Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-16403            October 30, 1961

SAN MIGUEL BREWERY, INC., (Magnolia Dairy Products Plant) and JOSE CUISIA, petitioners,
vs.
JESUS BETIA and COURT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, respondents.

Ponce Enrile, Siguion Reyna, Montecillo and Belo for petitioners.
Cipriano Cid and Associates for respondent Jesus Betia.
Marino B. Tuason for respondent Court of Industrial Relations.

CONCEPCION, J.:

Original action for certiorari and prohibition.

On April 28, 1959 respondent Jesus J. Betia, an employee of petitioner San Miguel Brewery, Inc. — a corporation duly organized and existing under the Philippine laws — filed with respondent Court of Industrial Relations a complaint for the recovery of compensation for overtime services allegedly rendered to said petitioner, which owns and operates the Magnolia Dairy Products Plant, of which the other petitioner, Jose Cuisia, is the manager. Said petitioners moved to dismiss the complaint upon the ground of want of jurisdiction over the subject matter of said pleading. The motion was denied by an order dated September 28, 1959, whereupon petitioner moved for a reconsideration thereof, which was, also, denied on December 9, 1959. Hence, this petition for certiorari and prohibition, upon the theory that the respondent court has no jurisdiction over claims for overtime pay.

The petition is clearly devoid of merit, the issue therein raised having been definitely settled in Price Stabilization Corporation (PRISCO) vs. Court of Industrial Relations, et al., G.R. No. L-13806 (May 23, 1960), in which we held:

. . . that where the employer-employee relationship is still existing or is sought to be reestablished because of the wrongful severance (as where the employee seeks reinstatement), the Court of Industrial Relations has jurisdiction over all claims arising out of, or in connection with employment, such as those related to the Minimum Wage Law and the Eight-Hour Labor Law. After the termination of the relationship and no reinstatement is sought, such claims become mere money claims, and come within the jurisdiction of the regular courts. (Emphasis supplied.)

This view was adhered to in Manila Port Service, et al. v. Court of Industrial Relations, et al., G.R. No. L-16994 (June 30, 1961), Philippine Wood Products, et al. v. Court of Industrial Relations, et al., L-15270 (June 30, 1961), Pan American World Airways System (Philippines) v. Pan American Employees Association, L-16275 (February 23, 1961), Ajax International Corporation v. Seguritan, et al., L-16038 (October 25, 1960), and Sampaguita Pictures, Inc., et al. v. Court of Industrial Relations, et al., L-16404 (October 25, 1960), apart from the fact that it had been applied previously in Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions (PAFLU), et al. v. Tan, et al., L-9115 (Aug. 31, 1956), Detective and Protective Bureau Incorporated v. Guevara, et al., L-8738 (May 31, 1957), Isaac Peral Bowling Alleys v. United Employees Welfare Association, et at., L-9831 (Oct. 30, 1957), National Shipyards and Steel Corporation v. Almin, L-9055 (Nov. 28, 1958), Monares v. CNS Enterprises, et al., L-11749 (May 29, 1959) and National Shipyards and Steel Corporation v. Court of Industrial Relations, et al., L-13888 (April 29, 1960).

WHEREFORE, this case is hereby dismissed, and the petition denied, with costs against petitioner San Miguel Brewery, Inc. It is so ordered.

Bengzon, C.J., Bautista Angelo, Labrador, Reyes, J.B.L., Paredes, Dizon and De Leon, JJ., concur.
Padilla and Barrera, JJ., took no part.


The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation