SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. Nos. 82211-12. March 21, 1989.]

TERESITA MONTOYA, petitioner, vs. TERESITA ESCAYO, JOY ESCAYO,
AIDA GANANCIAL, MARY ANN CAPE, CECILIA CORREJADO, ERLINDA
PAYPON and ROSALIE VERDE, AND NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
COMMISSION, respondents.
Rolando N. Medalla and Segundo Y. Chua for petto!er.
The Solicitor General for p"#$c respo!%e!t.
Archie S. Baribar for pr&ate respo!%e!ts.
SYLLABUS
1.'()OR '(*+ ,ROVISIONS O- ,.D. No. 1./0 RE12IRING S2)MISSION O- DIS,23ES
)E-ORE 34E )(R(NG(5 '2,ONG 3(G(,(5(,( ,RIOR 3O 34EIR -I'ING *I34 34E
CO2R3 OR O34ER GOVERNMEN3 O--ICES+ NO3 (,,'IC()'E 3O '()OR C(SES. 6 -ro7
the three 8*4ERE(S8 c$a"ses of ,.D. No. 1./8 ca! #e 9$ea!e% c$ear$: the %ecree;s !te!%e%
app$ca#$t: o!$: to co"rts of <"stce, a!% !ot to $a#or re$ato!s co77sso!s or $a#or ar#trators;
offces. 3he e=press refere!ce to 8<"%ca$ reso"rces8, to 8co"rts of <"stce8, 8co"rt %oc>ets8, or s7p$:
to 8co"rts8 are s9!fca!t. O! the other ha!%, there s !o 7e!to! at a$$ of $a#or re$ato!s or
co!tro&erses a!% $a#or ar#ters or co77sso!s ! the c$a"ses !&o$&e%. 'etter of I!str"cto!s No. 9.0
a!% 'etter of I7p$e7e!tato! No. 1/., #oth ss"e% o! No&e7#er 12, 19?9 #: the for7er ,res%e!t !
co!!ecto! @th the 7p$e7e!tato! of the Aatar"!9a!9 ,a7#ara!9a: 'a@, affr7 ths co!c$"so!.
3hese pres%e!ta$ ss"a!ces 7a>e c$ear that the o!$: offca$ %recte% to o&ersee the 7p$e7e!tato! of
the pro&so!s of the Aatar"!9a!9 ,a7#ara!9a: 'a@ B,.D. No. 1./8C are the the! M!ster of D"stce,
the the! M!ster of 'oca$ Go&er!7e!ts a!% Co77"!t: De&e$op7e!t, a!% the Chef D"stce of the
S"pre7e Co"rt.
2.ID.+ ID.+ O34ER GOVERNMEN3 O--ICE MEN3IONED IN SEC3ION 0 O- ,.D. No. 1./8,
CONS3R2ED. 6 3he 8other 9o&er!7e!t offce8 referre% to ! Secto! 0 of ,.D. No. 1./8 !c$"%es
the Offce of the 'a#or (r#ter a!% the Me%-(r#ter. 3he %ec$are% co!cer! of the Aatar"!9a!
,a7#ara!9a: 'a@ s 8to he$p re$e&e the co"rts of s"ch %oc>et co!9esto! a!% there#: e!ha!ce the
E"a$t: of <"stce %spe!se% #: the co"rts.8 3h"s, the 8other 9o&er!7e!t offce8 7e!to!e% ! Secto! 0
of ,.D. No. 1./8 refers o!$: to s"ch offces as the -sca$;s Offce or, ! $oca$tes @here there s !o
fsca$, the M"!cpa$ 3ra$ Co"rts, @here co7p$a!ts for cr7es Bs"ch as those p"!sha#$e #:
7prso!7e!t of !ot 7ore tha! F/ %a:s or a f!e of !ot 7ore tha! ,2//.//C fa$$!9 "!%er the
<"rs%cto! of the #ara!9a: co"rt #"t @hch are !ot a7ca#$: sett$e%, are s"#seE"e!t$: f$e% for proper
%sposto!. ($$ %o"#ts o! ths score are %spe$$e% #: 3he 'a#or Co%e Of 3he ,h$pp!es B,res%e!ta$
Decree No. GG2, as a7e!%e%C tse$f. (rtc$e 220 thereof 9ra!ts or9!a$ a!% e=c$"s&e <"rs%cto! o&er
the co!c$ato! a!% 7e%ato! of %sp"tes, 9re&a!ces, or pro#$e7s ! the re9o!a$ offces of the
Depart7e!t of 'a#or a!% E7p$o:7e!t.
