[G.R. No. 154113 : December 07, 2011] EDEN GLADYS ABARIA, ROMULO ALFORQUE, ELENA ALLA, EVELYN APOSTOL, AMELIA ARAGON, BEATRIZ ALBASTRO, GLORIA ARDULLES, GLENDA BANTILAN, VIRGILIE BORINAGA, ROLDAN CALDERON, ILDEBRANDO CUTA, ROMEO EMPUERTO, LANNIE FERNANDEZ, LUCINELL GABAYERON, JESUSA GERONA, JOSE GONZAGA, TEOFILO HINAMPAS, JOSEFINA IBUNA, MARLYN LABRA, MARIA CARMENCITA LAO, ERA CANEN, RODNEY REX LERIAS, ERNIE MANLIGAS, JOHANNE DEL MAR, RUBY ORIMACO, CONSTANCIO PAGADOR, MARVELOUS PANAL, NOLAN PANAL, LILLAN PETALLAR, GERNA PATIGDAS, MELODIA PAULIN, SHIRLEY ROSE REYES, JOSEFINA REYES, OSCAR DE LOS SANTOS, SOLOMON DE LOS SANTOS, RAMON TAGNIPIS, BERNADETTE TIBAY, RONALD TUMULAK, LEONCIO VALLINAS, EDELBERTO VILLA AND THE NAGKAHIUSANG MAMUMUO SA METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, PETITIONERS, VS. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION, METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC., ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REV. GREGORIO IYOY, SHIELA BUOT, REV. LORENZO GENOTIVA, RUBEN CARABAN, RUBEN ESTOYE, LILIA SAURO, REV. ELIZER BERTOLDO, RIZALINA VILLAGANTE, DRA. LUCIA FLORENDO, CONCEPCION VILLEGAS, REV. OLIVER CANEN, DRA. CYD RAGAS, REV. MIKE CAMBA, AVEDNIGO VALIENTE, RIZALINO TAGANAS, CIRIACO PONGASI, ISIAS WAGAS, REV. ESTER GELOAGAN, REV. LEON MANIWAN, CRESENTE BAOAS, WINEFREDA BARLOSO, REV. RUEL MARIGA AND THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES, REV. HILARIO GOMEZ, REV. ELMER BOLOCON, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR AND ARMAND ALFORQUE, RESPONDENTS. G.R. NO. 187778 PERLA NAVA, DANIELA YOSORES, AGUSTIN ALFORNON, AILEEN CATACUTAN, ROLANDO REDILOSA, CORNELIO MARIBOJO, VIRGENCITA CASAS, CRISANTA GENEGABOAS, EMILIO LAO, RICO GASCON, ALBINA BANEZ, PEDRO CABATINGAN, PROCOMIO SALUPAN, ELIZABETH RAMON, DIOSCORO GABUNADA, ROY MALAZARTE, FELICIANITA MALAZARTE, NORBERTA CACA, MILAGROS CASTILLO, EDNA ALBO, BERNABE LUMAPGUID, CELIA SABAS, SILVERIO LAO, DARIO LABRADOR, ERNESTO CANEN, JR., ELSA BUCAO, HANNAH BONGCARAS, NEMA BELOCURA, PEPITO LLAGAS, GUILLERMA REMOCALDO, ROGELIO DABATOS, ROBERTO JAYMA, RAYMUNDO DELATADO, MERLYN NODADO, NOEL HORTELANO, HERMELO DELA TORRE, LOURDES OLARTE, DANILO ZAMORA, LUZ CABASE, CATALINA ALSADO, RUTH BANZON AND THE NAGKAHIUSANG MAMUMUO SA METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, PETITIONERS, VS. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION (FOURTH DIVISION), METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC., BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REV. GREGORIO IYOY, SHIELA BUOT, REV. LORENZO GENOTIVA, RUBEN CABABAN, ROSENDO ESTOYE, LILIA SAURO, REV. ELIZER BERTOLDO, RIZALINA VILLAGANTE, DRA. LUCIA FLORENDO, CONCEPCION VILLEGAS, REV. OLIVER CANEN, DRA. CYD RAAGAS, REV. MIKE CAMBA, AVIDNIGO VALIENTE, RIZALINO TAGANAS, CIRIACO PONGASI, ISIAS WAGAS, REV. ESTER GELOAGAN, REV. LEON MANIWAN, CRESENTE BAOAS, WINIFREDA BARLOSO, REV. RUEL MARIGA, THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES, REV. HILARIO GOMEZ, REV. ELMER BOLOCON, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR AND ARMANDO ALFORQUE, RESPONDENTS. G.R. NO. 187861 METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, PRESENTLY KNOWN AS VISAYAS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER (VCMC), PETITIONER, VS. PERLA NAVA, DANIELA YOSORES, AGUSTIN ALFORNON, AILEEN CATACUTAN, ROLANDO REDILOSA, CORNELIO MARIBOJO, VIRGENCITA CASAS, CRISANTA GENEGABOAS, EMILIO LAO, RICO GASCON, ALBINA BANEZ, PEDRO CABATINGAN, PROCOMIO SALUPAN, ELIZABETH RAMON, DIOSCORO GABUNADA, ROY MALAZARTE, FELICIANITA MALAZARTE, NORBERTA CACA, MILAGROS CASTILLO, EDNA ALBO, BERNABE LUMABGUID, CELIA SABAS, SILVERIO LAO, DARIO LABRADOR, ERNESTO CANEN, JR., ELSA BUCAO, HANNAH BONGCARAS, NEMA BELOCURA, PEPITO LLAGAS, GUILLERMA REMOCALDO, ROGELIO DABATOS, ROBERTO JAYMA, RAYMUNDO DELATADO, NOEL HORTELANO, HERMELO DE LA TORRE, LOURDES OLARTE, DANILO ZAMORA, LUZ CABASE, CATALINA ALSADO AND RUTH BANZON, RESPONDENTS. G.R. NO. 196156 VISAYAS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER (VCMC) FORMERLY KNOWN AS METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (MCCH), PETITIONER, VS. ERMA YBALLE, NELIA ANGEL, ELEUTERIA CORTEZ AND EVELYN ONG, RESPONDENTS.

