TERESITA MONTOYA vs.

TERESITA ESCAYO, JOY ESCAYO, AIDA GANANCIAL, MARY ANN CAPE, CECILIA CORREJADO, ERLINDA PAYPON and ROSALIE VERDE, AND NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION G.R. No. 82211-12 Marc 21, 1!8! "ac#$% The private respondents, TERESITA ESCAYO, JOY ESCAYO, AIDA GANANCIAL, MARY ANN CAPE, CECILIA CORREJADO, ERLINDA PAYPON and ROSALIE ERDE, !ere "or#er$% e#p$o%ed as sa$es&ir$s in the petitioner's store, the (Terr%'s Dr% Goods Store,( in )a*o$od Cit%. On di""erent dates, the% separate$% "i$ed *o#p$aints "or the *o$$e*tion o" s+#s o" #one% a&ainst TERESITA MONTOYA, the petitioner, "or a$$e&ed +npaid overti#e pa%, ho$ida% pa%, ,-th #onth pa%, ECOLA, and servi*e $eave pa%. "or vio$ation o" the #ini#+# !a&e $a!, i$$e&a$ dis#issa$, and attorne%'s "ees. The *o#p$aints, !hi*h !ere ori&ina$$% treated as separate *ases, !ere *onso$idated on a**o+nt o" the si#i$arit% in their nat+re. On A+& ,, ,/01, the petitioner2e#p$o%er #oved the dis#issa$ o" *o#p$aints, *$ai#in& a#on& others, the private respondents "ai$ed to re"er the disp+te to the L+pon& Ta&apa#a%apa "or possi3$e sett$e#ent and to se*+re the *erti"i*ation re4+ired "ro# the L+pon Chair#an prior to the "i$in& o" the *ases !ith the La3or Ar3iter. These a*tions !ere a$$e&ed$% vio$ative o" P.D. No. ,560, !hi*h app$% to the parties, a$$ residents o" )a*o$od Cit%. A*tin& "avora3$% on the petitioner's #otion, La3or Ar3iter Ethe$!o$do R. Ove7era, on Sept 89, ,/05, ordered the dis#issa$ o" *o#p$aints. The private respondents so+&ht the reversa$ o" the La3or Ar3iter's order 3e"ore the NLRC. On A+& 86, ,/09, the p+3$i* respondent rendered the assai$ed reso$+tion reversin& the order o" Ove7era, and re#anded the *ase to the La3or Ar3iter "or "+rther pro*eedin&s. A MR !as "i$ed 3% the petitioner 3+t this !as denied "or $a*: o" #erit on O*t 80, ,/09. &ON # ' (ro)*$*on$ o+ # ' ,a#ar-n.an. Pa/0aran.a1 La2 3P.D. No. 14586 r'7a#*)' #o # ' (r*or a/*ca07' $'##7'/'n# (roc''d*n.$ 0'+or' # ' L-(on. Ta.a(a1a(a a$ a 8-r*$d*c#*ona7 r'9-*r'/'n# a# # ' #r*a7 7')'7 a((71 #o 7a0or ca$'$. No. ;e dis#iss the petition "or $a*: o" #erit, there 3ein& no satis"a*tor% sho!in& o" an% &rave a3+se o" dis*retion *o##itted 3% the p+3$i* respondent. The provisions o" P.D. No. ,560 re4+irin& the s+3#ission o" disp+tes 3e"ore the 3aran&a% L+pon& Ta&apa%apa prior to their "i$in& !ith the *o+rt or other &overn#ent o""i*es are not app$i*a3$e to $a3or *ases. As *orre*t$% pointed o+t 3% the So$i*itor Genera$ in his *o##ent to the petition, even "ro# the (;<EREAS( *$a+ses o" P.D. No. ,560 *an 3e &$eaned *$ear$% the de*ree's intended app$i*a3i$it% on$% to *o+rts o" 7+sti*e, and not to $a3or re$ations *o##issions or $a3or