Ando v. Campo 254
Ando v. Campo 254
Ando v. Campo 254
FACTS: Paquito V. Ando was the president of Premier Allied and Contracting Services,
Inc. (PACSI), an independent labor contractor. Respondents filed a case for illegal
dismissal and some money claims with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
The Labor Arbiter ruled in respondents’ favor. PACSI and petitioner were directed to pay
respondents’ separation pay and the award of attorney’s fees.
Upon finality of the decision, respondents moved for its execution. To answer for the
monetary award, NLRC Acting Sheriff issued a Notice of Sale on Execution of Personal
Property over the property in the name of “Paquito V. Ando x x x married to Erlinda S.
Ando.”, prompting petitioner to file an action for prohibition and damages with prayer
for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) before the RTC Branch 50, Bacolod
City. Petitioner claimed that the property belonged to him and his wife, not to the
corporation, and, hence, could not be subject of the execution sale. Since it is the
corporation that was the judgment debtor, execution should be made on the latter’s
properties.
The RTC denied the prayer for a TRO, holding that the trial court had no jurisdiction to try
and decide the case. The RTC ruled that, pursuant to the NLRC Manual on the Execution
of Judgment, petitioner’s remedy was to file a third-party claim with the NLRC Sheriff.
Petitioner did not file a motion for reconsideration of the RTC Order. Instead, he filed a
petition for certiorari under Rule 65 before the CA. He contended that the RTC acted
without or in excess of jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or
excess of jurisdiction in issuing the Order. Petitioner argued that the writ of execution was
issued improvidently or without authority since the property to be levied belonged to him
– in his personal capacity – and his wife. The RTC, respondent contended, could stay the
execution of a judgment if the same was unjust. He also contended that, pursuant to a
ruling of this Court, a third party who is not a judgment creditor may choose between
filing a third-party claim with the NLRC sheriff or filing a separate action with the courts.
ISSUE: WON the Petitioner can choose between filing a third-party claim with the sheriff
of the NLRC or filing a separate action.
HELD:NO, but his petition in meritorious and, justice demands that this Court look beyond
his procedural missteps and grant the petition.
The Court has long recognized that regular courts have no jurisdiction to hear and decide
questions which arise from and are incidental to the enforcement of decisions, orders, or
awards rendered in labor cases by appropriate officers and tribunals of the Department
of Labor and Employment.
Thus, it is, first and foremost, the NLRC Manual on the Execution of Judgment that governs
any question on the execution of a judgment of that body. Petitioner need not look
further than that. The Rules of Court apply only by analogy or in a suppletory character.