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

FIRST DIVISION

[G.R. No. 154113 : December 07, 2011]

EDEN GLADYS ABARIA, ROMULO ALFORQUE, ELENA ALLA, EVELYN APOSTOL, AMELIA ARAGON, BEATRIZ ALBASTRO, GLORIA ARDULLES, GLENDA BANTILAN, VIRGILIE BORINAGA, ROLDAN CALDERON, ILDEBRANDO CUTA, ROMEO EMPUERTO, LANNIE FERNANDEZ, LUCINELL GABAYERON, JESUSA GERONA, JOSE GONZAGA, TEOFILO HINAMPAS, JOSEFINA IBUNA, MARLYN LABRA, MARIA CARMENCITA LAO, ERA CANEN, RODNEY REX LERIAS, ERNIE MANLIGAS, JOHANNE DEL MAR, RUBY ORIMACO, CONSTANCIO PAGADOR, MARVELOUS PANAL, NOLAN PANAL, LILLAN PETALLAR, GERNA PATIGDAS, MELODIA PAULIN, SHIRLEY ROSE REYES, JOSEFINA REYES, OSCAR DE LOS SANTOS, SOLOMON DE LOS SANTOS, RAMON TAGNIPIS, BERNADETTE TIBAY, RONALD TUMULAK, LEONCIO VALLINAS, EDELBERTO VILLA AND THE NAGKAHIUSANG MAMUMUO SA METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, PETITIONERS, VS. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION, METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC., ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REV. GREGORIO IYOY, SHIELA BUOT, REV. LORENZO GENOTIVA, RUBEN CARABAN, RUBEN ESTOYE, LILIA SAURO, REV. ELIZER BERTOLDO, RIZALINA VILLAGANTE, DRA. LUCIA FLORENDO, CONCEPCION VILLEGAS, REV. OLIVER CANEN, DRA. CYD RAGAS, REV. MIKE CAMBA, AVEDNIGO VALIENTE, RIZALINO TAGANAS, CIRIACO PONGASI, ISIAS WAGAS, REV. ESTER GELOAGAN, REV. LEON MANIWAN, CRESENTE BAOAS, WINEFREDA BARLOSO, REV. RUEL MARIGA AND THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES, REV. HILARIO GOMEZ, REV. ELMER BOLOCON, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR AND ARMAND ALFORQUE, RESPONDENTS.