ar3itrators' o""i*es. The e=press re"eren*e to (7+di*ia$ reso+r*es(, to (*o+rts o" 7+sti*e(, (*o+rt do*:ets(, or si#p$% to (*o+rts( are si&ni"i*ant. On the other 3and, there is no #ention at a$$ o" $a3or re$ations or *ontroversies and $a3or ar3iters or *o##issions in the *$a+ses invo$ved. Nor *an !e a**ept the petitioner's *ontention that the (other &overn#ent o""i*e( re"erred to in Se* > o" P.D. No. ,560 in*$+des the O""i*e o" the La3or Ar3iter and the Med2Ar3iter. The de*$ared *on*ern o" the ?atar+n&an Pa#3aran&a% La! is (to he$p re$ieve the *o+rts o" s+*h do*:et *on&estion and there3% enhan*e the 4+a$it% o" 7+sti*e dispensed 3% the *o+rts.( Th+s, the( other &overn#ent o""i*e( #entioned in Se* > o" P.D. No. ,560 re"ers on$% to s+*h o""i*es as the @is*a$'s O""i*e or, in $o*a$ities !here there is no "is*a$, the M+ni*ipa$ Tria$ Co+rts, !here *o#p$aints "or *ri#es As+*h as those p+nisha3$e 3% i#prison#ent o" not #ore than -6 da%s or a, "ine o" not #ore than P 866.66B "a$$in& +nder the 7+risdi*tion o" the 3aran&a% *o+rt 3+t !hi*h are not a#i*a3$% sett$ed, are s+3se4+ent$% "i$ed "or proper disposition. @ina$$%, it is a$read% !e$$2sett$ed that the ordinar% r+$es on pro*ed+re are #ere$% s+pp$etor% in *hara*ter vis2a2vis $a3or disp+tes !hi*h are pri#ari$% &overned 3% $a3or $a!s.

DANTE M. PASC:AL, r'(r'$'n#'d 01 REYMEL R. SAGARIO vs. MARILO: M. PASC:AL G.R. No. 14;8<5 No)'/0'r 1;, 2554 "ac#$% DANTE M. PASCCAL, a per#anent resident o" CSA, appointed Sa&ario as his attorne%2in2"a*t 3% a Spe*ia$ Po!er o" Attorne% ASPAB dated Apr ,6, 8668. ,. To "i$e a *ase "or the *an*e$$ation o" Trans"er Certi"i*ate o" Tit$e iss+ed in the na#e o" Mari$o+ M. Pas*+a$ as !e$$ as the Deed o" Sa$e o" Re&istered Land andDor Re*onve%an*e at the appropriate *o+rtE 8. To *o$$e*t the #onth$% renta$s "ro# the tenantE -. To enter into a#i*a3$e sett$e#ent !ith Mari$o+ M. Pas*+a$ or an% other #ode o" pa%#entDandDor disp+te reso$+tionE 1. To e=e*+te and si&n an% and a$$ papers, *ontra*tsDdo*+#ents !hi*h #a% 3e ne*essar% re$ative to the a*ts.F P+rs+ant to the SPA, Sa&ario "i$ed on O*t ,1, 8668 3e"ore the Isa3e$a RTC at Ro=as a *o#p$aint entit$ed ( D Pascual, v. M Pascual and Register of Deeds, "or Ann+$#ent o" said TCT in Isa3e$a and Deed o" A3so$+te Sa$e o" Re&istered Land andDor Re*onve%an*e !ith Da#a&es. To the Co#p$aint, de"endant respondent M Pas*+a$ "i$ed a Motion to Dis#iss on t!o &ro+nds one o" !hi*h !as non2*o#p$ian*e !ith the re4+ire#ent +nder Se* 1,8 o" LGC, *ontendin& that there is no sho!in& that the disp+te !as re"erred to the 3aran&a% *o+rt 3e"ore the *ase !as "i$ed in *o+rt. "'0 15, 255< Ord'r o+ RTC .ran#'d Mo#*on #o D*$/*$$. GRA 9,>6 repea$in& P.D. ,560, the Revised ?atar+n&an& Pa#3aran&a% provides