NCFEWO v. Bose

MENDOZA, J.:

Petitioners were employees of the Naga College Foundation of which private respondent Melchor T. Villanueva is the president. In 1990, petitioners filed a complaint with the Regional Arbitration Branch of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in Naga City for unfair labor practice, reinstatement, backwages, and damages against private respondents, alleging illegal dismissal. On the other hand, private respondents filed a complaint against petitioners for conducting an illegal strike.

The cases were consolidated and referred to the public respondent Executive Labor Arbiter (ELA) in Legaspi City. On August 20, 1992 the ELA rendered a decision, ordering the reinstatement of petitioners and the payment of backwages to them. The dispositive portion of his decision reads:

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered, directing Naga College Foundation and Dr. Melchor T. Villanueva or any responsible official to immediately reinstate the individual complainants to their respective former or equivalent positions without loss of seniority rights and other privileges and to pay their backwages thru this Branch within ten (10) days from receipt hereof, as follows: 1. Eduardo C. Laureles P81,671.85 2. Olivia E. Cea 80,521.55 3. Ramon V. Surara 87,285.35 4. Nestor P. Avenido 73,619.70 5. Gerardo J. Saman 91,587.50