DOCUMENT 3

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Department of Labor and Employment
1
NTIONL LBOR RELTIONS COMMISSION
Re!"onal rb"trat"on Bran#$ No% &'
(amboan!a C"ty

CLRISSE CER)NTES*
Complainant,
- versus - NLRC RAB No. 09 Case No. 14-13490-12
Hon. Labor Arbiter LA!A"A
Room 319, Boo#man Bl$%.
HOL+ SPIRIT CDEM+.,
Represente$ b& 'r. (ar& "orres,
Respon$ents.
)-------------------------------------------------)
POSITION PPER
RESPONDENT, b& *ounsel, unto t+is Honorable ,-*e,
respe*t.ull& states/
STTEMENT OF THE CSE
"+is *ase 0le$ b& t+e plainti1 on 2ul& 23, 2014 a%ainst
respon$ents an$ is one .or ille%al $ismissal, non-pa&ment o. salaries,
an$ ot+er bene0ts. "+e plainti1 serve$ as a s*+ool *as+ier .or private
respon$ent Hol& 'pirit a*a$em& but 4as reasonabl& $ismisse$ .or t+e
*ause o. loss *on0$en*e. "+e plainti1 alle%es t+at +er termination 4as
brou%+t about b& an in*i$ent 4+ere t+ere appeare$ to be a
$is*repan*& in one o. t+e $eposits s+e ma$e 4+ere t+e amount
in$i*ate$ in t+e $eposit slip an$ t+e mone& a*tuall& re*eive$ b& t+e
ban# $i$ not tall&. T$e ,-m of F"fty T$o-,and Pe,o, .P /&*&&&%&&0
4as missin% an$ su*+ loss is presumabl& $ue to +er a*ts bein% t+e
*as+ier o. t+e s*+ool.
5ue to t+e sai$ loss, t+e plainti1 4as preventivel& suspen$e$.
Ninet& 6907 $a&s a.ter t+e t+irt& 6307 $a& preventive suspension t+e
*omplainant 0le$ t+is *ase.
Base$ on t+e .ore%oin%, t+e issues to be resolve$ in t+is *ase
are/
A. 8H9"H9R "H9 5:'(:''AL 8A' ;AL:5 ,N "H9 !R,<N5 ,= L,''
,= C,N=:59NC9 ,R "R<'".
2
B. 8H9"H9R "H9 LA:N":== 8A' 59R:;95 ,= H9R R:!H" ", 5<9
R,C9''.
STTEMENT OF FCTS
"+e salient .a*ts o. t+is *ase are as .ollo4s/
1. Complainant is o. le%al a%e, =ilipino an$ 4it+ a$$ress at 4>9 C
Common4ealt+ Avenue, 'ta. (aria, ?amboan%a Cit&@ 4+ile
respon$ent is Hol& 'pirit A*a$em&, an e$u*ational institution
$ul& or%aniAe$ an$ e)istin% un$er t+e la4s o. t+e +ilippines,
4it+ a$$ress B >0CD "atalon 'treet, asonan*a, ?amboan%a Cit&,
represente$ b& 'r. (ar& "orres, o. le%al a%e, t+e prin*ipal o.
respon$ent s*+oolE
2. ,n 2ul& 20, 2014, a =ri$a&, *omplainant 4as or$ere$ to $eposit
t+e 4ee#Fs *as+ re*eipt to t+e ban# in t+e amount o. ,ne
Hun$re$ =i.t& "+ousan$ 6 130,000.007 esos. '+e a*#no4le$%es
t+e amount an$ t+e re*eipt o. t+e mone& verball& .rom 'r. (ar&
"orres. <pon +er return .rom t+e ban#, s+e %ave a remittan*e slip
4+i*+ onl& *ontaine$ t+e 0%ures s+o4in% ,ne Hun$re$ "+ousan$
6 100,000.07, s+e 4as s+ort o. =i.t& "+ousan$ esos 6
30,000.007. <pon presentation o. t+e $eposit slip, 'r. "orres
as#e$ 4+at +appene$ to t+e 30,000 not $eposite$ b& t+e
plainti1. "o 4+i*+, t+e plainti1 replie$ t+at onl& a Hun$re$
"+ousan$ esos 6 100,000.007 4as %iven to +er .or $eposit. "+is
4as *ontrar& to t+e $o*uments. As evi$en*e$ b& 9)+ibit GAH, t+e
*as+ re*eipt a*#no4le$%e$ b& t+e lainti1 4as ,ne Hun$re$ =i.t&
"+ousan$ 6130, 000.007 pesos.
3. ,n t+e same $a&, 'r. (ar& "orres issue$ a memoran$um
temporaril& relievin% t+e plainti1 .rom +er position an$ pla*in% +er
un$er preventive suspension pen$in% investi%ation .or +er
ne%le*t.ul *on$u*t in +an$lin% t+e propert& o. t+e s*+ool. '+e 4as
s*+e$ule$ .or a +earin% 4it+ t+e s*+ool o-*ials on 2ul& 24, 2014.
"+e same memo $eman$e$ t+e plainti1 to a$$u*e ar%uments an$
evi$en*e $e.en$in% +er person.
3
4. ,n t+e $a& o. t+e a*tual +earin%, t+e plainti1 $i$ not appear. Her
non-appearan*e 4as presume$ to be. "+e plainti1 onl& *ame ba*#
to t+e $e.en$antFs #no4le$%e 4+en s+e 0le$ t+is *ase.