Se* 16/. <en*e, re$ian*e o" the p$ainti"" on Se* 160 o" R.A. 9,>6 is in*orre*t. ;hen rea$ propert% or an% interest therein is invo$ved, the disp+te sha$$ 3e "i$ed 3e"ore the 3aran&a% !here the propert% is $o*ated, r'.ard7'$$ o+ # ' r'$*d'nc' o+ # ' (ar#*'$. )esides, it is in*orre*t to sa% that the parties are not residents o" the sa#e p$a*e, ira, Ro=as, Isa3e$a. T ' A##orn'1-*n-+ac# o" the p$ainti"" in the person o+ R'1/'7 R. Sa.ar*o *$ a r'$*d'n# o+ V*ra, Ro=a$, I$a0'7a, and ' $-0$#*#-#'d Dan#' Pa$c-a7 01 )*r#-' o+ $a*d S('c*a7 Po2'r o+ A##orn'1. <en*e, said Attorne%2in2"a*t sho+$d have 3ro+&ht the disp+te 3e"ore 3r&% ira, Ro=as, Isa3e$a, !here the propert% is $o*ated. G Mar 81, 866- OrderD P'#>$ MR 2a$ d'n*'d% the Co+rt said that the Attorne%2in2"a*t sha$$ 3e dee#ed to 3e the rea$ part% in interest, readin& "ro# the tenor o" the SPA. )ein& a rea$ part% in interest, the Attorne%2in2"a*t is o3$i&ed to 3rin& this *ase "irst 3e"ore the )r&% Co+rt. Se*. -, R+$e - o" the R+$es o" Co+rt provides, (;here the a*tion is a$$o!ed to 3e prose*+ted or de"ended 3% a representative or so#eone a*tin& in a "id+*iar% *apa*it%, the 3ene"i*iar% sha$$ 3e in*$+ded in the tit$e o" the *ase and sha$$ 3e dee#ed to 3e the rea$ part% in interest. )ein& the rea$ part% in interest, the Attorne%2in2"a*t #a% there"ore 3rin& the ne*essar% *o#p$aint 3e"ore the L+pon Ta&apa%apa and a(('ar *n ('r$on a$ *+ ' *$ # ' o2n'r o+ # ' 7and. &ON # ' lupon a$ no 8-r*$d*c#*on o)'r # '*r d*$(-#', 'nc', (r*or r'+'rra7 #o *# +or conc*7*a#*on *$ no# a (r'-cond*#*on #o *#$ +*7*n. *n co-r#. Y'$. The $+pon has no 7+risdi*tion over the disp+te. To *onstr+e the e=press stat+tor% re4+ire#ent o" a*t+a$ residen*% as app$i*a3$e to the attorne%2in2"a*t o" the part%2p$ainti"", as *ontended 3% respondent, !o+$d a0ro.a#' the #eanin& o" a (rea$ part% in interest( as de"ined in Se* 8 o" R+$e - o" the ,//9 R+$es o" Co+rt vis a vis Se* - o" the sa#e R+$e !hi*h !as ear$ier 4+oted 3+t #isread and #is+nderstood 3% respondent. In "ine, sin*e the p$ainti""2herein petitioner, # ' r'a7 (ar#1 *n *n#'r'$#, is not an a*t+a$ resident o" the 3aran&a% !here the de"endant2herein respondent resides, the $o*a$ lupon has no 7+risdi*tion over their disp+te, hen*e, prior re"erra$ to it "or *on*i$iation is not a pre2*ondition to its "i$in& in *o+rt.The RTC th+s erred in dis#issin& petitionerHs *o#p$aint. &?ERE"ORE, the petition is &ranted. The assai$ed @e3 ,6, 866- Order, as !e$$ as the Mar 81, 866- Order den%in& re*onsideration o" the "irst, RTC o" Isa3e$a at Ro=as is SET ASIDE. Said *o+rt is a**ordin&$% dire*ted to reinstate the Civi$ Case to its do*:et and ta:e appropriate a*tion thereon !ith dispat*h. CARPIO MORALES, J.

