G.R. No. 244710, October 07, 2019
SECOND DIVISION [ G.R. No. 244710, October 07, 2019 ] PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION (PNCC) V. ELIZABETH LOPEZ DE LEON, ET AL.
One of the benefits which petitioner Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC), a Government Owned and Controlled Corporation1 (GOCC) used to give its employees was a shuttle service to and from the office. PNCC later discontinued this benefit as part of its cost-cutting measures to reduce expenses. On the employees' appeal, PNCC authorized the grant of a monetized transportation allowance to the employees.
The Commission on Audit (COA), however, issued Audit Observation Memorandum 14-010. It opined that the transportation allowance was irregular considering that the same had no legal basis. Thus, the COA disallowed disbursement and recommended the grant to be discontinued and for the employees concerned to return the amounts they respectively received. In compliance, PNCC promptly stopped the grant.
Aggrieved, respondents Elizabeth Lopez De Leon, Sabino Bassig, Crisanto Calimag, Jaime Dela Cruz, Rosalyn Delivios, Demosthenes Faminiano, Loida Hernandez, Alma Hugo, Mark Lago, Virginia Madrona, Antonio Manlawe, Renato Monsanto, Venjie Namocatcat, Dolly G. Nepomuceno, Moses Rangilinan, Arnne Norbert Silvestre and Elmer Simbulan, filed a complaint before the Labor Arbiter for non-payment of transportation allowance, damages, and attorney's fees.
By Decision dated January 29, 2016,[2] Labor Arbiter Clarissa G. Beltran-Lerios granted the complaint and ordered PNCC to pay respondents their transportation allowance in the total amount of P637,500.00 and attorney's fees equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the monetary award.
On PNCC's appeal, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) affirmed through its Decision dated September 23, 2016 and Resolution dated November 28, 2016.[3] PNCC, then, elevated the case to the Court of Appeals through a petition for certiorari docketed as CA-G.R. SPNo. 149392.[4]
The Court of Appeals did not issue any restraining order against the decision of the NLRC. Thus, the NLRC issued an Entry of Judgment dated December 22, 2016.[5] Respondents, therefore, moved for the issuance of a writ of execution. PNCC opposed. It argued that the claim should first be filed with the COA for determination of the amount and approval of the grant. Labor Arbiter Beltran-Lerios issued a Writ of Execution.
Imputing grave abuse of discretion on Labor Arbiter Beltran-Lerios for issuing the writ, PNCC filed before the NLRC a petition for extraordinary remedies under Rule XII of the 2011 NLRC Rules of Procedure.
Ruling of the NLRC
In its Resolutions dated May 31, 2017[6] and August 18, 2017,[7] the NLRC denied PNCC's petition. It held that it was ministerial for the Labor Arbiter to issue a writ of execution upon finality of labor judgments. It acknowledged that the COA has the primary jurisdiction to examine, audit, and settle all debts of GOCCs like PNCC. But, jurisprudence did not prohibit the issuance of writs of execution before a claim was filed with the COA. The rules only prohibit enforcement of the writ pending approval of the COA.
By Decision dated July 23, 2018[8] and Resolution dated February 6, 2019,[9] the Court of Appeals affirmed.
Petitioner now seeks affirmative relief from the Court and prays that the resolutions of the Court of Appeals be reversed and the writ of execution expunged.
Petitioner argues that in execution against the government cannot proceed without the required COA approval. While the courts and labor tribunals can make a finding as to liability, it is still within COA prerogative to ascertain the exact amount of liability in accordance with audit rules and procedures. This can only be ascertained by filing a petition before the COA. Thus, Labor Arbiter Beltran-Lerios gravely erred when she issued a writ of execution without waiting for the COA approval of the respondents' money claim.
In their Comment dated July 17, 2019,[10] respondents aver that on August 7, 2018, the Court of Appeals, in CA-G.R. SP No. 149392 already dismissed their money claims. The Court of Appeals ruled that the jurisdiction over the employee's money claims should have been lodged with the COA instead of the labor arbiter. At any rate, there was no diminution of benefits to speak of because the COA itself found the grant of the transportation allowance to PNCC's employees to be irregular. The Court of Appeals also denied their motion for reconsideration. They no longer questioned these decision and resolution, hence, they had become final and executory.
May the petition be dismissed on ground of mootness?
Respondents call the Court's attention to the Court of Appeals' Decision dated December 7, 2018n and Resolution dated December 17, 2018[11] in CA-G.R. SP No. 149392. The Court of Appeals held that PNCC, being a GOCC, is subject to the jurisdiction of the COA. Thus, respondents' money claims should have been filed before the COA and not before the labor arbiter. In any case, there was "diminution of benefits" to speak of when the transportation allowance was disallowed and ordered to be discontinued on COA's post audit. This decision had become final and executory.
In view of this development and the exclusive jurisdiction of the COA to post on audit the grant of transportation allowance to respondent employees, the petition has thereby become moot and academic.
WHEREFORE, the petition is DISMISSED on ground of mootness.
SO ORDERED.
[1] By virtue Strategic Alliance Development Corporation v. Radstock Securities Limited and PNCC, 622 Phil. 431 (2009).
[2] Rollo, pp. 110-120.
[3] Id. at 30-31.
[4] Id. at 121-143.
[5] Id. at 148.
[6] Penned by Commissioner Bernardino B. Julve and concurred in by Presiding Commissioner Grace M. Venus and Commissioner Leonard Vinz O. Ignacio, rollo, pp. 70-86.
[7] Rollo, pp. 87-93.
[8] Penned by now retired Presiding Justice Romeo F. Barza and concurred in by Associate Justice Stephen C. Cruz and Associate Justice Carmelita Salandanan Manahan, rollo, pp. 28-38.
[9] Rollo, pp. 39-41.
[10] Id. at 191-196.
[11] Penned by Associate Justice Ronaldo Roberto B. Martin and concurred in by Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario and Associate Justice Eduardo B. Peralta, Jr.
