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760 PHIL. 596
FIRST DIVISION
[ G.R. No. 160123, June 17, 2015 ]
CENTRO PROJECT MANPOWER SERVICES CORPORATION,
PETITIONER, VS. AGUINALDO NALUIS AND THE COURT OF
APPEALS, RESPONDENTS.
DECISION
BERSAMIN, J.:
In the interpretation of their provisions, labor contracts require the resolution of doubts
in favor of the laborer because of their being imbued with social justice considerations.
This rule of interpretation is demanded by the Labor Code[1] and the Civil Code.[2]
Both the Labor Arbiter[3] and the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)[4]
resolved the doubt in favor of the employer when it held that respondent Aguinaldo
Naluis (Naluis) had been properly repatriated, and, consequently, not illegally
dismissed. However, on April 23, 2009, the Court of Appeals (CA) set aside their
resolutions, and ruled to the contrary.[5] Hence, this appeal by the employer.
Antecedents
Petitioner Centro Project Manpower Services Corporation (Centro Project), a local
recruitment agency, engaged Naluis to work abroad as a plumber under Pacific
Micronesia Corporation (Pacific Micronesia) in Garapan, Saipan, in the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands (Northern Marianas). The work was covered by the
primary Employment Contract dated March 11, 1997,[6] whereby his employment
would last for 12 months, and would commence upon his arrival in Northern Marianas.
On June 3, 1997, the Department of Labor and Immigration of Northern Mariana
Islands issued an Authorization for Entry (AE)[7] in his favor. On September 3, 1997,
Centro Project and Naluis executed an addendum to the primary Employment
Contract[8] to make the start of his employment effective from his departure at the
point of origin instead of his arrival in Northern Marianas.
Naluis left for Northern Mariana on September 13, 1997,[9] the date of his actual
deployment, and his employment continued until his repatriation to the Philippines on
June 3, 1998 allegedly due to the expiration of the employment contract. Not having
completed 12 months of work, he filed a complaint for illegal dismissal against Centro
Project.
The Labor Arbiter found that Centro Project had been justified in repatriating Naluis,
and accordingly dismissed the complaint, to wit:
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