G.R. NO. 187778

PERLA NAVA, DANIELA YOSORES, AGUSTIN ALFORNON, AILEEN CATACUTAN, ROLANDO REDILOSA, CORNELIO MARIBOJO, VIRGENCITA CASAS, CRISANTA GENEGABOAS, EMILIO LAO, RICO GASCON, ALBINA BAÑEZ, PEDRO CABATINGAN, PROCOMIO SALUPAN, ELIZABETH RAMON, DIOSCORO GABUNADA, ROY MALAZARTE, FELICIANITA MALAZARTE, NORBERTA CACA, MILAGROS CASTILLO, EDNA ALBO, BERNABE LUMAPGUID, CELIA SABAS, SILVERIO LAO, DARIO LABRADOR, ERNESTO CANEN, JR., ELSA BUCAO, HANNAH BONGCARAS, NEMA BELOCURA, PEPITO LLAGAS, GUILLERMA REMOCALDO, ROGELIO DABATOS, ROBERTO JAYMA, RAYMUNDO DELATADO, MERLYN NODADO, NOEL HORTELANO, HERMELO DELA TORRE, LOURDES OLARTE, DANILO ZAMORA, LUZ CABASE, CATALINA ALSADO, RUTH BANZON AND THE NAGKAHIUSANG MAMUMUO SA METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, PETITIONERS, VS. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION (FOURTH DIVISION), METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC., BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REV. GREGORIO IYOY, SHIELA BUOT, REV. LORENZO GENOTIVA, RUBEN CABABAN, ROSENDO ESTOYE, LILIA SAURO, REV. ELIZER BERTOLDO, RIZALINA VILLAGANTE, DRA. LUCIA FLORENDO, CONCEPCION VILLEGAS, REV. OLIVER CANEN, DRA. CYD RAAGAS, REV. MIKE CAMBA, AVIDNIGO VALIENTE, RIZALINO TAGANAS, CIRIACO PONGASI, ISIAS WAGAS, REV. ESTER GELOAGAN, REV. LEON MANIWAN, CRESENTE BAOAS, WINIFREDA BARLOSO, REV. RUEL MARIGA, THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES, REV. HILARIO GOMEZ, REV. ELMER BOLOCON, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR AND ARMANDO ALFORQUE, RESPONDENTS.

G.R. NO. 187861

METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, PRESENTLY KNOWN AS VISAYAS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER (VCMC), PETITIONER, VS. PERLA NAVA, DANIELA YOSORES, AGUSTIN ALFORNON, AILEEN CATACUTAN, ROLANDO REDILOSA, CORNELIO MARIBOJO, VIRGENCITA CASAS, CRISANTA GENEGABOAS, EMILIO LAO, RICO GASCON, ALBINA BANEZ, PEDRO CABATINGAN, PROCOMIO SALUPAN, ELIZABETH RAMON, DIOSCORO GABUNADA, ROY MALAZARTE, FELICIANITA MALAZARTE, NORBERTA CACA, MILAGROS CASTILLO, EDNA ALBO, BERNABE LUMABGUID, CELIA SABAS, SILVERIO LAO, DARIO LABRADOR, ERNESTO CANEN, JR., ELSA BUCAO, HANNAH BONGCARAS, NEMA BELOCURA, PEPITO LLAGAS, GUILLERMA REMOCALDO, ROGELIO DABATOS, ROBERTO JAYMA, RAYMUNDO DELATADO, NOEL HORTELANO, HERMELO DE LA TORRE, LOURDES OLARTE, DANILO ZAMORA, LUZ CABASE, CATALINA ALSADO AND RUTH BANZON, RESPONDENTS.