D. "o t+e $e.en$antFs s+o*#, t+e plainti1 0le$ t+is *ase 90 $a&s
a.ter +er 30-$a& preventive suspension in 2ul& 20, 2014.
3. Hen*e, t+is *ase.
RESPONDENT1S POSITION
Complainant +as 4or#e$ 4it+ t+e respon$ents as a re%ular
emplo&ee, an$ in t+e absen*e o. Iust an$ aut+oriAe$ *auses
respon$ents s+e 4oul$ never be $ismisse$ or suspen$e$. '+e 4as
a1or$e$ 4it+ a noti*e, t+at is, s+e 4as not $enie$ pro*e$ural $ue
pro*ess o. la4. Complainant $i$ not 4ant to 4or#, an$ in .a*t, s+e $i$
not appear in t+e +earin% prepare$ b& respon$ents an$ *ontinue$ on
to be absent .rom 4or# .or ninet& 6907 $a&s prior to t+e 0lin% o. t+is
*ase. As a *onseJuen*e respon$ents $eeme$ t+e *omplainant
resi%ne$ .rom +er position, an$ t+is is even mani.este$ in +er
prolon%e$ absen*es 4it+out a tra*e even 4+en t+e respon$ent trie$ to
*ommuni*ate to +er. "+e respon$ents *ate%ori*all& $i$ 4ant
*omplainant to %o ba*# to 4or# 4+en *omplainantFs t+irt& 6307 $a&
suspension +as elapse$ but s+e mani.este$ +er unrea$iness an$
un4illin%ness to report ba*# to 4or#. "+e respon$ent vi%orousl& $enies
t+at t+e *omplainant 4as not le%all& $ismisse$ an$ t+at +er ri%+t to
$ue pro*ess 4as violate$.
DISCUSSION
1. T$e #ompla"nant #omm"tted a#t, of d",$one,ty 2$"#$ lead to
t$e lo,, of #on3den#e and tr-,t repo,ed "n $"m 4-,t"fy"n!
$er ,-,pen,"on and $er -lt"mate d",m",,al from
employment%
:t is o. elementar& rule t+at an& .rau$ or 4ill.ul brea*+ b& t+e
emplo&ee o. t+e trust repose$ in +im or s+e is a Iust *ause .or t+e
emplo&eeFs $ismissal or suspension. "o *onstitute a Iust *ause .or
t+e suspension an$ t+e subseJuent $ismissal, t+e .rau$ must be
*ommitte$ a%ainst t+e emplo&er an$ in *onne*tion 4it+ t+e
emplo&eeFs 4or#.
4
As s+o4n in 9)+ibit GAH, t+e *as+ re*eipt si%ne$ b& t+e *omplainant
t+at s+e +as re*eive$ ,ne Hun$re$ =i.t& "+ousan$ 6 130,000.007
pesos in *as+ to be $eposite$ in t+e ban# paire$ 4it+ +er verbal
*onsent o. re*eipt is a testament to t+e .a*t t+at s+e in$ee$ +a$ t+e
mone&.
As su*+, upon +er return .rom t+e ban#, s+e onl& s+o4e$ a $eposit
slip as s+o4n in 9)+ibit GBH t+at s+e onl& $eposite$ ,ne Hun$re$
"+ousan$ 6 100,000.007 pesos an$ s+e *oul$ not satis.a*toril&
e)plain 4+& or 4+ere t+e remainin% =i.t& "+ousan$ 630,000.007
pesos 4as. "+is in*i$ent si%ni0es t+at t+e emplo&ee *oul$ no lon%er
be truste$ an$ t+at it 4oul$ be an a*t o. oppression to *ompel t+e
s*+ool to retain +er, .ull& a4are t+at su*+ an emplo&ee *oul$, in t+e
lon% run, en$an%er its ver& viabilit&.
:n *ountless *ases over t+e &ears an$ as in*orporate$ in t+e *ase o.
=irestone "ire v Lariosa !R No. D0D49, =ebruar& 2D, 19CD K t+e
'upreme Court Rule$ t+at/
There is no gainsaying that theft committed by an employee constitutes a valid reason for his
dismissal by the employer. Although as a rule this Court leans over backwards to help workers
and employees continue with their employment or to mitigate the penalties imposed on them,
acts of dishonesty in the handling of company property are a diferent matter.
8
Thus, under Article 2! of the "abor Code, an employer may terminate an employment for
#serious misconduct# or for #fraud or wilful breach by the employee of the trust reposed in him
by his employer or representative.#
$f there is su%cient evidence that an employee has been guilty of a breach of trust or that his
employer has ample reasons to distrust him, the labor tribunal cannot &ustly deny to the
employer the authority to dismiss such an employee.
2. T$e re,pondent ,#$ool $ad eno-!$ proof t$at t$ere 2a,