VALENCIDES VERCIDE vs.J:DGE PRISCILLA T. ?ERNANDE@, 4# MCTC, C7ar*n and T-d'7a, M*$a/*$ Occ*d'n#a7 A.M. No. MTJ-55-12A4 A(r*7 A, 2555 "ac#$% A *o#p$aint "i$ed a&ainst J+d&e <ernandeI o" the 5th MCTC, C$arin and T+de$a, Misa#is O**identa$, *har&in& her !ith &rave a3+se o" a+thorit% and i&noran*e o" the $a! "or her dis#issa$ o" a *ase !hi*h *o#p$ainant a$en*ides er*ide and his !i"e had "i$ed a&ainst Daria La&as Ga$$eros "or re*over% o" possession o" a pie*e o" $and. The $and is $o*ated in Cpper Centro, T+de$a, Misa#is O**identa$. De"endant Ga$$eros is a resident o" the sa#e #+ni*ipa$it%, !hi$e *o#p$ainants are residents o" Dipo$o& Cit%. )e*a+se o" this "a*t, the *ase !as "i$ed in *o+rt !itho+t prior re"erra$ to the L+pon& Ta&apa#a%apa. <o!ever, this #atter !as raised 3% de"endant in her ans!er as an a""ir#ative de"ense, and respondent, in her order o" J+$% ,5, ,//9, ordered dis#issa$ o" the *ase !Do pre7+di*e to the prose*+tion o" the *o+nter*$ai# p$eaded 3% the de"endant in her ans!er. In s+pport, respondent *ited P.D. No. ,560, se*.-. Co#p$ainant and his !i"e #oved "or a R'con$*d'ra#*on, *itin& R.A. 9,>6, aB SEC. 160. Subject matter for Amicable Settlement; Exception !eretoE 3.B SEC. 16/. "enue. The% ar&+ed that +nder J 160 A"B, in re$ation to J 16/ A*B, !here the parties to a disp+te invo$vin& rea$ propert% or === are not a*t+a$ residents o" the sa#e *it% or #+ni*ipa$it% or o" ad7oinin& 3aran&a%s, prior resort to 3r&% *on*i$iation is not re4+ired. <o!ever, respondent denied the #otion. In her order dated Sep /, ,//9, respondent stated. GThe Co+rt a"ter ta:in& into *onsideration the MR and the &ro+nd re$ied +pon 3% that *o+nse$ "or the p$ainti""s "ai$ed to *orre$ate Se*s 160 and 16/ o" RA No. 9,>6 and to *onsider R+$e III, par AaB o" the ?atar+n&an& Pa#3aran&a% R+$es, the r+$es and re&+$ations o" !hi*h !ere pro#+$&ated to i#p$e#ent Se*s -// to 188 and Se* 5,5 o" R.A. No. 9,>6, other!ise :no!n as the ?atar+n&an& Pa#3aran&a% La!. @ro# the provisions it !as ver% *$ear that parties !hose disp+tes invo$ved rea$ propert% sho+$d "irst 3rin& the said disp+te 3e"ore the 3r&% !here the propert% !as $o*ated, and 3e*. o" this "ai$+re to 3rin& the disp+te 3e"ore the 3r&% "or *on*i$iation, no a*tion #a% 3e "i$ed in *o+rt "or "ina$ ad7+di*ation o" the said disp+te. That the parties sho+$d "irst *o#p$% !ith the provisions o" the ?atar+n&an& Pa#3aran&a% La! 3e"ore the Co+rt *an a*4+ire 7+risdi*tion over the *o#p$aint. That non2*o#p$ian*e o" the p$ainti"" to the re4+ire#ent o" the ?PL !as ad#itted 3% her in par - o" the *o#p$aint. <er a$$e&ation o" non2*o#p$ian*e !ith the #andator% re4+ire#ent o" L+pon Con*i$iation 3e"ore the "i$in& o" the *o#p$aint, in a !a% divests the Co+rt o" its 7+risdi*tion over the *ase. In the ,//9 R+$es o" Civi$ Pro*ed+re, R+$e ,>, Se* ,, par A7B provides. That a *ondition pre*edent "or "i$in& the *$ai# has not 3een *o#p$ied !ith( ;<ERE@ORE, in vie! o" the "ore&oin&, the Motion "or Re*onsideration is here3% denied.F Co#p$ainant a$$e&es that in dis#issin& Civi$ Case, respondent 7+d&e *o##itted (AaB Grave a3+se o" a+thorit% 3% :no!in&$% renderin& an +n7+st and +n$a!"