G.R. NO. 196156

VISAYAS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER (VCMC) FORMERLY KNOWN AS METRO CEBU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (MCCH), PETITIONER, VS. ERMA YBALLE, NELIA ANGEL, ELEUTERIA CORTEZ AND EVELYN ONG, RESPONDENTS.

D E C I S I O N

VILLARAMA, JR., J.:

The consolidated petitions before us involve the legality of mass termination of hospital employees who participated in strike and picketing activities.cralaw

The factual antecedents:

Metro Cebu Community Hospital, Inc. (MCCHI), presently known as the Visayas Community Medical Center (VCMC), is a non-stock, non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. It operates the Metro Cebu Community Hospital (MCCH), a tertiary medical institution located at Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City. MCCH is owned by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and Rev. Gregorio P. Iyoy is the Hospital Administrator.

The National Federation of Labor (NFL) is the exclusive bargaining representative of the rank-and-file employees of MCCHI. Under the 1987 and 1991 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), the signatories were Ciriaco B. Pongasi, Sr. for MCCHI, and Atty. Armando M. Alforque (NFL Legal Counsel) and Paterno A. Lumapguid as President of NFL-MCCH Chapter. In the CBA effective from January 1994 until December 31, 1995, the signatories were Sheila E. Buot as Board of Trustees Chairman, Rev. Iyoy as MCCH Administrator and Atty. Fernando Yu as Legal Counsel of NFL, while Perla Nava, President of Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa MCCH (NAMA-MCCH-NFL) signed the Proof of Posting. ¹

On December 6, 1995, Nava wrote Rev. Iyoy expressing the union's desire to renew the CBA, attaching to her letter a statement of proposals signed/endorsed by 153 union members. Nava subsequently requested that the following employees be allowed to avail of one-day union leave with pay on December 19, 1995: Celia Sabas, Jesusa Gerona, Albina Bañez, Eddie Villa, Roy Malazarte, Ernesto Canen, Jr., Guillerma Remocaldo, Catalina Alsado, Evelyn Ong, Melodia Paulin, Sofia Bautista, Hannah Bongcaras, Ester Villarin, Iluminada Wenceslao and Perla Nava. However, MCCHI returned the CBA proposal for Nava to secure first the endorsement of the legal counsel of NFL as the official bargaining representative of MCCHI employees. ²

Meanwhile, Atty. Alforque informed MCCHI that the proposed CBA submitted by Nava was never referred to NFL and that NFL has not authorized any other legal counsel or any person for collective bargaining negotiations. By January 1996, the collection of union fees (check-off) was temporarily suspended by MCCHI in view of the existing conflict between the federation and its local affiliate. Thereafter, MCCHI attempted to take over the room being used as union office but was prevented to do so by Nava and her group who protested these actions and insisted that management directly negotiate with them for a new CBA. MCCHI referred the matter to Atty. Alforque, NFL's Regional Director, and advised Nava that their group is not recognized by NFL. ³

In his letter dated February 24, 1996 addressed to Nava, Ernesto Canen, Jr., Jesusa Gerona, Hannah Bongcaras, Emma Remocaldo, Catalina Alsado and Albina Bañez, Atty. Alforque suspended their union membership for serious violation of the Constitution and By-Laws. Said letter states:

During the last General Membership Meeting of the union on February 20, 1996, you openly declared that you recognized the officers of the KMU not those of the NFL, that you submit to the stuctures [sic] and authority of the KMU not of the NFL, and that you are loyal only to the KMU not to the NFL.

Also, in the same meeting, you admitted having sent a proposal for a renewed collective bargaining agreement to the management without any consultation with the NFL. In fact, in your letter dated February 21, 1996 addressed to Rev. Gregorio Iyoy, the Administrator of the hospital, you categorically stated as follows: "We do not need any endorsement from NFL, more particularly from Atty. Armando Alforque to negotiate our CBA with MCCH."

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