F.S3(323OR5 CONS3R2C3ION+ R2'ES ON ,ROCED2RE, S2,,'E3OR5 3O 34E '()OR
DIS,23ES. 6 It s a$rea%: @e$$-sett$e% that the or%!ar: r"$es o! proce%"re are 7ere$: s"pp$etor: !
character &s-a-&s $a#or %sp"tes @hch are pr7ar$: 9o&er!e% #: $a#or $a@s. (!% 8B(C$$ %o"#ts ! the
7p$e7e!tato! a!% !terpretato! of ths Co%e B'a#orC, !c$"%!9 ts 7p$e7e!t!9 r"$es a!%
re9"$ato!s, sha$$ #e reso$&e% ! fa&or of $a#or.8
D E C I S I O N
SARMIENTO, J pH
3hs petto! for certorar see>s the a!!"$7e!t a!% sett!9 as%e of the reso$"to! 1 %ate% ("9"st 2/,
198? of the Nato!a$ 'a#or Re$ato!s Co77sso! BN'RCC, 3hr% D&so!, @hch re&erse% a!% set
as%e the or%er %ate% Septe7#er 2?, 198. of 'a#or (r#ter Ethe$@o$%o R. O&e<era of the N'RC;s
Re9o!a$ (r#trato! )ra!ch No. VI, )aco$o% Ct:, %s7ss!9 the co7p$a!t f$e% #: the pr&ate
respo!%e!ts a9a!st the petto!er. 3hs petto! rases a s!9"$ar ss"e, .e., the app$ca#$t: of
,res%e!ta$ Decree B,.D.C No. 1./8, 7ore co77o!$: >!o@! as the Aatar"!9a!9 ,a7#ara!9a: 'a@, to
$a#or %sp"tes. c%ph$
3he chro!o$o9: of e&e!ts $ea%!9 to the prese!t co!tro&ers: s as fo$$o@sH
3he pr&ate respo!%e!ts @ere a$$ for7er$: e7p$o:e% as sa$es9r$s ! the petto!er;s store, the 83err:;s
Dr: Goo%s Store,8 ! )aco$o% Ct:. O! %ffere!t %ates, the: separate$: f$e% co7p$a!ts for the
co$$ecto! of s"7s of 7o!e: a9a!st the petto!er for a$$e9e% "!pa% o&ert7e pa:, ho$%a: pa:, 1Fth
7o!th pa:, ECO'(, a!% ser&ce $ea&e pa:H for &o$ato! of the 7!7"7 @a9e $a@, $$e9a$ %s7ssa$,
a!% attor!e:;s fees. 3he co7p$a!ts, @hch @ere or9!a$$: treate% as separate cases, @ere s"#seE"e!t$:
co!so$%ate% o! acco"!t of the s7$art: ! ther !at"re. O! ("9"st 1, 198G, the petto!er-e7p$o:er
7o&e% B(!!e= 8C8 of ,etto!C for the %s7ssa$ of the co7p$a!ts, c$a7!9 that a7o!9 others, the
pr&ate respo!%e!ts fa$e% to refer the %sp"te to the '"po!9 3a9apa:apa for poss#$e sett$e7e!t a!% to
sec"re the certfcato! reE"re% fro7 the '"po! Char7a! pror to the f$!9 of the cases @th the
'a#or (r#ter. 3hese acto!s @ere a$$e9e%$: &o$at&e of the pro&so!s of ,.D. No. 1./8, @hch app$:
to the partes @ho are a$$ res%e!ts of )aco$o% Ct:.
