Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 148132

January 28, 2008

SMART COMMUNICATIONS, INC., petitioner,

vs.
REGINA M. ASTORGA, respondent.
x---------------------------------------------------x
G.R. No. 151079

January 28, 2008

SMART COMMUNICATIONS, INC., petitioner,

vs.
REGINA M. ASTORGA, respondent.
x---------------------------------------------------x
G.R. No. 151372

January 28, 2008

REGINA M. ASTORGA, petitioner,

vs.
SMART COMMUNICATIONS, INC. and ANN MARGARET V. SANTIAGO, respondents.
DECISION
NACHURA, J.:
For the resolution of the Court are three consolidated petitions for review on certiorari under
Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. G.R. No. 148132 assails the February 28, 2000 Decision1 and the
May 7, 2001 Resolution2 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP. No. 53831. G.R. Nos.
151079 and 151372 question the June 11, 2001 Decision3 and the December 18, 2001
Resolution4 in CA-G.R. SP. No. 57065.
Regina M. Astorga (Astorga) was employed by respondent Smart Communications,
Incorporated (SMART) on May 8, 1997 as District Sales Manager of the Corporate Sales
Marketing Group/ Fixed Services Division (CSMG/FSD). She was receiving a monthly salary
of P33,650.00. As District Sales Manager, Astorga enjoyed additional benefits, namely, annual
performance incentive equivalent to 30% of her annual gross salary, a group life and
hospitalization insurance coverage, and a car plan in the amount of P455,000.00.5
In February 1998, SMART launched an organizational realignment to achieve more efficient
operations. This was made known to the employees on February 27, 1998.6 Part of the
reorganization was the outsourcing of the marketing and sales force. Thus, SMART entered into
a joint venture agreement with NTT of Japan, and formed SMART-NTT Multimedia,

Incorporated (SNMI). Since SNMI was formed to do the sales and marketing work, SMART
abolished the CSMG/FSD, Astorgas division.
To soften the blow of the realignment, SNMI agreed to absorb the CSMG personnel who would
be recommended by SMART. SMART then conducted a performance evaluation of CSMG
personnel and those who garnered the highest ratings were favorably recommended to SNMI.
Astorga landed last in the performance evaluation, thus, she was not recommended by SMART.
SMART, nonetheless, offered her a supervisory position in the Customer Care Department, but
she refused the offer because the position carried lower salary rank and rate.
Despite the abolition of the CSMG/FSD, Astorga continued reporting for work. But on March 3,
1998, SMART issued a memorandum advising Astorga of the termination of her employment on
ground of redundancy, effective April 3, 1998. Astorga received it on March 16, 1998.7
The termination of her employment prompted Astorga to file a Complaint8 for illegal dismissal,
non-payment of salaries and other benefits with prayer for moral and exemplary damages
against SMART and Ann Margaret V. Santiago (Santiago). She claimed that abolishing CSMG
and, consequently, terminating her employment was illegal for it violated her right to security of
tenure. She also posited that it was illegal for an employer, like SMART, to contract out services
which will displace the employees, especially if the contractor is an in-house agency.9
SMART responded that there was valid termination. It argued that Astorga was dismissed by
reason of redundancy, which is an authorized cause for termination of employment, and the
dismissal was effected in accordance with the requirements of the Labor Code. The redundancy
of Astorgas position was the result of the abolition of CSMG and the creation of a specialized
and more technically equipped SNMI, which is a valid and legitimate exercise of management
prerogative.10
In the meantime, on May 18, 1998, SMART sent a letter to Astorga demanding that she pay the
current market value of the Honda Civic Sedan which was given to her under the companys car
plan program, or to surrender the same to the company for proper disposition.11 Astorga,
however, failed and refused to do either, thus prompting SMART to file a suit for replevin with
the Regional Trial Court of Makati (RTC) on August 10, 1998. The case was docketed as Civil
Case No. 98-1936 and was raffled to Branch 57.12
Astorga moved to dismiss the complaint on grounds of (i) lack of jurisdiction; (ii) failure to state a
cause of action; (iii) litis pendentia; and (iv) forum-shopping. Astorga posited that the regular
courts have no jurisdiction over the complaint because the subject thereof pertains to a benefit
arising from an employment contract; hence, jurisdiction over the same is vested in the labor
tribunal and not in regular courts.13
Pending resolution of Astorgas motion to dismiss the replevin case, the Labor Arbiter rendered
a Decision14dated August 20, 1998, declaring Astorgas dismissal from employment illegal. While
recognizing SMARTs right to abolish any of its departments, the Labor Arbiter held that such
right should be exercised in good faith and for causes beyond its control. The Arbiter found the
abolition of CSMG done neither in good faith nor for causes beyond the control of SMART, but a
ploy to terminate Astorgas employment. The Arbiter also ruled that contracting out the functions
performed by Astorga to an in-house agency like SNMI was illegal, citing Section 7(e), Rule VIIIA of the Rules Implementing the Labor Code.

