US$800.00 and other benefits.  Barely a month after boarding the vessel M/V Naval Gent on July 15, 1997, respondent was ordered to disembark in Varna, Bulgaria, on August 7, 1997, and repatriated to the Philippines.  Immediately after arriving in the Philippines, respondent filed a complaint for illegal dismissal and monetary claims onAugust 18, 1997.[1]             In a Decision dated August 11, 1998, the Labor Arbiter found that respondent was illegally dismissed:               WHEREFORE, in the light of the foregoing, judgment is rendered finding the dismissal of complainant illegal.  An order is issued directing the respondents to pay complainant the amount of US$2,400.00 or its Philippine peso equivalent of P100,000.00 as separation pay plus the amount of US$186.69 representing complainant’s unpaid salary for seven (7) days or in the Philippine peso equivalent ofP7,840.98 or the total amount of P108,640.98.  On top of said amount, attorney’s fees of P5,000.00 is also awarded.               SO ORDERED.[2]             On appeal, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) affirmed the Labor Arbiter’s Decision and dismissed petitioner’s appeal per its Decision dated February 26, 1999.[3]  Petitioner sought reconsideration thereof but its motion was denied by the NLRC in its Resolution dated May 27, 1999.[4]    Thus, petitioner filed with the Court of Appeals (CA) a special civil action for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court, docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 53490.    On May 7, 2001, the CA[5] dismissed the petition and affirmed in toto the NLRC Decision dated February 26, 1999.[6] Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied by the CA in its Resolution dated July 3, 2001.[7]