Facts:

• Jaime T. Torres is the petitioner, while the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and private respondents Lota Alafriz, Marivic Valdeviso, Annabelle Fabro, and Leylita Lawig are the respondents.
• The private respondents, teachers at St. James Child Care Center in Quezon City, filed a complaint against Torres for illegal dismissal, illegal deductions, underpayment, and non-payment of wages.
• They were employed at different times with salaries ranging from P800.00 to P1,700.00 per month.
• In September 1985, the school required teachers to submit original transcripts of records by October 5, 1985, warning that non-compliance would result in withheld salaries.
• Most teachers, including the private respondents, did not submit the required documents, leading to withheld salaries.
• On October 7, 1985, the private respondents were absent from classes and were not allowed to return to work upon their return.
• They filed a complaint with the Labor Arbiter on November 28, 1985.
• The Labor Arbiter ruled in favor of the private respondents on June 13, 1986, ordering reinstatement and back wages.
• The NLRC modified this decision, limiting back wages to one year without deductions.
• The petitioner appealed, arguing that the dismissal was justified due to the private respondents' absence and non-compliance.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, affirming the NLRC's resolutions dated October 30, 1987, September 1, 1989, and September 29, 1989.
• The Court upheld the NLRC's findings that the dismissal was illegal, that the pr...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Court found no grave abuse of discretion by the NLRC in its findings.
• It clarified that the private respondents' absence on October 7, 1985, was not a strike but an effort to secure their transcripts to receive their salaries.
• The Labor Arbiter's conclusion of illegal dismissal was supported by the abse...continue reading