Meralco v. NLRC

G.R. No. 78763 July 12,1989, MEDIALDEA, J.

(Labor Standards: Proper Construction and Interpretation of labor Laws)

FACTS

Private resondent, Apolinario Signo was dismissed from work by Meralco when it was found out that he breached the trust of thpe company by making it appear that the residence of one applicant for an electric service is within the serviceable area of MEralco. The applicant’s residence was installed with electrical services thru Signo’s maneuver, however, due to the fault of the Power sales division, the applicant-consumer was not billed for a year.

ISSUE

Whether or not, the dismissal of Signo was a proper penalty for his acts.

RULING

The Court affirmed the decision of the Labor Arbiter in finding that Dismissal was a drastic measure considering the length of service of to the Company by Signo, which is 20 years, and the 2 awards he received for honesty from the employer. He was ordered reinstated, thought without backwages for he is not at all faultless.

 Further, it was held that in carrying out and interpreting the Labor Code's provisions and its implementing regulations, the workingman's welfare should be the primordial and paramount consideration. This kind of interpretation gives meaning and substance to the liberal and compassionate spirit of the law as provided for in Article 4 of the New Labor Code which states that "all doubts in the implementation and interpretation of the provisions of the Labor Code including its implementing rules and regulations shall be resolved in favor of labor"