Accordingly, the Labor Arbiter ordered:

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered declaring the dismissal of [Astorga] to be illegal
and unjust. [SMART and Santiago] are hereby ordered to:
1. Reinstate [Astorga] to [her] former position or to a substantially equivalent position, without
loss of seniority rights and other privileges, with full backwages, inclusive of allowances and
other benefits from the time of [her] dismissal to the date of reinstatement, which computed
as of this date, are as follows:
(a)

Astorga
BACKWAGES; (P33,650.00 x 4 months)

= P134,600.00

UNPAID SALARIES (February 15, 1998-April 3,

1998
February 15-28, 1998

= P 16,823.00

March 1-31, [1998]

= P 33,650.00

April 1-3, 1998

= P 3,882.69

CAR MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE

(P2,000.00 x 4)

= P 8,000.00

FUEL ALLOWANCE
(300 liters/mo. x 4 mos. at P12.04/liter)

= P 14,457.83
TOTAL = P211,415.52

xxxx
3. Jointly and severally pay moral damages in the amount of P500,000.00 x x x and
exemplary damages in the amount of P300,000.00. x x x
4. Jointly and severally pay 10% of the amount due as attorneys fees.
SO ORDERED.15

Subsequently, on March 29, 1999, the RTC issued an Order16 denying Astorgas motion to
dismiss the replevin case. In so ruling, the RTC ratiocinated that:
Assessing the [submission] of the parties, the Court finds no merit in the motion to dismiss.
As correctly pointed out, this case is to enforce a right of possession over a company car
assigned to the defendant under a car plan privilege arrangement. The car is registered in
the name of the plaintiff. Recovery thereof via replevin suit is allowed by Rule 60 of the 1997
Rules of Civil Procedure, which is undoubtedly within the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial
Court.
In the Complaint, plaintiff claims to be the owner of the company car and despite demand,
defendant refused to return said car. This is clearly sufficient statement of plaintiffs cause of
action.

Neither is there forum shopping. The element of litis penden[t]ia does not appear to exist
because the judgment in the labor dispute will not constitute res judicata to bar the filing of
this case.
WHEREFORE, the Motion to Dismiss is hereby denied for lack of merit.
SO ORDERED.17

Astorga filed a motion for reconsideration, but the RTC denied it on June 18, 1999.18
Astorga elevated the denial of her motion via certiorari to the CA, which, in its February 28,
2000 Decision,19reversed the RTC ruling. Granting the petition and, consequently, dismissing
the replevin case, the CA held that the case is intertwined with Astorgas complaint for illegal
dismissal; thus, it is the labor tribunal that has rightful jurisdiction over the complaint. SMARTs
motion for reconsideration having been denied,20 it elevated the case to this Court, now
docketed as G.R. No. 148132.
Meanwhile, SMART also appealed the unfavorable ruling of the Labor Arbiter in the illegal
dismissal case to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). In its September 27, 1999
Decision,21 the NLRC sustained Astorgas dismissal. Reversing the Labor Arbiter, the NLRC
declared the abolition of CSMG and the creation of SNMI to do the sales and marketing
services for SMART a valid organizational action. It overruled the Labor Arbiters ruling that
SNMI is an in-house agency, holding that it lacked legal basis. It also declared that contracting,
subcontracting and streamlining of operations for the purpose of increasing efficiency are
allowed under the law. The NLRC further found erroneous the Labor Arbiters disquisition that
redundancy to be valid must be impelled by economic reasons, and upheld the redundancy
measures undertaken by SMART.
The NLRC disposed, thus:
WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Labor Arbiter is hereby reversed and set aside. [Astorga]
is further ordered to immediately return the company vehicle assigned to her. [Smart and
Santiago] are hereby ordered to pay the final wages of [Astorga] after [she] had submitted
the required supporting papers therefor.
SO ORDERED.22

