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doctrine of restitution.[19] There is unjust enrichment when:
1. A person is unjustly benefited; and
2. Such benefit is derived at the expense of or with damages to another.[20]
In the case at bench, petitioner paid respondent US$81,320.00 in the pre-execution
conference plus attorney's fees of US$8,132.00 pursuant to the writ of execution. The
June 29, 2011 CA Decision, however, modified the final resolution of the NLRC and
awarded only US$60,000.00 to respondent. If allowed to return the excess, the
respondent would have been unjustly benefited to the prejudice and expense of
petitioner.
Petitioner's claim of excess payment is further buttressed by, and in.' line with, Section
14, Rule XI of the 2011 NLRC Rules of Procedure which provides:
EFFECT OF REVERSAL OF EXECUTED .JUDGMENT. — Where the executed
judgment is totally or partially reversed or annulled by the Court of
Appeals or the Supreme Court, the Labor Arbiter shall, on motion, issue
such orders of restitution of the executed award, except wages paid
during reinstatement pending appeal. [Emphases supplied]
Although the Court has, more often than not, been inclined towards the plight of the
workers and has upheld their cause in their conflicts with the employers, such
inclination has not blinded it to the rule that justice is in every case for the deserving,
to be dispensed in the light of the established facts and applicable law and doctrine.[21]
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The Court of Appeals Resolutions, dated
January 5, 2012 and July 20, 2012, are hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE.
Respondent Leandro Legaspi is ORDERED to return the excess amount of payment in
the sum of US$29,452.00 to petitioner Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. The
amount shall earn interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the finality of this
judgment.
SO ORDERED.
Velasco, Jr., (Chairperson), Peralta, Abad, and Leonen, JJ.,concur.
June 19, 2013
N O T I C E OF J U D G M E N T
Sirs/Mesdames:
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