4/10/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly Petitioners contended in their petition that: THE NLRC GRAVELY ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR GRAVELY ERRED IN DISMISSING PETITIONERS’ APPEAL AND MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION WHEN IT REFUSED TO TAKE COGNIZANCE OF PETITIONERS’ APPEAL DESPITE BEING EMPOWERED TO DO SO UNDER THE LAW.[6] On December 21, 2001, the CA dismissed the petition for certiorari and mandamus, holding that the inclusion and deletion of overseas contract workers from the POEA blacklist/watchlist were within the exclusive jurisdiction of the POEA to the exclusion of the NLRC, and that the NLRC had no appellate jurisdiction to review the matter, viz: Section 10 of RA 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, provides that: “Money Claims – Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Labor Arbiters of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) shall have the original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide, within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the complaint, the claims arising out of an employer-employee relationship or by virtue of any law or contract involving Filipino workers for overseas deployment including claims for actual, moral, exemplary and other forms of damages. xxxx Likewise, the Rules and Regulations implementing RA 8042 reiterate the jurisdiction of POEA, thus: “Section 28. Jurisdiction of the POEA. – The POEA shall exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide: a) All cases, which are administrative in character, involving or arising out of violations of rules and regulations relating to licensing and registration of recruitment and employment agencies or entities; and b) Disciplinary action cases and other special cases, which are administrative in character, involving employers, principals, contracting partners and Filipino migrant workers.” Further, Sections 6 and 7 Rule VII, Book VII of the POEA Rules & Regulations elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/55060 3/8