(ct!9 fa&ora#$: o! the petto!er;s 7oto!, 'a#or (r#ter Ethe$@o$%o R. O&e<era, o! Septe7#er 2?,
198., or%ere% the %s7ssa$ of the co7p$a!ts. 3he pr&ate respo!%e!ts so"9ht the re&ersa$ of the 'a#or
(r#ter;s or%er #efore the respo!%e!t N'RC. O! ("9"st 2/, 198?, the p"#$c respo!%e!t re!%ere% the
assa$e% reso$"to! re&ers!9 the or%er of O&e<era, a!% re7a!%e% the case to the 'a#or (r#ter for
f"rther procee%!9s. ( 7oto! for reco!s%erato! @as f$e% #: the petto!er #"t ths @as %e!e% for
$ac> of 7ert o! Octo#er 28, 198?. 4e!ce, ths petto!.
It s the petto!er;s co!te!to! that the pro&so!s of the Aatar"!9a!9 ,a7#ara!9a: 'a@ B,.D. No.
1./8C re$at&e to the pror a7ca#$e sett$e7e!t procee%!9s #efore the '"po!9 3a9apa:apa as a
<"rs%cto!a$ reE"re7e!t at the tra$ $e&e$ app$: to $a#or cases. More partc"$ar$:, the petto!er !ssts
that the fa$"re of the pr&ate respo!%e!ts to frst s"#7t ther co7p$a!ts for poss#$e co!c$ato! a!%
a7ca#$e sett$e7e!t ! the proper #ara!9a: co"rt ! )aco$o% Ct: a!% to sec"re a certfcato! fro7 the
'"po! Char7a! pror to ther f$!9 @th the 'a#or (r#ter, %&ests the 'a#or (r#ter, as @e$$ as the
respo!%e!t Co77sso! tse$f, of <"rs%cto! o&er these $a#or co!tro&erses a!% re!%ers ther
<"%97e!ts thereo! !"$$ a!% &o%. ''pr
O! the other ha!%, the So$ctor Ge!era$, as co"!se$ for the p"#$c respo!%e!t N'RC, ! hs co77e!t,
stro!9$: ar9"es a!% co!&!c!9$: a9a!st the app$ca#$t: of ,.D. No. 1./8 to $a#or cases.
*e %s7ss the petto! for $ac> of 7ert, there #e!9 !o satsfactor: sho@!9 of a!: 9ra&e a#"se of
%screto! co77tte% #: the p"#$c respo!%e!t.
3he pro&so!s of ,.D. No. 1./8 reE"r!9 the s"#7sso! of %sp"tes #efore the #ara!9a: '"po!9
3a9apa:apa pror to ther f$!9 @th the co"rt or other 9o&er!7e!t offces are !ot app$ca#$e to $a#or
cases.
-or a #etter "!%ersta!%!9 of the ss"e ! ths case, the pro&so!s of ,.D. No. 1./8 !&o>e% #: the
petto!er are E"ote%H
SEC. 0.Co!c$ato! pre-co!%to! to f$!9 of co7p$a!t. 6 No co7p$a!t, petto!, acto! or
procee%!9 !&o$&!9 a!: 7atter @th! the a"thort: of the '"po! as pro&%e% ! Secto! 2
hereof sha$$ #e f$e% or !stt"te% ! co"rt or a!: other 9o&er!7e!t offce for a%<"%cato!
"!$ess there has #ee! a co!fro!tato! of the partes #efore the '"po! Char7a! or the ,a!9>at
a!% !o co!c$ato! or sett$e7e!t has #ee! reache% as certfe% #: the '"po! Secretar: or the
,a!9>at Secretar:, atteste% #: the '"po! or ,a!9>at Char7a!, or "!$ess the sett$e7e!t has
#ee! rep"%ate%. 4o@e&er, the partes 7a: 9o %rect$: to co"rt ! the fo$$o@!9 casesH
B1C*here the acc"se% s "!%er %ete!to!+
B2C*here a perso! has other@se #ee! %epr&e% of perso!a$ $#ert: ca$$!9 for
ha#eas corp"s procee%!9s+
BFC(cto!s co"p$e% @th pro&so!a$ re7e%es s"ch as pre$7!ar: !<"!cto!,
attach7e!t, %e$&er: of perso!a$ propert: a!% s"pport pe!%e!te $te+ a!%
BGC*here the acto! 7a: other@se #e #arre% #: the Stat"te of '7tato!s.
