6/7/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly this Court, as in fact they did not make any effort to directly contest the said findings of the Labor Arbiter, We are wont to likewise affirm private respondent's entitlement to moral damages and exemplary damages in view of the express findings of bad faith and malice on the part of the petitioners in denying private respondent's just claims. However, while We affirm the Labor Arbiter's award of moral damages and exemplary damages, We axe convinced that the amount of moral damages and the exemplary damages awarded are far too excessive, if not unconscionable. As it is always stressed in jurisprudence, '[m]oral damages are recoverable only if the defendant has acted fraudulently or in bad faith, or is guilty of gross negligence amounting to bad faith, or in wanton disregard of his contractual obligations. The breach must be wanton, reckless, malicious, or in bad faith, oppressive or abusive.' Similarly, x x x [e]xemplary [d]amages are imposed not to enrich one party or impoverish another but to serve as a deterrent against or as a negative incentive to curb socially deleterious actions. In line with prevailing jurisprudence, We hereby reduce the moral damages and exemplary damages to the more equitable level of One Thousand US Dollars (US$1,000.00) each. Finally, regarding the award of attorney's fees to private respondent, We found the same to be warranted based on the facts of this case and prevailing jurisprudence. As it is oft-said, '[t]he law allows the award of attorney's fees when exemplary damages are awarded, and when the party to a suit was compelled to incur expenses to protect his interest.' In view of Our herein disquisition, We shall no longer delve into the merits of petitioners' prayer for issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) for it is now moot and academic. WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant Petition is DISMISSED. The assailed Decision and Resolution of the NLRC are AFFIRMED with the following MODIFICATIONS 1. Reimbursement of medical expenses is REDUCED to Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred Forty-Seven Pesos and 85/100 (P16,647.85); 2. Moral damages is (US$1,000.00); and REDUCED to One Thousand US Dollars 3. Exemplary damages is REDUCED to One Thousand US Dollars (US$1,000.00). In addition, the prayer for issuance of Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is hereby DENIED for being moot and academic. All other claims are likewise DISMISSED for lack of merit. SO ORDERED. [36] (Citations omitted; emphasis and underscoring in the original) Godinez filed a Motion for Partial Reconsideration, questioning the reduction in the award of medical expenses and moral and exemplary damages. In essence, he sought elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/63469 16/31