Astorga filed a motion for reconsideration, but the NLRC denied it on December 21, 1999.23
Astorga then went to the CA via certiorari. On June 11, 2001, the CA rendered a
Decision24 affirming with modification the resolutions of the NLRC. In gist, the CA agreed with
the NLRC that the reorganization undertaken by SMART resulting in the abolition of CSMG was
a legitimate exercise of management prerogative. It rejected Astorgas posturing that her nonabsorption into SNMI was tainted with bad faith. However, the CA found that SMART failed to
comply with the mandatory one-month notice prior to the intended termination. Accordingly, the
CA imposed a penalty equivalent to Astorgas one-month salary for this non-compliance. The
CA also set aside the NLRCs order for the return of the company vehicle holding that this issue
is not essentially a labor concern, but is civil in nature, and thus, within the competence of the
regular court to decide. It added that the matter had not been fully ventilated before the NLRC,
but in the regular court.

Astorga filed a motion for reconsideration, while SMART sought partial reconsideration, of the
Decision. On December 18, 2001, the CA resolved the motions, viz.:
WHEREFORE, [Astorgas] motion for reconsideration is hereby PARTIALLY GRANTED.
[Smart] is hereby ordered to pay [Astorga] her backwages from 15 February 1998 to 06
November 1998. [Smarts] motion for reconsideration is outrightly DENIED.
SO ORDERED.25

Astorga and SMART came to us with their respective petitions for review assailing the CA ruling,
docketed as G.R Nos. 151079 and 151372. On February 27, 2002, this Court ordered the
consolidation of these petitions with G.R. No. 148132.26
In her Memorandum, Astorga argues:
I
THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN UPHOLDING THE VALIDITY OF ASTORGAS
DISMISSAL DESPITE THE FACT THAT HER DISMISSAL WAS EFFECTED IN CLEAR
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SECURITY OF TENURE,
CONSIDERING THAT THERE WAS NO GENUINE GROUND FOR HER DISMISSAL.
II
SMARTS REFUSAL TO REINSTATE ASTORGA DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE
APPEAL AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE 223 OF THE LABOR CODE, ENTITLES ASTORGA
TO HER SALARIES DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE APPEAL.
III
THE COURT OF APPEALS WAS CORRECT IN HOLDING THAT THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT HAS NO JURISDICTION OVER THE COMPLAINT FOR RECOVERY OF A CAR
WHICH ASTORGA ACQUIRED AS PART OF HER EMPLOYEE (sic) BENEFIT.27

On the other hand, Smart in its Memoranda raises the following issues:
I
WHETHER THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS HAS DECIDED A QUESTION OF
SUBSTANCE IN A WAY PROBABLY NOT IN ACCORD WITH LAW OR WITH APPLICABLE
DECISION OF THE HONORABLE SUPREME COURT AND HAS SO FAR DEPARTED
FROM THE ACCEPTED AND USUAL COURSE OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AS TO
CALL FOR AN EXERCISE OF THE POWER OF SUPERVISION WHEN IT RULED THAT
SMART DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO
TERMINATING ASTORGA ON THE GROUND OF REDUNDANCY.
II

WHETHER THE NOTICES GIVEN BY SMART TO ASTORGA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ARE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTICE
REQUIREMENTS BEFORE TERMINATION.
III
WHETHER THE RULE ENUNCIATED IN SERRANO VS. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
COMMISSION FINDS APPLICATION IN THE CASE AT BAR CONSIDERING THAT IN THE
SERRANO CASE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NOTICE AT ALL.28
IV
WHETHER THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS HAS DECIDED A QUESTION OF
SUBSTANCE IN A WAY PROBABLY NOT IN ACCORD WITH LAW OR WITH APPLICABLE
DECISION[S] OF THE HONORABLE SUPREME COURT AND HAS SO FAR DEPARTED
FROM THE ACCEPTED AND USUAL COURSE OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AS TO
CALL FOR AN EXERCISE OF THE POWER OF SUPERVISION WHEN IT RULED THAT
THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE
COMPLAINT FOR REPLEVIN FILED BY SMART TO RECOVER ITS OWN COMPANY
VEHICLE FROM A FORMER EMPLOYEE WHO WAS LEGALLY DISMISSED.
V
WHETHER THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS HAS FAILED TO APPRECIATE THAT
THE SUBJECT OF THE REPLEVIN CASE IS NOT THE ENFORCEMENT OF A CAR PLAN
PRIVILEGE BUT SIMPLY THE RECOVERY OF A COMPANY CAR.
VI
WHETHER THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS HAS FAILED TO APPRECIATE THAT
ASTORGA CAN NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED AS AN EMPLOYEE OF SMART UNDER
THE LABOR CODE.29

