G.R. No. 121879. August 14, 1998
EMPIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, PETITIONERS, VS. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION AND MONERA ANDAL, RESPONDENTS.
PURISIMA, J.:
its principal, a recruitment agency, on the monetary claims of an
overseas contract worker for illegal dismissal, non-payment and
underpayment of salaries.
The antecedent facts and proceedings can be capsulized, as follows:
Private respondent Monera Andal applied with G & M Phils., Inc.
for
an overseas employment as a domestic helper in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia. She was hired for a term of two years at a monthly basic salary
of US $200.00.
She left for the said jobsite on May 17, 1991 and worked for a certain
Abdullah Al Basha. But on January 11, 1992, she was repatriated. Upon
her repatriation, she lost no time in bringing her complaint before the
Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) for illegal dismissal,
non-payment and underpayment of salaries. Impleaded as a co-respondent
in the complaint was the herein petitioner, Empire Insurance Company, in
its capacity as the surety of G & M Phils.
Subject complaint averred, inter alia, that:
“…she was not paid for four months and underpaid for four
months; that she was forced to preterminate her contract due to
unbearable treatment in the hands of her employer and the non-payment
and underpayment of her salaries; and that she was constructively
dismissed from employment. In her affidavit, she alleged that she was
unpaid for 3 1/2 months; that for four months she was paid only US
$150.00 instead of the agreed rate of US $200.00; that her employer
resented her effort to collect her delayed salaries and, in retaliation,
made her work long hours, allowing her to sleep only five hours daily
and requiring her to render services for his relatives and friends
without giving her additional compensation; that after serving her
employer for 7 1/2 months, she sought the help of the Philippine
Embassy; that her employer terminated her employment due to her
insistent demand for the payment of her claims; and that she was
repatriated at her own expense. On May 14, 1992, she testified that the
wife of her employer always beat her and that her employer gave her US
$450.00 representing her salaries for three (3) months. In her position
paper, she reiterated the sufferings she allegedly underwent in the
course of her employment and alleged, further, that the efforts of the
Philippine Embassy to mediate and/or to settle her claims failed; that
her services were abruptly terminated by her employer; and she was
forced to depart at her own expense (arriving in the Philippines with
only whatever clothing she had on).” (pp.2-4, NLRC decision dated
November 22, 1994)
Empire Insurance Company, now the petitioner, theorized that the
complainant, Monera Andal, was without any cause of action against it
for the alleged reason that the liability of its principal and
co-respondent had not been established. It further argued that its
liability, if any, for the money claims sued upon was merely subsidiary.
In its answer to the complaint, respondent G & M (Phil.), Inc.,
stated that it had no knowledge of complainant’s unpaid and underpaid
salaries, her working conditions and of the proceedings at the
Philippine Embassy. It denied the charge of illegal dismissal, reasoning
out that the complainant abandoned her job. In its position paper, it
contended that the complainant’s money claims in dispute are not
meritorious as the same are not supported by substantial evidence. It
also capitalized on what it branded as the inconsistencies in the
complainant’s pleadings with her admission that the Philippine Embassy
mediated her claims, which development could have meant that subject
claims had been settled.
On July 13, 1993, POEA Administrator Felicisimo O. Joson decided the
claims in question; disposing, as follows:
“WHEREFORE, in the light of the foregoing premises,
respondents are hereby ordered to pay complainant the following:1. US $200.00 or its peso equivalent representing
complainant’s
salary differentials for four (4) months for the period May 17, 1991 to
September 17, 1991 computed at US $50.00 a month;2. US $3,300.00 or its peso equivalent representing the payment of
salaries for 16.5 months as the unexpired portion of the contract.SO ORDERED.”
From the aforesaid decision adverse to it, petitioner Empire Insurance
Company appealed to the National Labor Relations Commission; posing as
issues, that:
1. Complainant (Monera Andal) had no cause of action against
petitioner because the liability of petitioner’s principal and
co-respondent (G&M) had not been established.2. Petitioner’s liability, if any, was merely subsidiary.
