[ G. R. No. L-18026, May 30, 1962 ]
SAN FELIFF IRON MINES, INC., PETITIONER AND APPELLANT VS. JOSE A. NALDO AS REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, ATANASIO A. NARDO, AS HEARING OFFICER OF THE DEPT. OF LABOR, THE SHERIFF OF THE CITY OF MANILA, TEOFILO P. PAANO, PABLO VALDEZ, ET AL., RESPONDENTS
AND APPELLEES.
D E C I S I O N
REYES, J.B.L., J.:
On February 6, 1958, Teofilo P. Paano, et al., filed a complaint in the Department of Labor, Regional Office No. 3, Manila, for the recovery of overtime pay, separation pay, and attorney's fees against the San Felipe Iron Mines, Inc. (RO3-LS Case No. 1075).
After trial, the hearing officer before whom the case was tried rendered judgment on June 30, 1959 for all the claimants, with that exception of those who failed to appear at the hearing and to introduce evidence in their behalf. On October 10, 1960, the Regional Administrator issued a writ for the execution of the judgment, commanding the Sheriff of Manila to execute the same under authority of section 12, Article III, and par. XX (C), Article IV, of Reorganization Plan No. 20-A, issued in accordance with R. A. No. 997, as amended by R. A. No. 1241.
Contending that the Department of Labor, Regional Office No. 3, Manila, has no authority to hear and decide the subject-matter of RO3-LS Case No. 1075, as well as to issue a writ of execution to enforce its awards therein, because Reorganization Plan No. 20-A is unconstitutional and void, the San Felipe Iron Mines, Inc. filed on October 28, 1960, a petition in the Court of First Instance of Manila (C. C. No. 44582), praying for the annulment of the award and writ of execution in said case and for a permanent order enjoining the Sheriff of Manila from enforcing said award and writ of execution.
On December 19, 1960, the trial court rendered judgment sustaining the validity of Reorganization No. 20-A and dismissing the petition for injunction. The petitioner San Felipe Iron Mines, Inc. moved for reconsideration, which was denied. Whereupon, said company appealed to this Court.
It has already been settled in a long line of cases decided by this Court[1] that Reorganization Plan No. 20-A, in so far as it confers judicial power upon the regional offices of the Department of Labor over money claims of laborers other than those falling under the Workmen's Compensation Act, is null and void and of no effect whatsoever, it not having been the intention of Congress in enacting Republic Act No. 997 to deprive the courts of jurisdiction over money claims and transfer them to the regional offices of the Department of Labor. For this reason, the appealed judgment is erroneous, and the decision of June 30, 1959 and writ of execution of October 10, 1960 of Regional Office No. 3, Department of Labor are both illegal and void.
Wherefore, judgment is hereby rendered reversing the decision appealed from, and another one entered declaring the decision and writ of execution in RO3-LS Case No. 1075 of Regional Office No. 3 of the Department of Labor null and void and permanently enjoining the Sheriff of Manila from enforcing said decision and writ of execution. No costs.
Padilla, Bautista Angelo, Concepcion, Barrera, Paredes, and Dizon, JJ., concur.
[1] "Equitable Banking Cor. vs. Regional Office 3, L-14442, June 30, 1961; Corominas Jr. et al vs. Labor Standard Comm., 112 Phil., 551; 59 Off. Gaz., (43) 7432 and companion cases; Sebastian vs. Gerardo, 112 Phil., 658; Miller vs. Mardo 112 Phil., 792; Phil-Tobacco Pluecuring Cor. vs. Sabugo 112 Phil., 1061; Tan vs. De Leon, L-15254 Sept. 16, 1961; La Mallorca vs. Ramos L-15476 Sept. 19, 1961; Gagalawan vs. Canteen L-16031 Oct. 31, 1961; Tiberio vs. Manila Pilots Assn., L-17661, Dec. 28, 1961; among other cases).