LUMINADA VER BUISER, MA. CECILIA RILLOACUA and MA. MERCEDES P.

INTENGAN,
petitioners,
s.
!ON. VICENTE LEOGARDO, "R., in #is $apa$it% as Dep&t% Minister o' t#e Ministr% o'
La(or ) E*p+o%*ent, and GENERAL TELEP!ONE DIRECTOR,, CO., respondents.
"i*ene-, Apo+o ) Le%nes La. O/$e 'or petitioners.
T#e So+i$itor Genera+ 'or respondent Dep&t% Minister.
A(ad, Le0a%ada ) Asso$iates 'or priate respondent.


GUERRERO, ".1
T#is is a petition 'or $ertiorari see2in0 to set aside t#e Order o' t#e Dep&t% Minister
o' La(or and E*p+o%*ent, a/r*in0 t#e Order o' t#e Re0iona+ Dire$tor, Nationa+
Capita+ Re0ion, in Case No. NCR3ST43536758378, .#i$# dis*issed t#e petitioners9
$o*p+ainant 'or a++e0ed i++e0a+ dis*issa+ and &npaid $o**ission.
Petitioners .ere e*p+o%ed (% t#e priate respondent GENERAL TELEP!ONE
DIRECTOR, COMPAN, as sa+es representaties and $#ar0ed .it# t#e d&t% o'
so+i$itin0 adertise*ents 'or in$+&sion in a te+ep#one dire$tor%.
T#e re$ords s#o. t#at petitioners I+&*inada Ver B&iser and Ma. Mer$edes P.
Inten0an entered into an :E*p+o%*ent Contra$t ;on Pro(ationar% Stat&s<: on Ma%
6=, 8>7? .it# priate respondent, a $orporation en0a0ed in t#e (&siness o'
p&(+i$ation and $ir$&+ation o' t#e dire$tor% o' t#e P#i+ippine Lon0 Distan$e
Te+ep#one Co*pan%. Petitioner Ma. Ce$i+ia Ri++o3A$&na entered into t#e sa*e
e*p+o%*ent $ontra$t on "&ne 88, 8>7? .it# t#e priate respondent.
A*on0 ot#ers, t#e :E*p+o%*ent Contra$t ;On Pro(ationar% Stat&s<: in$+&ded t#e
'o++o.in0 $o**on proisions1
+. T#e $o*pan% #ere(% e*p+o%s t#e e*p+o%ee as te+ep#one representatie on a
pro(ationar% stat&s 'or a period o' ei0#teen ;87< *ont#s, i.e. 'ro* Ma% 8>7? to
O$to(er 8>78, in$+&sie. It is &nderstood t#at dar&n0 t#e pro(ationar% period o'
e*p+o%*ent, t#e E*p+o%ee *a% (e ter*inated at t#e p+eas&re o' t#e $o*pan%
.it#o&t t#e ne$essit% o' 0iin0 noti$e o' ter*ination or t#e pa%*ent o' ter*ination
pa%.
T#e E*p+o%ee re$o0ni-es t#e 'a$t t#at t#e nat&re o' t#e te+ep#one sa+es
representatie9s @o( is s&$# t#at t#e $o*pan% .o&+d (e a(+e to deter*ine #is tr&e
$#ara$ter, $ond&$t and se++in0 $apa(i+ities on+% a'ter t#e p&(+i$ation o' t#e dire$tor%,
and t#at it ta2es a(o&t ei0#teen ;87< *ont#s (e'ore #is .ort# as a te+ep#one sa.
representatie $an (e '&++% ea+&ated inas*&$# as t#e adertise*ent so+i$ited (%
#i* 'or a parti$&+ar %ear are p&(+is#ed in t#e dire$tor% on+% t#e 'o++o.in0 %ear.
Coro++ar% to t#is, t#e priate respondent pres$ri(ed sa+es A&otas to (e a$$o*p+is#ed
or *et (% t#e petitioners. 4ai+in0 to *eet t#eir respe$tie sa+es A&otas, t#e
petitioners .ere dis*issed 'ro* t#e seri$e (% t#e priate respondent. T#e re$ords
s#o. t#at t#e priate respondent ter*inated t#e seri$es o' petitioners I+&*inada
Ver B&iser and Ce$i+ia Ri++o3A$&na on Ma% 8B, 8>78 and petitioner Ma. Mer$edes P.
