5. TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS v.
TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS EMPLOYEES UNION
[G.R. No. 142000. January 22, 2003.]
By: EAY III
Topic: Labor Organizations and Registration of Unions
Petitioner: TAGAYTAY HIGHLAND'S INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB INCORPORATED
Respondent: TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS EMPLOYEES UNION-PGTWO
Ponente: CARPIO-MORALES, J.
FACTS
1. the Tagaytay Highlands Employees Union (THEU) a legitimate labor organization said
to represent majority of the rank-and-file employees of Tagaytay Highlands
International Golf Club Incorporated (THIGCI) filed a petition for certification election
before the DOLE.
2. THIGCI, opposed THEU's petition for certification 􏰂election on the ground that
a. the list of union members submitted by it was defective and fatally 􏰂awed
as it included the names and signatures of supervisors, resigned,
terminated and absent without leave (AWOL) employees,
b. it also included employees of The Country Club, Inc., a corporation distinct
and separate from THIGCI;
c. that out of the 192 signatories to the petition, only 71 were actual rank-
and-file employees of THIGCI.
d. that some of the signatures in the list of union members were secured
through fraudulent and deceitful means
3. THEU asserted that it had complied with all the requirements for valid a􏰂liation and
inclusion in the roster of legitimate labor organizations pursuant to DOLE
Department Order No. 9 and on account of which it was duly granted a Certi􏰂cation
of Affiliation by DOLE med-arbiter on October 10, 1997
a. That Section 5, Rule V of said Department Order provides that the
legitimacy of its registration cannot be subject to collateral attack, and for
as long as there is no final order of cancellation, it continues to enjoy the
rights accorded to a legitimate organization.
4. THEU thus concluded in its Reply that under the circumstances, the Med-Arbiter
should automatically order the conduct of a certification election.
5. By Order of January 28, 1998, DOLE Med-Arbiter ordered the holding of a
certi􏰂cation election among the rank-and-file employees of THIGCI
6. THIGCI appealed to the Office of the DOLE Secretary
7. The DOLE Secretary dismissed the petition for certi􏰂cation election on the ground
that
a. there is a "clear absence of community or mutuality of interests," it 􏰂nding
that THEU sought to represent two separate bargaining units (supervisory
employees and rank-and-􏰂le employees) as well as employees of two
separate and distinct corporate entities.
8. THEU filed an MR - it was granted, former resolution is set aside.
9. THIGCI filed filed a petition for certiorari in the SC.
ISSUE:
W/N rank-and-files employees can be joined with supervisory employees in a labor union - No
W/N THEU’s legal personality can be subject to a collateral attack - NO
RATIO:
Prohibition Against Supervisory employees in a rank-and-file union
 Article 245. Ineligibility of managerial employees to join any labor organization; right
of supervisory employees. — Managerial employees are not eligible to join, assist or
form any labor organization. Supervisory employees shall not be eligible for
membership in a labor organization of the rank-and-􏰂le employees but may join,
assist or form separate labor organizations of their own.
 While above-quoted Article 245 expressly prohibits supervisory employees from
joining a rank-and-􏰂le union, it does not provide what would be the effect if a rank-
and-􏰂le union counts supervisory employees among its members, or vice-versa.
 a labor organization composed of both rank-and- 􏰂le and supervisory employees is
no labor organization at all,
 The Labor Code requires that in organized and unorganized establishments, a
petition for certi􏰂cation election must be 􏰂led by a legitimate labor organization.
The acquisition of rights by any union or labor organization, particularly the right to
􏰂le a petition for certi􏰂cation election, 􏰂rst and foremost, depends on whether or
not the labor organization has attained the status of a legitimate labor organization.
Certificate of Registration/ Legal Personality
 After a certi􏰂cate of registration is issued to a union, its legal personality cannot be
subject to collateral attack. It may be questioned only in an independent petition for
cancellation in accordance with Section 5 of Rule V, Book IV of the "Rules to
Implement the Labor Code
 Sec. 5. Effect of registration. The labor organization or workers' association shall be
deemed registered and vested with legal personality on the date of issuance of its
certi􏰂cate of registration. Such legal personality cannot thereafter be subject to
collateral attack, but may be questioned only in an independent petition for
cancellation in accordance with these Rules.
 The inclusion in a union of disquali􏰂ed employees is not among the grounds for
cancellation, unless such inclusion is due to misrepresentation, false statement or
fraud under the circumstances enumerated in Sections (a) and (c) of Article 239 of
above- quoted Article 239 of the Labor Code.
 THEU, having been validly issued a certi􏰂cate of registration, should be considered
to have already acquired juridical personality which may not be assailed collaterally.
WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby DISMISSED. The assailed Decisions are hereby AFFIRMED.
Costs against petitioners.