m",#ond-#t on t$e part of t$e #ompla"nant to ,-,pend or
d",m",, employee%
As rule$ b& t+e 'upreme Court in t+e *ase o. Re&es v (inister o. Labor,
!R no. 4DC03, =ebruar& 9, 19C9/
'e that as it may, there is no (uestion that loss of con)dence is a valid ground for dismissing
an employee and proof beyond reasonable doubt of the employee*s misconduct is not
re(uired. $t is su%cient, if there is some basis for such loss of con)dence or if the employer
has reasonable ground to believe or to entertain the moral conviction that the employee
concerned is responsible for the misconduct and that the nature of his participation therein
rendered him unworthy of the trust and con)dence demanded by his position +City Trust
,inance Corporation v. -".C, /01 2C.A 1 3/456 Tabacalera $nsurance Co. v. -".C, /02
2C.A 771 3/4158.9
5
3. T$e #ompla"nant abandoned $er d-ty e5en after t$e
pre5ent"5e ,-,pen,"on per"od 2$"#$ led to $er -lt"mate le!al
and 5al"d d",m",,al a, an employee%
As s+o4n in 9)+ibit G5H, re*or$s su%%est t+at a.ter 2ul& 20, 2014, t+e
start o. +er preventive suspension, s+e +as never *ome ba*# to +er
post to ans4er t+e *+ar%es a%ainst +er or per.orm +er $uties.
Aban$onment o. a Iob is a .orm o. ne%le*t o. $ut&. "o *onstitute
aban$onment, t+ere must be a *lear an$ $eliberate intent to
$is*ontinue oneFs emplo&ment 4it+out an& intention o. returnin% ba*#.
5ue to t+e %rave mis*on$u*t, t+e *omplainant aban$one$ +er $ut&
4it+ no sa& 4+atsoever revealin% +er $eliberate intent o. not returnin%.
4. T$e #ompla"nant 2a, only "n"t"ally ,-,pended pend"n!
"n5e,t"!at"on and "t no 2ay 5"olate, $er r"!$t to d-e
pro#e,,%
:n a number o. 'upreme Court *ases, it +as been rule$ t+at preventive
suspension $oes not in itsel. prove t+at t+e emplo&er +as preIu$%e$
t+at t+e emplo&ee 4as %uilt& o. t+e *+ar%es s+e 4as as#e$ to ans4er
an$ e)plain. reventive suspension ma& be ne*essar& .or t+e
prote*tion o. t+e *ompan&, its operations an$ assets pen$in%
investi%ation .or t+e alle%e$ mal.easan*e or mis.easan*e on t+e part o.
t+e o-*ers or emplo&ees o. t+e *ompan& an$ pen$in% a $e*ision on
t+e part o. t+e *ompan& +2oriano v. -".C et. Al., /00 2C.A /2:
3/4158.
"+at it $oes not violate t+e emplo&eeFs ri%+t to $ue pro*ess 4as
settle$ in t+e *ase o. ;lobe <ackay Cable and .adio Corp. vs. -".C,
et. al., 2=7 2C.A 1=/ 3/4425 4+i*+ involves a te*+ni*al operations
mana%er 4+o 4as .oun$ to +ave *ommitte$ a*ts in *onLi*t 4it+ +is
position 4it+ t+e *ompan&. "+e 'upreme Court sai$ t+at su*+
$is*over& ne*essitate$ imme$iate an$ $e*isive a*tion. B& itsel.,
pre5ent"5e ,-,pen,"on doe, not ,"!n"fy t$at t$e #ompany $a,
ad4-d!ed t$e employee !-"lty of t$e #$ar!e, ,$e 2a, a,6ed to
an,2er and e7pla"n.
6
Respon$ents *ounter t+at Complainant 4as not $ismisse$ out ri%+t
initiall& but merel& pla*e$ un$er preventive suspension pen$in%
investi%ation o. t+e *+ar%es a%ainst +er. 'e*tions C an$ 9 o. Rule MM:::,
:mplementin% Boo# ; o. t+e ,mnibus Rules :mplementin% t+e Labor
Co$e provi$es/
2>C. . ?reventive suspension. @ The employer may place the
worker concerned under preventive suspension if his continued
employment poses a serious and imminent threat to the life or
property of the employer or of his coAworkers.
As s+o4n in 9)+ibit GCH, t+e memo states t+at s+e 4as noti0e$
o. +er preventive suspension .or t+irt& 6307 $a&s an$ a s*+e$ule .or
+earin% to 4+i*+ s+e $i$ not atten$. "+e respon$ent merel&
e)er*ise$ its mana%ement ri%+ts to $is*ipline t+e sai$ emplo&ee.
