SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 213137, March 01, 2017
FLORDALIZA LLANES GRANDE, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE NAUTICAL TRAINING COLLEGE, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
PERALTA, J.:
Before us is a Petition for Review on Certiorari1 under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court which seeks to annul and set aside the Amended Decision2 dated November 7, 2013 and the Resolution dated June 25, 2014 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 125444. The CA reversed on reconsideration its Decision3 dated March 27, 2013 affirming the Decision4 of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Sixth Division, in NLRC Case No. LAC 08-002290-11 and the Decision5 of the Labor Arbiter which held that petitioner did not voluntarily resign but was illegally dismissed by respondent.
The factual antecedents are as follows:
Respondent Philippine Nautical Training College, or PNTC, is a private entity engaged in the business of providing maritime training and education.6 In 1988, respondent employed petitioner as Instructor for medical courses like Elementary First Aid and Medical Emergency.7 In April 1998, she became the Course Director of the Safety Department.8 Respondent was then principally engaged in providing maritime training for seafarers.9
In 2002, petitioner was appointed Course Director for the Training Department of respondent school. In November 2007, she resigned as she had to pursue graduate studies and carry on her plan to immigrate to Canada.10
In May 2009, petitioner was invited by respondent to resume teaching since it intended to offer BS Nursing and other courses for maritime training. In July 2009, petitioner was, again, employed by respondent as Director for Research and Course Department. As such, she was responsible for the development, revisions and execution of training programs.11
In September 2010, petitioner was given the additional post of Assistant Vice-President (VP) for Training Department. For the two positions she was holding, petitioner was given a salary of Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00) and an allowance in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00).12
In February 2011, several employees of respondent's Registration Department, including the VP for Training Department were placed under preventive suspension in view of the anomalies in the enlistment of students.13
On March 1, 2011, the VP for Corporate Affairs, Frederick Pios (Pios), called petitioner for a meeting. Pios relayed to petitioner the message of PNTC's President, Atty. Hernani Fabia, for her to tender her resignation from the school in view of the discovery of anomalies in the Registration Department that reportedly involved her. Pios assured petitioner of absolution from the alleged anomalies if she would resign.14
Petitioner then prepared a resignation letter, signed it and filed it with the Office of the PNTC President. The respondent accomplished for her the necessary exit clearance.15 The resignation letter16 of petitioner reads:
Atty. Hernani FabiaIn the evening of the same date, petitioner, accompanied by counsel, filed a police blotter for a complaint for unjust vexation against Pios.17 The police blotter reads in full:
President
Philippine Nautical Training Institute
Sir,
This is to officially file my resignation effective March 2, 2011 as Director for Research and Course Development/AVP.
Thank you.(Sgd) Flordaliza L. Grande
"One (1) Flordaliza Grande y Llanes, 36yo, M, (sic) Asst. Vice Pres. For Training and Dir. For Research and Dev't came here in our office to lodge her [complaint] against Frederick G. Pios Vice Pres. Corporate Affairs.The next day, March 2, 2011, petitioner accompanied by counsel, filed a complaint for illegal dismissal19 with prayer for reinstatement with full backwages, money claims, damages, and attorney's fees against respondent.20
NOC: UNJUST VEXATION
x x x
Facts of the case:
On or about cited DTPO complainant was called by Ms. Luchi Banaag for meeting by Mr. Frederick G. Pios (suspect) at the office. Mr. Pios was telling her that there were some unfounded anomalies discovered and being attributed to her; complainant was shocked upon hearing the same. With this, he forced the complainant to file resignation from employment, and in return made her [assurance] to absolve from the said unfounded anomalies, complainant considering that she was being accused of unfounded anomalies, she was force (sic) to succumb to the order and execute her resignation letter immediately, and Mr. Pios (suspect) uttered that he was following orders from the President of PNTC Colleges, Hernani Fabia-President, as narrated by complainant."18
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby made finding the complainant's claim of forced resignation established by substantial evidence. Concomitantly, her resignation of March 1, 2011 is hereby declared null and void, and by way of restoring the status quo, the respondent school is ordered to reinstate her to her former or substantially equivalent position without loss of seniority rights but without backwages. In case the complainant does not want to be reinstated, she may, upon her option, accept, in lieu of reinstatement, a separation pay amounting to P75,000.00 (her half month salary of P25,000.00 multiplied by three (3) years of service), plus ten percent (10%) thereof as attorney's fees.Thereafter, respondent elevated the case before the NLRC, Sixth Division. On February 29, 2012, the NLRC affirmed the Decision of the LA.
Other claims are dismissed for lack of merit.