The Court shall first deal with the propriety of dismissing the replevin case filed with the RTC of
Makati City allegedly for lack of jurisdiction, which is the issue raised in G.R. No. 148132.
Replevin is an action whereby the owner or person entitled to repossession of goods or chattels
may recover those goods or chattels from one who has wrongfully distrained or taken, or who
wrongfully detains such goods or chattels. It is designed to permit one having right to
possession to recover property in specie from one who has wrongfully taken or detained the
property.30 The term may refer either to the action itself, for the recovery of personalty, or to the
provisional remedy traditionally associated with it, by which possession of the property may be
obtained by the plaintiff and retained during the pendency of the action.31
That the action commenced by SMART against Astorga in the RTC of Makati City was one for
replevin hardly admits of doubt.
In reversing the RTC ruling and consequently dismissing the case for lack of jurisdiction, the CA
made the following disquisition, viz.:

[I]t is plain to see that the vehicle was issued to [Astorga] by [Smart] as part of the
employment package. We doubt that [SMART] would extend [to Astorga] the same car plan
privilege were it not for her employment as district sales manager of the company.
Furthermore, there is no civil contract for a loan between [Astorga] and [Smart].
Consequently, We find that the car plan privilege is a benefit arising out of employeremployee relationship. Thus, the claim for such falls squarely within the original and
exclusive jurisdiction of the labor arbiters and the NLRC.32

We do not agree. Contrary to the CAs ratiocination, the RTC rightfully assumed jurisdiction over
the suit and acted well within its discretion in denying Astorgas motion to dismiss. SMARTs
demand for payment of the market value of the car or, in the alternative, the surrender of the
car, is not a labor, but a civil, dispute. It involves the relationship of debtor and creditor rather
than employee-employer relations.33 As such, the dispute falls within the jurisdiction of the
regular courts.
In Basaya, Jr. v. Militante,34 this Court, in upholding the jurisdiction of the RTC over the replevin
suit, explained:
Replevin is a possessory action, the gist of which is the right of possession in the plaintiff.
The primary relief sought therein is the return of the property in specie wrongfully detained
by another person. It is an ordinary statutory proceeding to adjudicate rights to the title or
possession of personal property. The question of whether or not a party has the right of
possession over the property involved and if so, whether or not the adverse party has
wrongfully taken and detained said property as to require its return to plaintiff, is outside the
pale of competence of a labor tribunal and beyond the field of specialization of Labor
Arbiters.
xxxx
The labor dispute involved is not intertwined with the issue in the Replevin Case. The
respective issues raised in each forum can be resolved independently on the other. In fact in
18 November 1986, the NLRC in the case before it had issued an Injunctive Writ enjoining
the petitioners from blocking the free ingress and egress to the Vessel and ordering the
petitioners to disembark and vacate. That aspect of the controversy is properly settled under
the Labor Code. So also with petitioners right to picket. But the determination of the question
of who has the better right to take possession of the Vessel and whether petitioners can
deprive the Charterer, as the legal possessor of the Vessel, of that right to possess in
addressed to the competence of Civil Courts.
In thus ruling, this Court is not sanctioning split jurisdiction but defining avenues of
jurisdiction as laid down by pertinent laws.