(s correct$: po!te% o"t #: the So$ctor Ge!era$ ! hs co77e!t to the petto!, e&e! fro7 the three
8*4ERE(S8 c$a"ses of ,.D. No. 1./8 ca! #e 9$ea!e% c$ear$: the %ecree;s !te!%e% app$ca#$t: o!$:
to co"rts of <"stce, a!% !ot to $a#or re$ato!s co77sso!s or $a#or ar#trators; offces. 3he e=press
refere!ce to 8<"%ca$ reso"rces8, to 8co"rts of <"stce8, 8co"rt %oc>ets8, or s7p$: to 8co"rts8 are
s9!fca!t. O! the other ha!%, there s !o 7e!to! at a$$ of $a#or re$ato!s or co!tro&erses a!% $a#or
ar#ters or co77sso!s ! the c$a"ses !&o$&e%. $$c%
3hese 8*4ERE(S8 c$a"ses stateH
*4ERE(S, the perpet"ato! a!% offca$ reco9!to! of the t7e-ho!ore% tra%to! of
a7ca#$: sett$!9 %sp"tes a7o!9 fa7$: a!% #ara!9a: 7e7#ers at the #ara!9a: $e&e$ @tho"t
judicial resources @o"$% pro7ote the spee%: a%7!strato! of <"stce a!% 7p$e7e!t the
co!stt"to!a$ 7a!%ate to preser&e a!% %e&e$op -$p!o c"$t"re a!% to stre!9the! the fa7$: as
a #asc soca$ !stt"to!+
*4ERE(S, the !%scr7!ate f$!9 of cases ! the courts of justice co!tr#"tes hea&$: a!%
"!<"stfa#$: to the co!9esto! of court docets! th"s ca"s!9 a %eterorato! ! the E"a$t: of
<"stce+
*4ERE(S, ! or%er to he$p re$e&e the co"rts of s"ch %oc>et co!9esto! a!% there#: e!ha!ce
the E"a$t: of <"stce %spe!se% #: the courts! t s %ee7e% %esra#$e to for7a$$: or9a!Ie a!%
!stt"to!a$Ie a s:ste7 of a7ca#$: sett$!9 %sp"tes at the #ara!9a: $e&e$+ BE7phass
s"pp$e%.C
I! a%%to!, 'etter of I!str"cto!s No. 9.0 a!% 'etter of I7p$e7e!tato! No. 1/., #oth ss"e% o!
No&e7#er 12, 19?9 #: the for7er ,res%e!t ! co!!ecto! @th the 7p$e7e!tato! of the Aatar"!9a!9
,a7#ara!9a: 'a@, affr7 ths co!c$"so!. 3hese 'etters @ere a%%resse% o!$: to the fo$$o@!9 offca$sH
all judges of the Courts of "irst #nstance! Circuit Cri$inal Courts! Ju%enile and &o$estic Relations
Courts! Courts of Agrarian Relations! Cit' Courts and Municipal Courts! and all "iscals and other
(rosecuting )fficers. 3hese pres%e!ta$ ss"a!ces 7a>e c$ear that the o!$: offca$ %recte% to o&ersee
the 7p$e7e!tato! of the pro&so!s of the Aatar"!9a!9 ,a7#ara!9a: 'a@ B,.D. No. 1./8C are the
the! M!ster of D"stce, the the! M!ster of 'oca$ Go&er!7e!ts a!% Co77"!t: De&e$op7e!t, a!%
the Chef D"stce of the S"pre7e Co"rt. If the co!te!to! of the petto!er @ere correct, the the!