On November 22, 1994, the NLRC came out with a judgment of affirmance,
upholding the POEA, and holding, thus:
“The argument that respondent Empire Insurance Company is
only
subsidiarily liable for the judgment award is unmeritorious. It is
settled that a surety is considered in law as being the same party as
the debtor in relation to whatever is adjudged touching the obligation
of the latter, and their liabilities are interwoven as to be
inseparable…WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from is hereby AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED.”
Undaunted by the denial of its motion for reconsideration, petitioner
found its way to this court via the present petition, raising the
pivotal issue of whether or not respondent NLRC erred in adjudging it
(petitioner) jointly liable with its principal, G & M Phils.,
Inc.,
for the payment of private respondent’s monetary claims.
Petitioner faults respondent NLRC for holding that G & M Phils.,
Inc. failed to comply with the rules and regulations of the Department
of Labor and Employment. It is petitioner’s submission that there is no
basis for holding it liable as surety under the premises.
Although it concedes that the burden of proof in cases of illegal
dismissal rests on the employer, petitioner argues that when private
respondent Monera Andal asked the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia to mediate her claims with her employer, such a move on the part
of private respondent shifted the onus probandi to
her to substantiate her claim.
Private respondent’s Comment sought the dismissal of the petition for
being a wrong mode of appeal from the NLRC decision. It is private
respondent’s stance that appeal from decisions of the National Labor
Relations Commission to the Supreme Court is by a special civil action
for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules
of Court. Not a petition for review under Rule 45.
The Solicitor General, as counsel for respondent NLRC, joined private
respondent in stressing on such procedural defect. Furthermore, the
Solicitor General pointed out that the errors assigned by petitioner
deal primarily with factual findings and, as such, are unavailing under
the well-entrenched rule that findings of fact by administrative
agencies and quasi-judicial bodies are generally accorded not only
respect but finality, and are not to be disturbed on appeal.
We find for respondents.
Before delving into the merits of the petition, the procedural objection
of respondents should first be resolved. Private respondent and the
Solicitor General have correctly pointed out the elementary rule of
procedure with regard to review of decisions rendered by the National
Labor Relations Commission. The only way a labor case may reach the
Supreme Court is through a petition for certiorari
under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules of Court.[1] A petition for
certiorari which is a special civil action under
Rule 65 should be distinguished from a petition for review on
certiorari
which is a mode of appeal under Rule 45. Under Rule 65, only questions
of jurisdiction or grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess
of jurisdiction may be entertained by the reviewing court. Therefore,
only decisions of the National Labor Relations Commission tainted with
grave abuse of discretion or jurisdictional errors may be elevated to
this court.
Findings and/or conclusions of fact cannot be assailed in a petition for
certiorari.[2]
The inquiry in such a petition is limited exclusively to the issue of
whether or not the respondent official acted without or in excess of
jurisdiction. Consequently, petitioner cannot assail the finding arrived
at by public respondent NLRC that the employer involved violated
pertinent POEA rules and regulations.
However, while an appeal to the Supreme Court from decisions of the
National Labor Relations Commission should be pursued as a special civil
action for certiorari, in a number of cases this
court has
treated as special civil actions for certiorari petitions erroneously
captioned as petitions for review on certiorari “in the interest of
justice.”[3]
In the case of People’s Security, Inc. vs. NLRC,[4] this Court held that:
“Dismissal of appeal purely on technical grounds is frowned
upon
where the policy of the courts is to encourage hearings of appeal on
their merits. The rules of procedure ought not to be applied in a very
rigid technical sense, rules of procedure are used only to help secure,
not override substantial justice. If a technical and rigid enforcement
of the rules is made, their aim would be defeated.” (Tamayo v. Court of
Appeals, 209 SCRA 518, 522 [1992] citing Gregorio v. Court of Appeals, 72 SCRA
120 [1976] ).
Consequently, in the interest of justice, the instant petition for
review shall be treated as a special civil action on
certiorari.”
The single issue posed for resolution by this court here is – whether or
not the petitioning surety company is jointly liable with its
principal, G & M Phils, Inc., a recruitment agency, for the
payment
of respondent employee’s monetary claims in litigation.
We rule in the affirmative. Petitioner is solidarily liable with its
principal, G & M Phils., Inc., under the attendant facts and
circumstances.