Inten0an on Ma% 87, 8>78 'or t#eir 'ai+&re to *eet t#eir sa+es A&otas.
T#&s, on Ma% 6C, 8>78, petitioners D+ed .it# t#e Nationa+ Capita+ Re0ion, Ministr% o'
La(or and E*p+o%*ent, a $o*p+aint 'or i++e0a+ dis*issa+ .it# $+ai*s 'or (a$2.a0es,
earned $o**issions and ot#er (eneDts, do$2eted as Case No. NCR3ST43536758378.
T#e Re0iona+ Dire$tor o' said *inistr%, in an Order dated Septe*(er 68, 8>76,
dis*issed t#e $o*p+aints o' t#e petitioners, eE$ept t#e $+ai* 'or a++o.an$es .#i$#
priate respondent .as ordered to pa%. A re$onsideration o' t#e Order .as so&0#t
(% t#e petitioners in a *otion D+ed on Septe*(er F?, 8>76. T#is *otion, #o.eer,
.as treated as an appea+ to t#e Minister o' La(or.
On appea+, Dep&t% Minister Vi$ente Leo0ardo, "r. o' t#e Ministr% o' La(or iss&ed an
Order dated "an&ar% C, 8>7F, a/r*in0 t#e Re0iona+ Dire$tor9s Order dated
Septe*(er 68, 8>76, .#erein it r&+ed t#at t#e petitioners #ae not attained
per*anent stat&s sin$e priate respondent .as @&stiDed in reA&irin0 a +on0er period
o' pro(ation, and t#at t#e ter*ination o' petitioners9 seri$es .as a+id sin$e t#e
+atter 'ai+ed to *eet t#eir sa+es A&otas.
!en$e, t#is petition 'or $ertiorari on t#e a++e0ed 0ro&nd t#at p&(+i$ respondent
$o**itted 0rae a(&se o' dis$retion a*o&ntin0 to +a$2 o' @&risdi$tion. Spe$iD$a++%,
petitioners s&(*it t#at1
8. T#e !on. Re0iona+ Dire$tor and t#e !on. Dep&t% Minister $o**itted 0rae a(&se
o' dis$retion a*o&ntin0 to +a$2 o' @&risdi$tion in r&+in0 t#at t#e pro(ationar%
e*p+o%*ent o' petitioners #erein is ei0#teen ;87< *ont#s instead o' t#e *andated
siE ;=< *ont#s &nder t#e La(or Code, and in $onseA&ent+% '&rt#er r&+in0 t#at
petitioners are not entit+ed to se$&rit% o' ten&re .#i+e &nder said pro(ation 'or 87
*ont#s.
6. T#e !on. Re0iona+ Dire$tor and t#e !on. Dep&t% Minister $o**itted 0rae a(&se
o' dis$retion a*o&ntin0 to +a$2 o' @&risdi$tion in r&+in0 t#at petitioners .ere
dis*issed 'or a @&st and a+id $a&se.
F. T#e !on. Re0iona+ Dire$tor and t#e !on. Dep&t% Minister $o**itted 0rae a(&se
o' dis$retion a*o&ntin0 to +a$2 o' @&risdi$tion in r&+in0 t#at petitioners are not
entit+ed to t#e $o**issions t#e% #ae earned and a$$r&ed d&rin0 t#eir period o'
e*p+o%*ent.
Petitioners $ontend t#at &nder Arti$+es 6783676 o' t#e La(or Code, #ain0 sered
t#e respondent $o*pan% $ontin&o&s+% 'or oer siE ;=< *ont#s, t#e% #ae (e$o*e
a&to*ati$a++% re0&+ar e*p+o%ees not.it#standin0 an a0ree*ent to t#e $ontrar%.