M!ster B!o@ Secretar:C of 'a#or a!% E7p$o:7e!t @o"$% ha&e #ee! !c$"%e% ! the $st, a!% the t@o
pres%e!ta$ ss"a!ces also @o"$% ha&e #ee! a%%resse% to the $a#or re$ato!s offcers, $a#or ar#ters, a!%
the 7e7#ers of the Nato!a$ 'a#or Re$ato!s Co77sso!. *+pressio unius est e+clusio alterius.

Nor ca! @e accept the petto!er;s co!te!to! that the 8other 9o&er!7e!t offce8 referre% to ! Secto! 0
of ,.D. No. 1./8 !c$"%es the Offce of the 'a#or (r#ter a!% the Me%-(r#ter. 3he %ec$are% co!cer!
of the Aatar"!9a! ,a7#ara!9a: 'a@ s 8to he$p re$e&e the co"rts of s"ch %oc>et co!9esto! a!%
there#: e!ha!ce the E"a$t: of <"stce %spe!se% #: the co"rts.8 3h"s, the 8other 9o&er!7e!t offce8
7e!to!e% ! Secto! 0 of ,.D. No. 1./8 refers o!$: to s"ch offces as the -sca$;s Offce or, !
$oca$tes @here there s !o fsca$, the M"!cpa$ 3ra$ Co"rts, @here co7p$a!ts for cr7es Bs"ch as
those p"!sha#$e #: 7prso!7e!t of !ot 7ore tha! F/ %a:s or a f!e of !ot 7ore tha! ,2//.//C fa$$!9
"!%er the <"rs%cto! of the #ara!9a: co"rt #"t @hch are !ot a7ca#$: sett$e%, are s"#seE"e!t$: f$e%
for proper %sposto!. ''<"r
)"t, the op!o! of the 4o!ora#$e M!ster of D"stce BOp!o! No. .9, s. 198FC to the co!trar:
!ot@thsta!%!9, a$$ %o"#ts o! ths score are %spe$$e% #: 3he 'a#or Co%e Of 3he ,h$pp!es
B,res%e!ta$ Decree No. GG2, as a7e!%e%C tse$f. (rtc$e 220 thereof 9ra!ts or9!a$ a!% e=c$"s&e
<"rs%cto! o&er the co!c$ato! a!% 7e%ato! of %sp"tes, 9re&a!ces, or pro#$e7s ! the re9o!a$
offces of the Depart7e!t of 'a#or a!% E7p$o:7e!t. It s the sa% )"rea" a!% ts %&so!s, a!% !ot the
#ara!9a: '"po!9 3a9apa:apa, @hch are &este% #: $a@ @th original a!% e+clusi%e a"thort: to
co!%"ct co!c$ato! a!% 7e%ato! procee%!9s o! $a#or co!tro&erses #efore ther e!%orse7e!t to the
approprate 'a#or (r#ter for a%<"%cato!. (rtc$e 220, pre&o"s$: a%&erte% to s c$ear o! ths re9ar%. It
pro&%esH
(R3. 220.Bureau of ,abor Relations. 6 3he )"rea" of 'a#or Re$ato!s a!% the 'a#or
re$ato!s %&so!s ! the re9o!a$ offces of the Depart7e!t of 'a#or sha$$ ha&e or9!a$ a!%
e=c$"s&e a"thort: to act, at ther o@! !tat&e or "po! reE"est of ether or #oth partes, o! a$$
!ter-"!o! a!% !tra-"!o! co!f$cts, a!% a$$ %sp"tes, 9re&a!ces or pro#$e7s ars!9 fro7 or
affect!9 $a#or-7a!a9e7e!t re$ato!s ! a$$ @or>p$aces @hether a9rc"$t"ra$ or !o!-
a9rc"$t"ra$, e=cept those ars!9 fro7 the 7p$e7e!tato! or !terpretato! of co$$ect&e
#ar9a!!9 a9ree7e!ts @hch sha$$ #e the s"#<ect of 9re&a!ce proce%"re a!%Jor &o$"!tar:
ar#trato!.
