4/29/2020
E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly
706 Phil. 339
SECOND DIVISION
[ G.R. No. 180636, March 13, 2013 ]
LORENZO T. TANGGA-AN,* PETITIONER, VS. PHILIPPINE
TRANSMARINE CARRIERS, INC., UNIVERSE TANKSHIP DELAWARE
LLC, AND CARLOS C. SALINAS, RESPONDENTS.
DECISION
DEL CASTILLO, J.:
This Court’s labor pronouncements must be read and applied with utmost care and
caution, taking to mind that in the very heart of the judicial system, labor cases occupy
a special place. More than the State guarantees of protection of labor and security of
tenure, labor disputes involve the fundamental survival of the employees and their
families, who depend upon the former for all the basic necessities in life.
This Petition for Review on Certiorari[1] seeks a modification of the November 30, 2006
Decision[2] of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 00806. Also assailed is the
November 15, 2007 Resolution[3] denying petitioner’s Motion for Reconsideration.
Factual Antecedents
The facts, as found by the CA, are as follows:
This is a case for illegal dismissal with a claim for the payment of salaries
corresponding to the unexpired term of the contract, damages and
attorney’s fees filed by private respondent [Lorenzo T. Tangga-an] against
the petitioners [Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc., Universe Tankship
Delaware LLC, and Carlos C. Salinas[4] or herein respondents].
In his position paper, [Tangga-an] alleged that on January 31, 200[2], he
entered into an overseas employment contract with Philippine Transmarine
Carriers, Inc. (PTC) for and in behalf of its foreign employer, Universe
Tankship Delaware, LLC. Under the employment contract, he was to be
employed for a period of six months as chief engineer of the vessel the S.S.
“Kure”. He was to be paid a basic salary of US$5,000.00; vacation leave pay
equivalent to 15 days a months [sic] or US$2,500.00 per month and
tonnage bonus in the amount of US$700.00 a month.
On February 11, 2002, [Tangga-an] was deployed. While performing his
assigned task, he noticed that while they were loading liquid cargo at
elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/55699
1/12