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776 Phil. 591
SECOND DIVISION
[ G.R. No. 203882, January 11, 2016 ]
LORELEI O. ILADAN, PETITIONER, VS. LA SUERTE INTERNATIONAL
MANPOWER AGENCY, INC., AND DEBBIE LAO, RESPONDENTS.
DECISION
DEL CASTILLO, J.:
By this Petition for Review on Certiorari,[1] petitioner Lorelei O. Iladan (Iladan) assails
the May 16, 2012 Decision[2] and October 4, 2012 Resolution[3] of the Court of Appeals
(CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 119903, which reversed the February 23, 2011[4] and March
31, 2011[5] Resolutions of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and
consequently dismissed her complaint for illegal dismissal against respondents La
Suerte International Manpower Agency, Inc. (La Suerte) and its President and General
Manager Debbie Lao (Lao).
Factual Antecedents
La Suerte is a recruitment agency duly authorized by the Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration (POEA) to deploy workers for overseas employment. On
March 20, 2009, La Suerte hired Iladan to work as a domestic helper in Hongkong for a
period of two years with a monthly salary of HK$3,580.00.[6] On July 20, 2009, Iladan
was deployed to her principal employer in Hongkong, Domestic Services International
(Domestic Services), to work as domestic helper for Ms. Muk Sun Fan.
On July 28, 2009 or barely eight days into her job, Iladan executed a handwritten
resignation letter.[7] On August 6, 2009, in consideration of P35,000.00 financial
assistance given by Domestic Services, Iladan signed an Affidavit of Release, Waiver
and Quitclaim[8] duly subscribed before Labor Attache Leonida V. Romulo (Labor
Attache Romulo) of the Philippine Consulate General in Hongkong. On the same date,
an Agreement,[9] was signed by Iladan, Conciliator-Mediator Maria Larisa Q. Diaz
(Conciliator-Mediator Diaz) and a representative of Domestic Services, whereby Iladan
acknowledged that her acceptance of the financial assistance would constitute as final
settlement of her contractual claims and waiver of any cause of action against
respondents and Domestic Services. The Agreement was also subscribed before Labor
Attache Romulo. On August 10, 2009, Iladan returned to the Philippines.
Thereafter, or on November 23, 2009, Iladan filed a Complaint[10] for illegal dismissal,
refund of placement fee, payment of salaries corresponding to the unexpired portion of
the contract, as well as moral and exemplary damages, against respondents. Iladan
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