SO ORDERED.22
WHEREFORE, the petition is DISMISSED. In view of the foregoing premises, the assailed Decision dated February 29, 2012 and Resolution dated May 31, 2012 of the National Labor Relations Commission in NLRC LAC No. 08-002290-11, are AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATION that Flordaliza L. Grande is GRANTED payment of backwages, computed from the time she was illegally dismissed on March 1, 2011 up to the time she is actually reinstated to her former or substantially equivalent position, and attorney's fees equivalent to 10% of the total monetary award.A motion for reconsideration was filed by the respondent which was granted by the CA on November 7, 2013 and reversed its Decision dated March 27, 2013. The decretal portion of the Amended Decision states:
SO ORDERED.24
WHEREFORE, the motion for reconsideration is GRANTED. The Court Decision dated March 27, 2013 is RECONSIDERED AND SET ASIDE. Accordingly, the complaint of respondent Flordaliza L. Grande is DISMISSED.Hence, this petition, raising the following errors:
SO ORDERED.25
In the petition, petitioner averred that respondent did not present any new argument in its motion for reconsideration before the CA as to warrant the reversal of the Decision of the CA dated March 27, 2013. She stressed that she had no real intention of leaving her employment. She was really surprised and shocked when she was forced to resign despite having "wholeheartedly" served the school for years. Her resignation letter which she described as "simply worded" signified her involuntariness in the execution of the document. It was the "undue influence and pressure" exerted upon her by respondent that compelled her to submit the resignation letter. That was the reason why she immediately filed the case for illegal dismissal the day after she tendered her resignation letter. Also, petitioner attached in her petition the Special Cash Audit Report dated March 11, 201127 which was the result of the audit conducted on the PNTC upon its request. The report shows that it is the VP for Training/Registrar who was made to account for the irregularity in the collection reports.I
x x x The Court of Appeals seriously erred in issuing CONFLICTING DECISIONS (Decision dated 27 March 2013 and Amended Decision dated 7 November 2013) composed by the same set of Division Members although the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the private respondent did not present new arguments and/or facts (rather merely reiterating the arguments in the Petition for Certiorari) warranting a re-examination and re-evaluation of its earlier Decision.II
x x x The Court of Appeals seriously erred in considering the Petition for Certiorari filed by the private respondents despite the absence of any grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Labor Arbiter a quo and NLRC, Sixth Division.26
12.7. The action of Grande was premeditated. There was no threat employed upon her. Prior to her resignation, PNTC found out that there were discrepancies in the enrollment reports signed by Grande and the system database of PNTC as to the list of enrollees. Likewise, there were enrollment reports signed by GRANDE stating that her husband, Nelson Grande, was the assigned professor to a particular course when the latter was, actually, abroad. When confronted with these discrepancies, GRANDE resigned from work and even filed a complaint for unjust vexation apparently to avoid any legal suit to be filed by PNTC against her and to cover up for her misdeeds and that of her husband, x x x.35There was, therefore, an admission by respondent that a confrontation occurred before petitioner "suddenly" tendered her resignation. And that, it was not true that respondent became "suspicious" of the "abruptness" in the resignation which prompted the respondent to conduct an investigation.
12.4. The clearance obtained by GRANDE is of no moment. At the time GRANDE resigned and obtained her clearance, the investigation as to those who are liable for the anomalous activities was still ongoing. x x x37As observed by the NLRC, if petitioner was being investigated for an administrative charge, why was she cleared from liabilities. The more logical thing to do is to hold her clearance until all the liabilities have been settled. The haste by which she was cleared by all departments would reveal that respondent really wanted petitioner to go. And it was even admitted by respondent that petitioner still had accountabilities in terms of borrowed books.38 Why was then petitioner cleared? The logical answer is respondent really wanted petitioner to go.