3he )"rea" sha$$ ha&e fftee! B1.C @or>!9 %a:s to act o! a$$ $a#or cases, s"#<ect to e=te!so! #:
a9ree7e!t of the partes, after @hch the )"rea" sha$$ certf: the cases to the approprate 'a#or
(r#ters. 3he 1.-@or>!9 %a: %ea%$!e, ho@e&er, sha$$ !ot app$: to cases !&o$&!9 %ea%$oc>s !
co$$ect&e #ar9a!!9 @hch the )"rea" sha$$ certf: to the approprate 'a#or (r#ters o!$: after a$$
poss#$tes of &o$"!tar: sett$e7e!t sha$$ ha&e #ee! tre%.
ReE"r!9 co!c$ato! of $a#or %sp"tes #efore the #ara!9a: co"rts @o"$% %efeat the &er: sa$"tar:
p"rposes of the $a@. I!stea% of s7p$f:!9 $a#or procee%!9s %es9!e% at e=pe%to"s sett$e7e!t or
referra$ to the proper co"rt or offce to %ec%e t f!a$$:, the posto! ta>e! #: the petto!er @o"$% o!$:
%"p$cate the co!c$ato! procee%!9s a!% "!%"$: %e$a: the %sposto! of the $a#or case. 3he fa$$ac: of
the petto!er;s s"#7sso! ca! rea%$: #e see! #: fo$$o@!9 t to ts $o9ca$ co!c$"so!. -or the!, f the
proce%"re s"99este% s co7p$e% @th, the pr&ate respo!%e!t @o"$% ha&e to $o%9e frst ther co7p$a!t
@th the #ara!9a: co"rt, a!% the! f !ot sett$e% there, the: @o"$% ha&e to 9o to the $a#or re$ato!s
%&so! at the Re9o!a$ Offce of Re9o! VI of the Depart7e!t of 'a#or a!% E7p$o:7e!t, ! )aco$o%
Ct:, for a!other ro"!% of co!c$ato! procee%!9s. -a$!9 there, ther $o!9 tra&a$ @o"$% co!t!"e to
the Offce of the 'a#or (r#ter, the! to the N'RC, a!% f!a$$: to "s. 3hs s"99este% proce%"re @o"$%
%estro: the sa$"tar: p"rposes of ,.D. 1./8 a!% of 3he 'a#or Co%e Of 3he ,h$pp!es. (!% $a#or
@o"$% the! #e 9&e! a!other "!!ecessar: o#stac$e to h"r%$e. *e re<ect the petto!er;s s"#7sso!. It
%oes &o$e!ce to the co!stt"to!a$$: 7a!%ate% po$c: of the State to affor% f"$$ protecto! to $a#or. 2
-!a$$:, t s a$rea%: @e$$-sett$e% that the or%!ar: r"$es o! proce%"re are 7ere$: s"pp$etor: ! character
&s-a-&s $a#or %sp"tes @hch are pr7ar$: 9o&er!e% #: $a#or $a@s. F (!% 8B(C$$ %o"#ts ! the
7p$e7e!tato! a!% !terpretato! of ths Co%e B'a#orC, !c$"%!9 ts 7p$e7e!t!9 r"$es a!%
re9"$ato!s, sha$$ #e reso$&e% ! fa&or of $a#or.8 G
*4ERE-ORE, the petto! s DISMISSED. Costs a9a!st the petto!er. '#'e=
SO ORDERED.
Melencio-.errera! /Chair$an0! (aras! (adilla a!% Regalado! JJ., co!c"r.
-oot!otes
1.,res%!9 Co77sso!er Cefer!o E. D"$a:, ponente1 Co77sso!ers Mraso$ V!e9a-Cor$eto a!% Ro#erto
,. 3o$e!t!o, concurring.
2.Co!stt"to! B198?C, (rt. KIII, sec. F+ 3he 'a#or Co%e of the ,h$pp!es, ,.D. No. GG2, as a7e!%e%, (rt. F.
F.(rtc$e 221, 3he 'a#or Co%e of the ,h$pp!es, as a7e!%e%+ see a$so (c%a &s. M!ster of 'a#or, No.
.10/?, Dece7#er 1., 1982, 119 SCR( F/0.
G.3he 'a#or Co%e of the ,h$pp!es, as a7e!%e%, (rt. G.