G.R. No.

L-66890 April 15, 1988

HERMINIO FLORES and HERMINIA FLORES, petitioners,
vs.
FUNERARIA NUESTRO and /or FORTUNATO NUESTRO and the
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION, respondents
FACTS: Spouses Herminio and Herminia Flores worked for Fortunato Nuestro
in his funeral parlor known as Funeraria Nuestro, respectively, as helperutility man and as bookkeeper, embalmer and cashier. The petitioners were
given living quarters right inside the compound of the funeral parlor. On
October 30,1982, Herminio and Fortunato had an altercation, during which
the former was physically assaulted by the latter and suffered a punctured
wound. Herminio filed an action for slight physical injuries against
respondent. As a result of the incident and fearing for his safety, Herminio,
together with his family, was compelled to vacate his living quarters.
Petitioners then file a complaint for illegal dismissal.
ISSUE: Was there an employer-employee relationship?
HELD: Yes. Respondent had registered the petitioners with the Social
Security System is proof that they were indeed his employees. The coverage
of Social Security Law is predicated on the existence of an employeremployee relationship.