Arti$+es 6783676 read t#&s1
Art. 676. Pro(ationar% E*p+o%*ent. G Pro(ationar% e*p+o%*ent s#a++ not eE$eed
siE ;=< *ont#s 'ro* t#e date t#e e*p+o%ee started .or2in0, &n+ess it is$Coered (%
an apprenti$es#ip a0ree*ent stip&+atin0 a +on0er period. T#e seri$es o' an
e*p+o%ee .#o #as (een en0a0ed on a pro(ationar% (asis *a% (e ter*inated 'or a
@&st $a&se or .#en #e 'ai+s to A&a+i'% as a re0&+ar e*p+o%ee in a$$ordan$e .it#
reasona(+e standards *ade 2no.n (% t#e e*p+o%er to t#e e*p+o%ee at t#e ti*e o'
#is en0a0e*ent. An e*p+o%ee .#o is a++o.ed to .or2 a'ter a pro(ationar% period
s#a++ (e $onsidered a re0&+ar e*p+o%ee. ;As a*ended (% PD 75?<.
Art. 678. Re0&+ar and Cas&a+ E*p+o%*ent. G T#e proisions o' .ritten a0ree*ent to
t#e $ontrar% not.it#standin0 and re0ard+ess o' t#e ora+ a0ree*ents o' t#e parties,
an e*p+o%*ent s#a++ (e dee*ed to (e re0&+ar .#ere t#e e*p+o%ee #as (een
en0a0ed to per'or* a$tiities .#i$# are &s&a++% ne$essar% or desira(+e in t#e &s&a+
(&siness or trade o' t#e e*p+o%er, eE$ept .#ere t#e e*p+o%*ent #as (een DEed 'or
a spe$iD$ pro@e$t or &nderta2in0 t#e $o*p+etion or ter*ination o' .#i$# #as (een
deter*ined at t#e ti*e o' t#e en0a0e*ent o' t#e e*p+o%ee or .#ere t#e .or2 or
seri$es to (e per'or*ed is seasona+ in nat&re and t#e e*p+o%*ent is 'or t#e
d&ration o' t#e season.
An e*p+o%*ent s#a++ (e dee*ed to (e $as&a+ i' it is not $oered (% t#e pre$eedin0
para0rap#. Proided, T#at, an% e*p+o%ee .#o #as rendered at +east one %ear o'
seri$e, .#et#er s&$# seri$e is $ontin&o&s or (ro2en, s#a++ (e $onsidered a re0&+ar
e*p+o%ee .it# respe$t to t#e a$tiit% in .#i$# #e is e*p+o%ed and #is e*p+o%*ent
s#a++ $ontin&e .#i+e s&$# a$t&a++% eEists. ;As a*ended (% PD 75?<.
It is petitioners9 s&(*ission t#at pro(ationar% e*p+o%*ent $annot eE$eed siE ;=<
*ont#s, t#e on+% eE$eption (ein0 apprenti$es#ip and +earners#ip a0ree*ents as
proided in t#e La(or CodeH t#at t#e Po+i$% Instr&$tion o' t#e Minister o' La(or and
E*p+o%*ent nor an% a0ree*ent o' t#e parties $o&+d preai+ oer t#is *andator%
reA&ire*ent o' t#e +a.H t#at t#is siE *ont#s pres$ription o' t#e La(or Code .as
*andated to 0ie '&rt#er e/$a$% to t#e $onstit&tiona++%30&aranteed se$&rit% o'
ten&re o' .or2ersH and t#at t#e +a. does not a++o. an% dis$retion on t#e part o' t#e
Minister o' La(or and E*p+o%*ent to eEtend t#e pro(ationar% period 'or a +on0er
period eE$ept in t#e a'ore$ited instan$es. 4ina++%, petitioners *aintain t#at sin$e
t#e% are re0&+ar e*p+o%ees, t#e% $an on+% (e re*oed or dis*issed 'or an% o' t#e
@&st and a+id $a&ses en&*erated &nder Arti$+e 67F o' t#e La(or Code.
Ie re@e$t petitioners9 $ontentions. T#e% #ae no (asis in +a..
Genera++%, t#e pro(ationar% period o' e*p+o%*ent is +i*ited to siE ;=< *ont#s. T#e
eE$eption to t#is 0enera+ r&+e is I#en t#e parties to an e*p+o%*ent $ontra$t *a%
a0ree ot#er.ise, s&$# as .#en t#e sa*e is esta(+is#ed (% $o*pan% po+i$% or .#en
t#e sa*e is reA&ired (% t#e nat&re o' .or2 to (e per'or*ed (% t#e e*p+o%ee. In t#e
+atter $ase, t#ere is re$o0nition o' t#e eEer$ise o' *ana0eria+ prero0aties in
reA&irin0 a +on0er period o' pro(ationar% e*p+o%*ent, s&$# as in t#e present $ase
.#ere t#e pro(ationar% period .as set 'or ei0#teen ;87< *ont#s, i.e. 'ro* Ma%,
8>7? to O$to(er, 8>78 in$+&sie, espe$ia++% .#ere t#e e*p+o%ee *&st +earn a
parti$&+ar 2ind o' .or2 s&$# as se++in0, or .#en t#e @o( reA&ires $ertain
A&a+iD$ations, s2i++s, eEperien$e or trainin0.