The CA, therefore, committed reversible error when it overturned the RTC ruling and ordered
the dismissal of the replevin case for lack of jurisdiction.
Having resolved that issue, we proceed to rule on the validity of Astorgas dismissal.
Astorga was terminated due to redundancy, which is one of the authorized causes for the
dismissal of an employee. The nature of redundancy as an authorized cause for dismissal is
explained in the leading case ofWiltshire File Co., Inc. v. National Labor Relations
Commission,35 viz:

x x x redundancy in an employers personnel force necessarily or even ordinarily refers to

duplication of work. That no other person was holding the same position that private
respondent held prior to termination of his services does not show that his position had not
become redundant. Indeed, in any well organized business enterprise, it would be surprising
to find duplication of work and two (2) or more people doing the work of one person. We
believe that redundancy, for purposes of the Labor Code, exists where the services of an
employee are in excess of what is reasonably demanded by the actual requirements of the
enterprise. Succinctly put, a position is redundant where it is superfluous, and superfluity of a
position or positions may be the outcome of a number of factors, such as overhiring of
workers, decreased volume of business, or dropping of a particular product line or service
activity previously manufactured or undertaken by the enterprise.

The characterization of an employees services as superfluous or no longer necessary and,

therefore, properly terminable, is an exercise of business judgment on the part of the employer.
The wisdom and soundness of such characterization or decision is not subject to discretionary
review provided, of course, that a violation of law or arbitrary or malicious action is not shown. 36
Astorga claims that the termination of her employment was illegal and tainted with bad faith.
She asserts that the reorganization was done in order to get rid of her. But except for her
barefaced allegation, no convincing evidence was offered to prove it. This Court finds it
extremely difficult to believe that SMART would enter into a joint venture agreement with NTT,
form SNMI and abolish CSMG/FSD simply for the sole purpose of easing out a particular
employee, such as Astorga. Moreover, Astorga never denied that SMART offered her a
supervisory position in the Customer Care Department, but she refused the offer because the
position carried a lower salary rank and rate. If indeed SMART simply wanted to get rid of her, it
would not have offered her a position in any department in the enterprise.
Astorga also states that the justification advanced by SMART is not true because there was no
compelling economic reason for redundancy. But contrary to her claim, an employer is not
precluded from adopting a new policy conducive to a more economical and effective
management even if it is not experiencing economic reverses. Neither does the law require that
the employer should suffer financial losses before he can terminate the services of the
employee on the ground of redundancy. 37
We agree with the CA that the organizational realignment introduced by SMART, which
culminated in the abolition of CSMG/FSD and termination of Astorgas employment was an
honest effort to make SMARTs sales and marketing departments more efficient and
competitive. As the CA had taken pains to elucidate:
x x x a careful and assiduous review of the records will yield no other conclusion than that
the reorganization undertaken by SMART is for no purpose other than its declared objective
as a labor and cost savings device. Indeed, this Court finds no fault in SMARTs decision to
outsource the corporate sales market to SNMI in order to attain greater productivity.
[Astorga] belonged to the Sales Marketing Group under the Fixed Services Division
(CSMG/FSD), a distinct sales force of SMART in charge of selling SMARTs
telecommunications services to the corporate market. SMART, to ensure it can respond
quickly, efficiently and flexibly to its customers requirement, abolished CSMG/FSD and
shortly thereafter assigned its functions to newly-created SNMI Multimedia Incorporated, a
joint venture company of SMART and NTT of Japan, for the reason that CSMG/FSD does
not have the necessary technical expertise required for the value added services. By
transferring the duties of CSMG/FSD to SNMI, SMART has created a more competent and

specialized organization to perform the work required for corporate accounts. It is also
relieved SMART of all administrative costs management, time and money-needed in
maintaining the CSMG/FSD. The determination to outsource the duties of the CSMG/FSD to
SNMI was, to Our mind, a sound business judgment based on relevant criteria and is
therefore a legitimate exercise of management prerogative.