x x x. Not a scintilla of evidence was adduced to convinced the labor tribunal that respondent was not illegally terminated. While petitioner argued that the excerpt on the conversation which transpired between respondent and Pios is untrue, this however, was not effectively refuted. The failure of Pios or Fabia to submit an affidavit to disprove that a conversation had actually taken place is fatal, for the burden to prove the fact of resignation lies with the employer.Resignation is the voluntary act of an employee who is in a situation where one believes that personal, reasons cannot be sacrificed in favor of the exigency of the service, and has no other choice but to dissociate from employment. Resignation is a formal pronouncement or relinquishment of an office, and must be made with the intention of relinquishing the office accompanied by the act of relinquishment. A resignation must be unconditional and with the intent to operate as such.40
x x x
It is also worthy to note that after respondent tendered her resignation, petitioner immediately approved her clearance form. This is totally incompatible with petitioner's claim that respondent was one of the high-ranking officials who may have participated in the anomalies at school. The more logical and acceptable approach would have been to hold respondent's clearance until she has settled her accountability with the company.39
x x x It would have been illogical for herein petitioner to resign and then file a complaint for illegal dismissal. Resignation is inconsistent with the filing of the said complaint.46Petitioner's intention to leave the school, as well as her act of relinquishment, is not present in the instant case. On the contrary, she vigorously pursued her complaint against respondent. It is a clear manifestation that she had no intention of relinquishing her employment.47 The element of voluntariness in petitioner's resignation is, therefore, missing.48
"Pios: Flor, do you have any idea on why I need to talk to you now? Actually, yung mga nangyayaring gayon, medyo nainvolve ka eh.However, the CA relied on the said conversation excerpt to show that no threat or force was exerted by respondent on petitioner for her to resign from employment, thus:
Grande: Ako, may involvement sa nangyayari? Well, direct me to the point.
Pios: I was talked by [sic]Atty. Fabia and gave me instructions to talk to you and ask you to resign.
Grande: For what reasons?
Pios: Ok, sabihin ko na sa yo, it came to our knowledge that you went to the office of Ricky Ty and asked for a legal advice on what was [sic] happened to Nita.
Grande: Haah! What di totoo yan!
Pios: Well unang nakarating sa amin na balita, and you are even asking Ricky Ty for an employment.
Grande: That's a big lie. Actually red, kilala mo ba ako talaga? Why do I need to seek legal assistance to [sic] other people eh samantalang I have a sister and a nephew who are lawyers? That is not fair. Halatang ploy mo ito sa akin para idawit mo ako sa nangyayari kay Mam Nitz!
Pios: Well, madami pa kasing lumutang na resulta sa investigation. Like this one (showing an Enrollment List Form). Is this your signature?
Grande: O. why?
Pios: Kais [sic] it was noticed that your husband's name was declared here as Instructor for Basic Safety Course. Eh nag check kami ng records sa accounting, the inclusive dates declared eh on board mister mo.
Grande: Hala, buti pa kayo alam nyo ung schedule ng mister ko. Hindi mo kasi alam kung pano ang reporting nyan. Ang ginagawang registration they have to out [sic] a name on that Instructor and Assessor portion ung name ng taong declared officially sa maritime Training Council. Eh wala na sila na malagay na pangalan ng qualified and accredited instructor, that is why nilagay pangalan nya. Hay naku, lahat ng training center ganyan gawa and dating ginagawang PNTI yan due to lack of qualified Instructor. Kung tutuusin nga eh, dapat binayaran nyo pa si Nelson kasi ginagamit ninyo pangalan nya kahit di nya alam. Actually, we did a favor for the company, kulang kayo sa Qualified Instructor eh, so kami na gagawa ng paraan para may ma-declare na Instructor.
Pios: Yeah, we have checked on accounting, di naman sya nabayaran sa ganyan period. Saka I understand what you are trying to say, na iintindihan ko ang proseso.
Grande: Kaya nga Red eh, ang dami nyong accusations sa akin and yet, wala kayang [sic] mapakitang evidence.
Pios: Saka why did you sign?
Grande: Ha? Syempre, wala si Mam Nitz. Saka nag forge ba ako ng pirma ni Mam Nitz? Di ba nakalagay dyan for? Saka ako ang next in line na pipirma pag wala sya. Kelangan ngi—submit ang form sa MTC.
Pios: Another thing Flor, dib a [sic] may na send sa yong text si Nita regarding sa text ni Leah Fabia, na she is not putting her weight around para mapaalis ka dito. Kaso di nya talaga gusto na nandito ka.
Grande: Well, that's not my problem anymore, kayo ang kumontak sa akin then all of a sudden ganyan nyo ako. Tell me honestly, influence ni Leah Fabia itong usapan natin noh?
Pios: No, it was Atty. Fabia who wants it.
Grande: You don't know what you are talking about. It's not fair to me to get this kind of treatment.
