplona Plantation, Inc.
Case
G.R. No. 160905
Decision Date
Jul 4, 2008
A carpenter claimed illegal dismissal and unpaid wages; courts ruled him a regular employee, entitled to backwages and separation pay.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 160905)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

Background of the Case: Petitioner Bienvenido D. Goma filed a complaint for illegal dismissal, underpayment of wages, non-payment of premium pay for holiday and rest day, five (5) days incentive leave pay, damages, and attorney's fees against respondent Pamplona Plantation Incorporated. The case was filed with the Sub-Regional Arbitration Branch No. VII of Dumaguete City.

Petitioner's Claims:
Goma alleged that he worked as a carpenter at Hacienda Pamplona since 1995, with a daily salary of P90.00, and worked continuously until 1997 when he was no longer given work assignments. He claimed to be a regular employee and argued that his dismissal was illegal.

Respondent's Defense:
Respondent denied hiring Goma as a regular employee, asserting that he was hired by the former owner of the hacienda. Respondent argued that Goma was a project employee hired for the construction of facilities under Pamplona Plantation Leisure Corporation (PPLC) and was not a regular employee.

Labor Arbiter's Decision:
The Labor Arbiter dismissed Goma's complaint, ruling that he was not an employee of the respondent but of the former owner.

NLRC's Decision:
On appeal, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) reversed the Labor Arbiter's decision, ruling that Goma was a regular employee and ordering his reinstatement with backwages, salary differential, and attorney's fees.

Court of Appeals' Decision:
The Court of Appeals granted the respondent's petition for certiorari, annulling the NLRC's decision and dismissing Goma's complaint. The CA held that there was no employer-employee relationship between Goma and the respondent.

Issues:

  • Whether Goma was a regular employee of the respondent.
  • Whether Goma was illegally dismissed from employment.
  • Whether Goma was entitled to his monetary claims.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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