Po+i$% Instr&$tion No. 88 o' t#e Minister o' La(or and E*p+o%*ent #as $+ariDed an%
and a++ do&(ts on t#e period o' pro(ationar% e*p+o%*ent. It states as 'o++o.s1
Pro(ationar% E*p+o%*ent #as (een t#e s&(@e$t o' *is&nderstandin0 in so*e
A&arter. So*e peop+e (e+iee siE ;=< *ont#s is t#e pro(ationar% period in a++ $ases.
On t#e ot#er #and e*p+o%s .#o #ae a+read% sered t#e pro(ationar% period are
so*eti*es reA&ired to sere a0ain on pro(ation.
Under t#e La(or Code, siE ;=< *ont#s is t#e 0enera+ pro(ationar% period 9 (&t t#e
pro(ationar% period is a$t&a++% t#e period needed to deter*ine Dtness 'or t#e @o(.
T#is period, 'or +a$2 o' a (etter *eas&re*ent is dee*ed to (e t#e period needed to
+earn t#e @o(.
T#e p&rpose o' t#is po+i$% is to prote$t t#e .or2er at t#e sa*e ti*e ena(+e t#e
e*p+o%er to *a2e a *eanin0'&+ e*p+o%ee se+e$tion. T#is p&rpose s#o&+d (e 2ept in
*ind in en'or$in0 t#is proision o' t#e Code. T#is iss&an$e s#a++ ta2e eJe$t
i**ediate+%.
In t#e $ase at (ar, it is s#o.n t#at priate respondent Co*pan% needs at +east
ei0#teen ;87< *ont#s to deter*ine t#e $#ara$ter and se++in0 $apa(i+ities o' t#e
petitioners as sa+es representaties. T#e Co*pan% is en0a0ed in adertise*ent and
p&(+i$ation in t#e ,e++o. Pa0es o' t#e PLDT Te+ep#one Dire$tories. P&(+i$ation o'
so+i$ited ads are on+% *ade a %ear a'ter t#e sa+e #as (een *ade and on+% t#en .in
t#e $o*pan% (e a(+e to ea+&ate t#e e/$ien$%, $ond&$t, and se++in0 a(i+it% o' its
sa+es representaties, t#e ea+&ation (ein0 (ased on t#e p&(+is#ed ads. Moreoer,
an ei0#teen *ont# pro(ationar% period is re$o0ni-ed (% t#e La(or Union in t#e
priate respondent $o*pan%, .#i$# is Arti$+e V o' t#e Co++e$tie Bar0ainin0
A0ree*ent, ... t#&s1
Pro(ationar% Period G Ne. e*p+o%ees #ired 'or re0&+ar or per*anent s#a++ &nder0o
a pro(ationar% or tria+ period o' siE ;=< *ont#s, eE$ept in t#e $ases o' te+ep#one or
sa+es representaties .#ere t#e pro(ationar% period s#a++ (e ei0#teen ;I 7< *ont#s.
And as indi$ated ear+ier, t#e er% $ontra$ts o' e*p+o%*ent si0ned and a$A&ies$ed
to (% t#e petitioners spe$iD$a++% indi$ate t#at :t#e $o*pan% #ere(% e*p+o%s t#e
e*p+o%ee as te+ep#one sa+es representatie on a pro(ationar% stat&s 'or a period o'
ei0#teen ;87< *ont#s, i.e. 'ro* Ma% 8>7? to O$to(er 8>78, in$+&sie. T#is
stip&+ation is not $ontrar% to +a., *ora+s and p&(+i$ po+i$%.
