G.R. NO. 153180 - MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO), VS. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION AND MANUEL H. DELOS[1] SANTOS.DECISION - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE , premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered declaring that the dismissal of the complainant, Manuel H. [D]elos Santos, by the respondent Manila Electric Company, was illegal and the respondent is hereby ordered to reinstate immediately the aforesaid employee to his former position or an equivalent position in the respondent company, without loss of seniority rights and other privileges. Furthermore, the respondent is hereby ordered to pay the complainant the amount of SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS (P724,350.00), representing his backwages for the period from May 11, 1990 up to July 11, 1999, it being understood that the aforesaid amount of backwages awarded to the complainant under this Decision shall be subject to a further adjustment up to the reinstatement of the aforesaid employee. Likewise, the respondent is ordered to pay the complainant attorney's fees equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the total monetary award. The claims of the complainant for moral and exemplary damages against the respondent are hereby DISMISSED for lack of merit. [6] Aggrieved by the Labor Arbiter's decision, petitioner appealed to the NLRC. However, finding no merit in petitioner's arguments, the NLRC affirmed the assailed decision except with regard to the award of attorney's fees, which was deleted. Thus, decreed the NLRC: WHEREFORE , in the light of the foregoing, the appealed Decision of Labor Arbiter Francisco A. Robles dated July 12, 1999 is hereby AFFIRMED en toto . SO ORDERED.