Indeed, out of our concern for those lesser circumstanced in life, this Court has inclined towards
the worker and upheld his cause in most of his conflicts with his employer. This favored
treatment is consonant with the social justice policy of the Constitution. But while tilting the
scales of justice in favor of workers, the fundamental law also guarantees the right of the
employer to reasonable returns for his investment.38 In this light, we must acknowledge the
prerogative of the employer to adopt such measures as will promote greater efficiency, reduce
overhead costs and enhance prospects of economic gains, albeit always within the framework
of existing laws. Accordingly, we sustain the reorganization and redundancy program
undertaken by SMART.
However, as aptly found by the CA, SMART failed to comply with the mandated one (1) month
notice prior to termination. The record is clear that Astorga received the notice of termination
only on March 16, 199839 or less than a month prior to its effectivity on April 3, 1998. Likewise,
the Department of Labor and Employment was notified of the redundancy program only on
March 6, 1998.40
Article 283 of the Labor Code clearly provides:
Art. 283. Closure of establishment and reduction of personnel. The employer may also
terminate the employment of any employee due to the installation of labor saving devices,
redundancy, retrenchment to prevent losses or the closing or cessation of operation of the
establishment or undertaking unless the closing is for the purpose of circumventing the
provisions of this Title, by serving a written notice on the workers and the Ministry of Labor
and Employment at least one (1) month before the intended date thereof x x x.

SMARTs assertion that Astorga cannot complain of lack of notice because the organizational
realignment was made known to all the employees as early as February 1998 fails to persuade.
Astorgas actual knowledge of the reorganization cannot replace the formal and written notice
required by the law. In the written notice, the employees are informed of the specific date of the
termination, at least a month prior to the effectivity of such termination, to give them sufficient
time to find other suitable employment or to make whatever arrangements are needed to
cushion the impact of termination. In this case, notwithstanding Astorgas knowledge of the
reorganization, she remained uncertain about the status of her employment until SMART gave
her formal notice of termination. But such notice was received by Astorga barely two (2) weeks
before the effective date of termination, a period very much shorter than that required by law.
Be that as it may, this procedural infirmity would not render the termination of Astorgas
employment illegal. The validity of termination can exist independently of the procedural infirmity
of the dismissal.41 In DAP Corporation v. CA,42 we found the dismissal of the employees therein
valid and for authorized cause even if the employer failed to comply with the notice requirement
under Article 283 of the Labor Code. This Court upheld the dismissal, but held the employer
liable for non-compliance with the procedural requirements.

The CA, therefore, committed no reversible error in sustaining Astorgas dismissal and at the
same time, awarding indemnity for violation of Astorga's statutory rights.
However, we find the need to modify, by increasing, the indemnity awarded by the CA to
Astorga, as a sanction on SMART for non-compliance with the one-month mandatory notice
requirement, in light of our ruling in Jaka Food Processing Corporation v. Pacot,43 viz.:
[I]f the dismissal is based on a just cause under Article 282 but the employer failed to comply
with the notice requirement, the sanction to be imposed upon him should
be tempered because the dismissal process was, in effect, initiated by an act imputable to
the employee, and (2) if the dismissal is based on an authorized cause under Article 283 but
the employer failed to comply with the notice requirement, the sanction should
be stiffer because the dismissal process was initiated by the employers exercise of his
management prerogative.

We deem it proper to increase the amount of the penalty on SMART to P50,000.00.

As provided in Article 283 of the Labor Code, Astorga is, likewise, entitled to separation pay
equivalent to at least one (1) month salary or to at least one (1) months pay for every year of
service, whichever is higher. The records show that Astorgas length of service is less than a
year. She is, therefore, also entitled to separation pay equivalent to one (1) month pay.
Finally, we note that Astorga claimed non-payment of wages from February 15, 1998. This
assertion was never rebutted by SMART in the proceedings a quo. No proof of payment was
presented by SMART to disprove the allegation. It is settled that in labor cases, the burden of
proving payment of monetary claims rests on the employer.44 SMART failed to discharge
the onus probandi. Accordingly, it must be held liable for Astorgas salary from February 15,
1998 until the effective date of her termination, on April 3, 1998.
However, the award of backwages to Astorga by the CA should be deleted for lack of basis.
Backwages is a relief given to an illegally dismissed employee. Thus, before backwages may be
granted, there must be a finding of unjust or illegal dismissal from work. 45 The Labor Arbiter
ruled that Astorga was illegally dismissed. But on appeal, the NLRC reversed the Labor Arbiters
ruling and categorically declared Astorgas dismissal valid. This ruling was affirmed by the CA in
its assailed Decision. Since Astorgas dismissal is for an authorized cause, she is not entitled to
backwages. The CAs award of backwages is totally inconsistent with its finding of valid
dismissal.
WHEREFORE, the petition of SMART docketed as G.R. No. 148132 is GRANTED. The
February 28, 2000 Decision and the May 7, 2001 Resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.
SP. No. 53831 are SET ASIDE. The Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 57
is DIRECTED to proceed with the trial of Civil Case No. 98-1936 and render its Decision with
reasonable dispatch.
On the other hand, the petitions of SMART and Astorga docketed as G.R. Nos. 151079 and
151372 areDENIED. The June 11, 2001 Decision and the December 18, 2001 Resolution in CAG.R. SP. No. 57065, areAFFIRMED with MODIFICATION. Astorga is declared validly
dismissed. However, SMART is ordered to pay Astorga P50,000.00 as indemnity for its noncompliance with procedural due process, her separation pay equivalent to one (1) month pay,