Suretyship is a contractual relation resulting from an agreement whereby
one person, the surety, engages to be answerable for the debt, default
or miscarriage of another, known as the principal.[5]
Where the surety bound itself solidarily with the principal obligor, the
former is so dependent on the principal debtor such that the surety is
considered in law as being the same party as the debtor in relation to
whatever is adjudged touching the obligation of the latter, and their
liabilities are interwoven as to be inseparable.[6]
The surety’s liability is solidary but the nature of its undertaking
is such that unless and until the principal debtor is held liable it
does not incur liability.
When the herein petitioner, Empire Insurance Company, entered into a
suretyship agreement with G & M Phils., Inc., it bound itself to
answer for the debt or default of the latter. And, since the POEA and
NLRC found the said recruitment agency liable to private respondent,
petitioner’s liability likewise proceeds from such a finding. As a
surety, petitioner is primarily liable to private respondent, as
judgment creditor, for her monetary claims against its principal, G
& M Phils., Inc., and is immediately bound to pay and satisfy
the
same.
Time and again, this court has pronounced that claims of overseas
workers should be acted upon with sympathy, and allowed if warranted,
conformably to the constitutional mandate for the protection of the
working class.[7]
Private
employment agencies are held to be jointly and severally liable with the
foreign-based employer for any violation of the recruitment agreement
or contract of employment.[8]
POEA has thus promulgated a rule requiring private recruitment agencies
to set up cash and surety bonds. The purpose of the required surety bond
is to insure that if the rights of overseas workers are violated by
their employer, recourse would still be available to them against the
local companies that recruited them for the foreign principal.[9]
It bears stressing that surety companies may be ordered impleaded by the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in administrative
complaints against recruitment agencies, on surety bonds posted, and are
bound by the judgment of POEA.[10] This Court discerns no reason why the said
rule should not apply to herein petitioner.
WHEREFORE, the petition under consideration
is hereby
DISMISSED and the appealed decision of respondent NLRC AFFIRMED. No
pronouncement as to costs.
SO ORDERED.
Narvasa (Chairman), CJ., Romero and Kapunan,
JJ., concur.
[1] Philippine
National
Construction Corporation (PNCC) vs. NLRC, 245 SCRA 668; Pearl S. Buck
Foundation, Inc. vs. NLRC, 182 SCRA 446; Jimenez vs. NLRC, 256 SCRA 84;
Palomado vs. NLRC, 257 SCRA 680; Bordeos vs. NLRC, 262 SCRA 424; Sajonas
vs. NLRC, 183 SCRA 182.
[2] San Miguel
Foods,
Inc.-Cebu B-Meg Feed Plant vs. Laguesma,, 263 SCRA 68; Holy Cross of
Davao College, Inc. vs. Joaquin, 263 SCRA 358; Manila Times, Inc. vs.
NLRC, 264 SCRA 104.2
[3] Salazar vs.
NLRC, 256
SCRA 273; Cando vs. NLRC, 189 SCRA 666 (1990); Leopard Security and
Investigation Agency vs. NLRC, 186 SCRA 756 (1990); Mansalay vs. NLRC,
172 SCRA 465 (1989); Philippine-Singapore Ports Corporation vs. NLRC,
218 SCRA 77.
[4] 226 SCRA 146
(1993).
[5] Garcia, Jr.
vs. CA, 191 SCRA 493.
[6] Philippine
National Bank
vs. Pineda, 197 SCRA 1; Finman General Assurance Corporation vs. Salik,
188 SCRA 740; Castellvi de Higgins and Higgins vs. Sellner, 41 Phil.
142; U.S. vs. Veradero de la Quinta, 40 Phil. 48; Lirag Textile Mills,
Inc. vs. Social Security System, G.R. No. 33205, August 31, 1988;
Government of the Philippines vs. Tizon, 20 SCRA 1187;
[7] Cuadra vs.
NLRC, 207 SCRA 279.
[8] Hellenic
Philippine Shipping, Inc. vs. Siete, 195 SCRA 179.
[9] Stronghold
Insurance Co., Inc. vs. CA, 205 SCRA 605.
[10] Finman
General Assurance Corporation vs. NLRC, 210 SCRA 675; Del Rosario vs.
NLRC, 187 SCRA 777.