5. F"nally* t$e #ompla"nant 2a, a##orded $er r"!$t to d-e
pro#e,, "n#l-d"n! a $ear"n! and "n5e,t"!at"on by t$e
,er5"n! of a not"#e on $er 2$"#$ ,$e "!nored%
'u*+ $is*iplinar& measure o. preventive suspension is resorte$ to .or
t+e prote*tion o. t+e s*+oolFs propert& pen$in% investi%ation o. an&
alle%e$ mal.easan*e or mis.easan*e *ommitte$ b& t+e emplo&ee. "+e
*omplainantFs ri%+t to $ue pro*ess 4as not violate$ 4+en s+e 4as
promptl& suspen$e$. :. at all, t+e .ault la& 4it+ +er 4+en s+e i%nore$
t+e s*+oolFs memoran$um %ivin% +er ample opportunit& to present +er
si$e to t+e mana%ement. :nstea$ s+e 4ent absent .or ninet& 6907 or
more $a&s an$ $ire*tl& to t+e labor $epartment an$ 0le$ +er *omplaint
.or ille%al suspension 4it+out %ivin% +er emplo&ee a *+an*e to
evaluate +er si$e o. t+e *ontrovers&.
:t is in*umbent upon an& $ismissal or suspension t+at t+e emplo&ee be
a**or$e$ t+e ri%+t to $ue pro*ess b& noti0*ation an$ b& allo4in% t+e
emplo&ee to $e.en$ +im or +ersel..
:n t+is *ase, respon$ents +ave evi$en*e t+at t+e& +ave satis0e$ t+e
above $is*usse$ ri%+ts o. *omplainant 4it+ respe*t to +is substantial
an$ pro*e$ural $ue pro*ess. "+ere 4ere Iust or aut+oriAe$ *auses
e)ist to terminate *omplainant, an$ even assumin% .or t+e sa#e o.
ar%ument 4it+out +o4ever a$mittin% t+at no *ir*umstan*e e)ists, t+e
7
noti*es rule an$ ri%+t to +earin% 4as .ait+.ull& *omplie$ 4it+. "+us,
*omplainantFs $ismissal is le%al.
CONCLUSION
An emplo&er is .ree to re%ulate, a**or$in% to +is o4n $is*retion
an$ Iu$%ment all aspe*ts o. emplo&ment in*lu$in% suspension an$
termination. 9ver& institution +as .or its %oals to preserve itsel. .rom
losses an$ pil.era%es an$ in t+e pro*ess it ma& a$opt a $esi%n to4ar$s
t+at %oal. 9ven as t+e la4 is soli*itous o. t+e 4el.are o. emplo&ees, it
must also prote*t t+e ri%+t o. an emplo&er to e)er*ise 4+at are *learl&
mana%ement prero%atives. ,ne o. 4+i*+ is in *ases o. loss o.
*on0$en*e, an emplo&er *annot be *ompelle$ to *ontinue in
emplo&ment an emplo&ee %uilt& o. a*ts inimi*al to t+e interest o. t+e
institution. An emplo&er 4+o +as e)erte$ earnest e1orts to provi$e a
*+an*e .or an emplo&ee to $e.en$ +imsel. in t+e mi$st o. *ontrovers&
*annot be an&more be bur$ene$ a.ter a reasonabl& lon% time to still
a$mit ba*# a ne%le*t.ul emplo&ee.
<n$er t+e .ore%oin% *ir*umstan*es, t+ere is no $enial t+at t+ere
4as a vali$ *ause .or $ismissal an$ t+at t+ere 4as $ue pro*ess
observe$ in t+e pro*ee$in%s prior to $ismissal.
"+us, on t+e issues to be resolve$, it is respe*t.ull& maintaine$
t+at/
A. "H9 5:'(:''AL 8A' ;AL:5 ,N "H9 !R,<N5 ,= L,'' ,=
C,N=:59NC9 ,R "R<'".
b. "H9 LA:N":== 8A' N," 59R:;95 ,= H9R R:!H" ", 5<9
R,C9''.
PR+ER
8H9R9=,R9, t+e .ore%oin% premises *onsi$ere$, it is
respe*t.ull& pra&e$ to t+e H,N,RABL9 ARB:"9R t+at Iu$%ment be
ren$ere$ in .avor o. t+e plainti1, an$ t+at an or$er be issue$,
$ismissin% t+e sai$ labor *omplaint.
,t+er relie.s Iust an$ eJuitable in t+e premises are li#e4ise
sou%+t.
Respe*t.ull& submitte$, 2ul& 2>, 2014.
tty% LMN8N9R NML
8
Attorne& .or Respon$ent
<nit 319 'an Ra.ael Con$ominium
'an Ra.ael *orner 'an :%na*io 'treets
1330 ?amboan%a Cit&, +ilippines
.".R. No. D3D333> N ?amboan%a Cit& N 2anuar& 13, 201>
:.B. No. CC4C03 N ?amboan%a N 2anuar& 1>, 201>
(CL9 No. III :;/;' N ?amboan%a Cit& N April 2>, 201>
Roll No. 4D>D3
Cop& .urnis+e$/
tty% <eor!e Namla
Counsel .or t+e lainti1
3r$. =loor Ne4 9ra Buil$in%
No. 10 (a%alan% 'treet, B%&. in&a+an, ?amboan%a Cit&
9
)ERIFICTION and CERTIFICTE OF NON FORUM SHOPPIN<

