4/10/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly Respondents counter that the appeal should have been filed with the Secretary of Labor who had exclusive jurisdiction to review cases involving administrative matters decided by the POEA. Ruling The petition for review lacks merit. Petitioners’ adamant insistence that the NLRC should have appellate authority over the POEA’s decision in the disciplinary action because their complaint against respondents was filed in 1993 was unwarranted. Although Republic Act No. 8042, through its Section 10, transferred the original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide money claims involving overseas Filipino workers from the POEA to the Labor Arbiters, the law did not remove from the POEA the original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide all disciplinary action cases and other special cases administrative in character involving such workers. The obvious intent of Republic Act No. 8042 was to have the POEA focus its efforts in resolving all administrative matters affecting and involving such workers. This intent was even expressly recognized in the Omnibus Rules and Regulations Implementing the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 promulgated on February 29, 1996, viz: 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 or 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. Section 29. Venue – The cases mentioned in Section 28(a) of this Rule, may be filed with the POEA Adjudication Office or the DOLE/POEA regional office of the place where the complainant applied or was recruited, at the option of the complainant. The office with which the complaint was first filed shall take cognizance of the case. Disciplinary action cases and other special cases, as mentioned in the preceding Section, shall be filed with the POEA Adjudication Office. It is clear to us, therefore, that the NLRC had no appellate jurisdiction to review the decision of the POEA in disciplinary cases involving overseas contract workers. Petitioners’ position that Republic Act No. 8042 should not be applied retroactively to the review of the POEA’s decision dismissing their complaint against respondents has no support in jurisprudence. Although, as a rule, all laws are prospective in application elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/55060 5/8