Ie, t#ere'ore, #o+d and r&+e t#at t#e pro(ationar% e*p+o%*ent o' petitioners set to
ei0#teen ;87< *ont#s is +e0a+ and a+id and t#at t#e Re0iona+ Dire$tor and t#e
Dep&t% Minister o' La(or and E*p+o%*ent $o**itted no a(&se o' dis$retion in
r&+in0 a$$ordin0+%.
On t#e se$ond assi0n*ent o' error t#at p&(+i$ respondent $o**itted 0rae a(&se
o' dis$retion in r&+in0 t#at petitioners .ere dis*issed 'or a @&st and a+id $a&se, t#is
is not t#e Drst ti*e t#at t#is iss&e #as (een raised (e'ore t#is Co&rt. Ear+ier, in t#e
$ase o' :Art#&r Go+e- s. T#e Nationa+ La(or Re+ations Co**ission and Genera+
Te+ep#one Dire$tor% Co. :G.R. No. L3=BB5>, "&+% 65, 8>7F, t#e petition 'or $ertiorari
.#i$# raised t#e sa*e iss&e a0ainst t#e #erein priate respondent .as dis*issed
(% t#is Co&rt 'or +a$2 o' *erit.
T#e pra$ti$e o' a $o*pan% in +a%in0 oJ .or2ers (e$a&se t#e% 'ai+ed to *a2e t#e
.or2 A&ota #as (een re$o0ni-ed in t#is @&risdi$tion. ;P#i+ippine A*eri$an
E*(roideries s. E*(roider% and Gar*ent Ior2ers, 6= SCRA =FB, =F><. In t#e $ase
at (ar, t#e petitioners9 'ai+&re to *eet t#e sa+es A&ota assi0ned to ea$# o' t#e*
$onstit&te a @&st $a&se o' t#eir dis*issa+, re0ard+ess o' t#e per*anent or
pro(ationar% stat&s o' t#eir e*p+o%*ent. 4ai+&re to o(sere pres$ri(ed standards o'
.or2, or to '&+D++ reasona(+e .or2 assi0n*ents d&e to ine/$ien$% *a% $onstit&te
@&st $a&se 'or dis*issa+. S&$# ine/$ien$% is &nderstood to *ean 'ai+&re to attain
.or2 0oa+s or .or2 A&otas, eit#er (% 'ai+in0 to $o*p+ete t#e sa*e .it#in t#e a++oted
reasona(+e period, or (% prod&$in0 &nsatis'a$tor% res&+ts. T#is *ana0e*ent
prero0atie o' reA&irin0 standards aai+ed o' so +on0 as t#e% are eEer$ised in 0ood
'ait# 'or t#e adan$e*ent o' t#e e*p+o%er9s interest.
Petitioners an$#or t#eir $+ai* 'or $o**ission pa% on t#e Co++e$tie Bar0ainin0
A0ree*ent ;CBA< o' Septe*(er 8>78, in s&pport o' t#eir t#ird assi0n*ent o' error.
Petitioners $annot aai+ o' t#is a0ree*ent sin$e t#eir seri$es #ad (een ter*inated
in Ma%, 8>78, at a ti*e .#en t#e CBA o' Septe*(er, 8>78 .as not %et in eEisten$e.
In Dne, t#ere is not#in0 in t#e re$ords to s#o. an% a(&se or *is&se o' po.er
proper+% ested in t#e respondent Dep&t% Minister o' La(or and E*p+o%*ent. 4or
$ertiorari to +ie, :t#ere *&st (e $apri$io&s, ar(itrar% and .#i*si$a+ eEer$ise o'
po.er, t#e er% antit#esis o' t#e @&di$ia+ prero0atie ina$$ordan$e .it# $ent&ries o'
(ot# $ii+ and $o**on +a. traditions.: ;Pana+i0an s. Ado+'o, =C SCRA 8C=, 87?<.
T#e :a(&se o' dis$retion *&st (e 0rae and patent, and it *&st (e s#o.n t#at t#e
dis$retion .as eEer$ised ar(itrari+% or despoti$a++%.: ;Pa+*a and I0na$io s. K. ) S.,
In$., et a+., 8C SCRA >C, 8??H P#i+ippine Vir0inia To(a$$o Ad*inistration s. L&$ero,
865 SCRA FFC, FBF<.
I!ERE4ORE, t#e petition is DISMISSED 'or +a$2 o' *erit.
SO ORDERED.