:, 'R. (ARO ",RR9', o. le%al a%e an$ =ilipino, a.ter +avin% been
$ul& s4orn to in a**or$an*e 4it+ la4, $epose an$ state "HA"/
: am t+e respon$ent in t+e above-entitle$ *ase@ : +ave
*ause$ t+e preparation o. t+e .ore%oin% position paper an$ :
+ave rea$ t+e same an$ t+e *ontents o. 4+i*+ are true an$
*orre*t o. m& o4n #no4le$%e an$Eor on t+e basis o. aut+enti*
$o*uments.
=urt+ermore, in *omplian*e 4it+ t+e Rules o. Court, :
+ereb& *erti.& t+at : +ave not *ommen*e$ an& ot+er a*tion or
pro*ee$in%s involvin% t+e same issues in t+e 'upreme Court, t+e
Court o. Appeals, or $i1erent $ivisions t+ereo., or an& ot+er
tribunal or a%en*&@ an$ t+at to t+e best o. m& #no4le$%e, no
su*+ a*tion or pro*ee$in% is pen$in% in t+e 'upreme Court, t+e
Court o. Appeals, or an& ot+er tribunal or a%en*&. :. : learn t+at a
similar a*tion or pro*ee$in% +as been 0le$ or is pen$in% be.ore
t+e 'upreme Court, t+e Court o. Appeals, or an& ot+er tribunal or
a%en*&, : s+all noti.& t+e *ourt, tribunal or a%en*& 4it+in 0ve 637
$a&s .rom noti*e.
:N 8:"N9'' 8H9R9,=, : +ereunto a-) m& si%nature t+is 2ul& 2>,
2014
SR% MR+ TORRES
:n be+al. o. Hol& 'pirit A*a$em&
A-ant
'<B'CR:B95 AN5 '8,RN to be.ore me t+is 2ul& 2>, 2014
Hon% R$ett 9-l"-, Pla!ata
LAB,R ARB:"9R
Re%ional Arbitration Bran*+ 09