Pios: Kaya nga Flor eh, there is no point of staying. Mabait pa nga ako say o [sic] eh, coz I believe in you, kaya lang Flor, utos ng Management eh. Alam mo naman na okay naman tayo, maski ako, di ko gusto itong sinasabi ko say o [sic], kaso I have to obey. I just want to carry out the order.52
It is unfathomable how respondent could actually recount every word that was said by her and Pios. To be able to quote such a detailed conversation that was not even recorded or transcribed is absurd, to say the least. As memory is, most often than not, fleeting and momentary, evidentiary weight cannot as easily be accorded to it.We are not persuaded by the reasoning of the CA. While indeed there was no employment of force from the language used by Pios, We are convinced that there was the presence of undue influence exerted on petitioner for her to leave her employment. The conversation showed that respondent wanted to terminate petitioner's employment but would want it to appear that she voluntarily resigned. Undue influence is defined under Article 1337 of the Civil Code, thus:
x x x
Again, even assuming that the quoted conversation actually took place, no indication of threat or force can be adduced from the language used by Pios. He did not even warn respondent that she will be terminated if she refused to resign. Quite telling, the conversation between Pios and respondent may well be regarded as a discussion on the irregularities that took place in the company rather than a confrontation to force respondent to resign. There was no clear act of discrimination, insensibility or disdain on the part of Pios so as to force respondent to resign and sever her employment from the company, x x x.
Respondent's eventual act of resigning and thereafter causing the matter to be recorded in the police blotter are appreciated as a well thought-out plan carried out in order to preempt the investigation conducted by petitioner. In fact, right after she tendered her resignation, respondent wasted no time in obtaining a clearance from the different offices of petitioner which left the latter with no sufficient time to verify if she had a hand in the illegal schemes.53
Art. 1337. There is undue influence when a person takes improper advantage of his power over the will of another, depriving the latter of a reasonable freedom of choice. The following circumstances shall be considered; the confidential, family, spiritual, and other relations between the parties, or the fact that the person alleged to have been unduly influenced was suffering from mental weakness, or was ignorant or in financial distress.54As correctly observed by the LA, petitioner's resignation immediately tendered after the conversation is not voluntary. With an order coming from the President of PNTC, no less, undue influence and pressure was exerted upon petitioner.
Endnotes:
1Rollo, pp. 11-41.
2 Penned by Associate Justice Magdangal M. De Leon, with Associate Justices Stephen C. Cruz and Myra V. Garcia-Fernandez, concurring; id. at 59-73.
3Id. at 43-57.
4Id. at 79-87.
5Id. at 90-96.
6Id. at 44.
7Id. at 17.
8Id. at 90.
9Id. at 17.
10Id. at 90.
11Id. at 19.
12Id. at 80, 83.
13Id. at 80.
14Id. at 80, 91.
15Id. at 91.
16Id. at 80-81.
17Id. at 91.
18Id. at 91-92.
19 Annex "F" of the Petition, id. at 97-99.
20Rollo, pp. 44, 81.
21Id. at 84.
22Id. at 79-80.
23Id. at 13.
24Id. at 56.
25Id. at 72-73. (Emphasis in the original)
26Id. at 30.
27 Annex "G" of the Petition, id. at 100-106.
28Rollo, pp. 109-116.
29Id. at 141-143.
30Mobile Protective & Detective Agency v. Ompad, 497 Phil. 621, 628 (2005).
31Vicente v. Court of Appeals, (Former 7th Div.), 557 Phil. 777, 785 (2007).
32D.M. Consunji Corporation v. Bello, 715 Phil. 335, 338 (2013).
33Rollo, p. 93.
34Id. at 82.
35Id. at 114. (Emphasis ours)
36 NLRC Decision, id. at 82.
37Rollo, p. 113.
38Id. at 85.
39Id. at 51-52. ( Underscoring ours.)
40Fortuny Garments/Johnny Co v. Castro, 514 Phil. 317, 323 (2005).
41Vicente v. Court of Appeals, supra note 31, at 785-786.
42Rollo, p. 51.
43SME Bank Inc. v. De Guzman, 719 Phil. 103, 121 (2013).
44 349 Phil. 760, 767 (1998).
45 555 Phil. 225 (2007).
46Fungo v. Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, supra, at 233.
47Id.
48San Miguel Properties Philippines, Inc. v. Gucaban, 669 Phil. 288, 300 (2011).
49Molave Tours Corporation v. NLRC, 320 Phil. 398, 405 (1995).
50Supra note 30, at 634-635.
51Vicente v. Court of Appeals, supra note 31.
52Rollo, pp. 68-70. (Emphasis ours.)
53Id. at 70-72.
54 Emphasis ours.
55Id. at 20-21.
56Fungo v. Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, supra note 45.
57Rollo, p. 22.
58Vicente v. Court of Appeals, supra note 31, at 784-785.
59Aujero v. Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation, 679 Phil. 463, 481 (2012).
60D. M. Consunji Corporation v. Rogelio P. Bello, supra note 32, at 347.
61Mobile Protective & Detective Ageancy v. Ompad, supra note 30, at 635.
62Verdadero v. Barney Autolines Group of Companies Transport, Inc., et al., 693 Phil. 646, 659 (2012).