and her salary from February 15, 1998 until the effective date of her termination on April 3,
1998. The award of backwages is DELETED for lack of basis.
SO ORDERED.
ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA
Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:
CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO
Associate Justice
Chairperson
MA. ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ
Associate Justice

RENATO C. CORONA
Associate Justice

RUBEN T. REYES
Associate Justice

ATTESTATION
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the
case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Courts Division.
CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO
Associate Justice
Chairperson, Third Division

CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution and the Division Chairpersons
Attestation, I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation
before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Courts Division.
REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief Justice

Footnotes
In lieu of Associate Justice Minita V. Chico-Nazario per Special Order No. 484 dated
January 11, 2008.
*

Penned by Associate Justice Elvi John S. Asuncion (dismissed), with Associate Justices
Corona Ibay-Somera (retired) and Portia Alio-Hormachuelos, concurring; rollo (G.R. No.
148132), pp. 146-152.
1

Rollo, pp. 164-165.

Penned by Associate Justice Romeo Brawner (retired), with Associate Justices Remedios
Salazar-Fernando and Josefina Guevara-Salonga, concurring; rollo (G.R. No. 151079), pp.
24-36.
3

Id. at 42-45.

Rollo (G.R. No. 151372), pp. 58-59.

Rollo (G.R. No. 151079), p. 46.

Rollo (G.R. No. 151372), p. 62.

Id. at 40-42.

Id. at 43-54.

10

Id. at 68-78.

11

Rollo (G.R. No. 148132), p. 47.

12

Id. at 30-34.

13

Id. at 51-59.

14

Rollo (G.R. No. 151372), pp. 79-92.

15

Id. at 90-92.

16

Rollo (G.R. No. 148132), pp. 79-80.

17

Id.

18

Id. at 110.

19

Id. at 146-152.

20

Id. at 164-165.

21

Rollo (G.R. No. 151079), pp. 102-120.

22

Id. at 120.

23

Id. at 122.

24

Id. at 24-36.

25

Id. at 45.

26

Rollo (G.R. No. 151372), p. 175.

27

Rollo (G.R. No. 151079), p. 250.

28

Id. at 273.

29

Rollo (G.R. No. 148132), p. 266.

30

Blacks Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition, p. 1168.

31

Tillson v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 89870, May 28, 1991, 197 SCRA 587, 598.

32

Id. at 148.

See Nestle Philippines Inc. v. National Labor Relations Commission, G. R. No. 85197,
March 18, 1991, 195 SCRA 340, 343.
33

34

G.R. L-75837, December 11, 1987, 156 SCRA 299, 303-304.

35

G.R. No. 82249, February 7, 1991, 193 SCRA 665, 672.

36

Dole Philippines, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Commission, 417 Phil. 428, 440 (2001).

37

Id.

Asian Alcohol Corporation v. National Labor Relations Commission, 364 Phil. 912, 924-925
(1999).
38

39

Rollo (G.R. No. 151372), p. 62.

40

Id. at 56.

DAP Corporation v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 165811, December 14, 2005, 477 SCRA
792, 798.
41

42

Id.

43

G.R. No. 151378, March 28, 2005, 454 SCRA 119, 125-126.

44

G & M (Phil.), Inc. v. Batomalaque, G.R. No. 151849, June 23, 2005, 461 SCRA 111, 118.

Filflex Industrial & Manufacturing Corporation v. National Labor Relations Commission,

G.R. No. 115395, February 12, 1998, 286 SCRA 245, 253.
45