+$ orderE A3B I&noran*e o" the $a! in its hi&hest order, she 3ein& a 7+d&eE A*B Grave diso3edien*e to the 7+rispr+den*e $aid do!n 3% the SC o" the Phi$ on the #atter o" e=e#ption o" $+pon *on*i$iation o" *ontendin& parties !ho are not residents o" the sa#e *it% or #+ni*ipa$it%.( <e states that respondent (pra*ti*a$$% thre! severa$ de*isions o" the SC on the #atter o+t o" the !indo! and o3vio+s$% "o$$o!ed hoo:, $ine and sin:er the ar&+#ents o" the de"endant Daria Ga$$eros.( In ans!er, 7+d&e *$ai#s that she #ere$% "o$$o!ed the $a! in dis#issin& the *ase. She pra%s that *o#p$ainant 3e ordered to stop harassin& her 7+st 3e*a+se he had not 3een a3$e to o3tain the re$ie" he !anted in Civi$ Case. In its #e#o dated @e3 8/, 8666, the O++*c' o+ # ' Co-r# Ad/*n*$#ra#or re*o##ends the dis#issa$ o" this *ase on the &ro+nd that the (iss+e raised is p+re$% 7+di*ia$ and is 3est reso$ved 3% a *o+rt o" *o#petent 7+risdi*tion( and that, even i" respondent had erred, she sho+$d not 3e he$d ad#inistrative$% $ia3$e sin*e there is no a$$e&ation that she a*ted in 3ad "aith or :no!in&$% rendered an +n7+st 7+d&#ent. I$ # ' r'$(ond'n# 8-d.' 0arr'd +ro/ #aB*n. co.n*Canc' o+ # ' '8'c#/'n# ca$' (-r$-an# #o S'c. A o+ PD 1458 '$#a07*$ *n. a $1$#'/ o+ a/*ca071 $'##7*n. d*$(-#'$ a# # ' 0aran.a1 7')'7D

In the *ase at 3ar, respondent sho!ed patent i&noran*e i" not disre&ard o" this Co+rtHs r+$in&s on the 7+risdi*tion o" the L+pon& Ta&apa#a%apa 3% her erroneo+s 4+otations o" the provisions o" the ?atar+n&an& Pa#3aran&a% R+$es i#p$e#entin& R.A. No. 9,>6. ;hi$e a 7+d&e #a% not 3e he$d ad#inistrative$% a**o+nta3$e "or ever% erroneo+s order or de*ision he renders, her error #a% 3e so &ross or patent that he sho+$d 3e ad#inistrative$% dis*ip$ined "or &ross i&noran*e o" the $a! and in*o#peten*e. In this *ase, respondent at "irst *ited P.D. No. ,560, J- as 3asis o" her a*tion. ;hen her attention !as *a$$ed to the "a*t that this had 3een repea$ed 3% J16/A*B o" R.A. No. 9,>6, respondent, !ho o3vio+s$% !as #ore intent in 7+sti"%in& her previo+s order than *orre*tin& her error, 4+oted o+t o" *onte=t the provisions o" the ?atar+n&an& Pa#3aran&a% R+$es i#p$e#entin& the ?atar+n&an& Pa#3aran&a% provisions o" R.A. No. 9,>6. She th+s vio$ated Canon - o" the Code o" J+di*ia$ Cond+*t !hi*h provides that (In ever% *ase, a 7+d&e sha$$ endeavor di$i&ent$% to as*ertain the "a*ts and the app$i*a3$e $a! +ns!a%ed 3% partisan interest, p+3$i* opinion or "ear o" *riti*is#.( Contrar% to respondentHs interpretation, it is *$ear even "ro# the ?P R+$es that re*o+rse to 3r&% *on*i$iation pro*eedin&s is not ne*essar% !here the parties do not reside in the sa#e #+ni*ipa$it% or *it% or in ad7oinin& 3aran&a%s. &?ERE"ORE, respondent is here3% "o+nd &+i$t% o" &ross i&noran*e o" the $a! and is here3% ordered to pa% a @INE o" P8,666.66 !ith a ;ARNING that repetition o" the sa#e or si#i$ar a*ts !i$$ 3e dea$t !ith #ore severe$%. MENDO@A, J.