10
9)+ibit A
9)+ibit B
11
9)+ibit C


Hol& 'pirit A*a$em&
B >0CD "atalon 'treet, asonan*a, ?amboan%a Cit&
12

PRE)ENTI) SUSPENSION =ITHOUT P+


2ul& 20, 2014


(emo to/ Clar",,e Cer5ante,* F"nan#e O>#e

=rom/ Sr% Mary Torre,

'ubIe*t/ Pre5ent"5e S-,pen,"on 2"t$o-t Pay


"+is is to noti.& &ou t+at : am suspen$in% &ou .rom 4or#, 4it+out pa&,
.or t+irt& 6307 $a&s be%innin% 2ul& 23 t+rou%+ Au%ust 23 .or .ailure to
meet t+e per.orman*e stan$ar$s o. &our position as a Cas+ier in t+e
=inan*e ,-*e at Hol& 'pirit A*a$em&.

Oou are suspe*te$ o. *ommittin% malversation o. s*+ool .un$s. B& t+is
$is*iplinar& a*tion : am %ivin% &ou an opportunit& to *orre*t &our
$e0*ien*&. =ailure to $o so 4ill result in .urt+er $is*iplinar& a*tion up to
an$ in*lu$in% $is*+ar%e.

Oou +ave t+e ri%+t to appeal t+is suspension t+rou%+ t+e %rievan*e
pro*e$ures in H'A No. 04.04.41, P'ta1 9mplo&ee (e$iation, !rievan*e,
an$ Complaint oli*&H $urin% t+e +earin% an$ investi%ation t+at 4ill be
*on$u*te$ on 2ul& 24, 2014. Conta*t Human Resour*es i. &ou +ave
Juestions.

A *op& o. t+is letter 4ill be pla*e$ in &our o-*ial personnel re*or$ in
Human Resour*es.

lease a*#no4le$%e belo4 &our re*eipt an$ un$erstan$in% o. t+is
letter.


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'i%nature o. 9mplo&ee

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
5ate
9)+ibit 5
13
14