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THIRDDIVISION

TAKATA (PHILIPPINES)G.R.No.196276
CORPORATION,
Petitioner, Present:

VELASCO,JR.,J,Chairperson,
versus PERALTA,
VILLARAMA,JR., *
MENDOZA,and
BUREAUOFLABORRELATIONS LEONEN,JJ.
and SAMAHANG LAKAS
MANGGAGAWANGTAKATA
(SALAMAT), Promulgated:
Respondents.
J~14

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PERALTA,J.:

Beforeusisapetitionforreviewoncertiorarifiledbypetitioner
1
TAKATAPhilippinesCorporationassailingtheDecision datedDecember
2
22,2010andtheResolution datedMarch28,2011oftheCourtofAppeals
inCAG.R.SPNo.112406.

OnJuly7,2009,petitionerfiledwiththeDepartmentofLaborand
3
Employment(DOLE)RegionalOfficeaPetition forCancellationofthe
CertificateofUnionRegistrationofRespondentSamahangLakas
ManggagawangTakata(SALAMA1)onthegroundthatthelatterisguiltyof
misrepresentation,falsestatementandfraudwithrespecttothenumberof
thosewhoparticipatedintheorganizationalmeeting,theadoptionand

DesignatedActingMember,perSpecialOrderNo.1691,datedMay22,2014.
PennedbyAssociateJusticeFioritoS.Macalino,withAssociate.JusticesJuanQ.Enriquez,Jrand
RamonM.Bato,Jr.,concurringrollo,pp.328336.
2
Id.at375376.
Id.at4867.

Page2

Decision 2 G.R.No.196276

ratificationofitsConstitutionandByLaws,andintheelectionofits
officers.ItcontendedthatintheMay1,2009organizationalmeetingof
respondent,only68attendeessignedtheattendancesheet,andwhich
numbercomprisedonly17%ofthetotalnumberofthe396regularrank
andfileemployeeswhichrespondentsoughttorepresent,andhence,
respondentfailedtocomplywiththe20%minimummembership
requirement.PetitionerinsistedthatthedocumentPangalanngmgaKasapi
ngUnyonborenosignaturesofthealleged119unionmembersandthat
employeeswerenotgivensufficientinformationonthedocumentsthey
signedthatthedocumentSamaSamangPahayagngPagsapiwasnot
submittedatthetimeofthefilingofrespondent'sapplicationforunion
registrationthatthe119unionmemberswereactuallyonly117and,that
thetotalnumberofpetitioner'semployeesasofMay1,2009was470,and
not396asrespondentclaimed.4
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Respondentdeniedthechargeandclaimedthatthe119union
membersweremorethanthe20%requirementforunionregistration.The
documentSamaSamangPahayagngPagsapisaUnyonwhichitpresented
initspetitionforcertificationelection5 supportedtheirclaimof119
members.Respondentalsocontendedthatpetitionerwasestoppedfrom
assailingitslegalpersonalityasitagreedtoacertificationelectionand
activelyparticipatedinthepreelectionconferenceofthecertification
electionproceedings.6 Respondentarguedthattheunionmemberswere
informedofthecontentsofthedocumentstheysignedandthatthe68
attendeestotheorganizationalmeetingconstitutedmorethan50%ofthe
totalunionmembership,hence,aquorumexistedfortheconductofthesaid
meeting.7

OnAugust27,2009,DOLERegionalDirector,Atty.RicardoS.
Martinez,Sr.,issuedaDecision8grantingthepetitionforcancellationof
respondent'scertificateofregistration,thedispositiveportionofwhich
reads:

WHEREFORE,fromtheforegoingconsiderations,thepetitionis
herebyGRANTED.Accordingly,therespondentUnionCertificateof
RegistrationNo.RO400A20090501URLAG,datedMay19,2009is
herebyREVOCKED(sic)and/orCANCELLEDpursuanttoparagraph(a)&
(b),Section3,RuleXIVofDepartmentOrderNo.4003andtheSamahang
LakasngManggagawangTAKATA(SALAMAT)isherebydelistedfrom
therolloflegitimatelabororganizationofthisoffice.9

4
AnnexD,ReplytoComment,id.at7383.
5
DocketedasRO400A0905LAGRU004
6
Rollo,pp.6872.
7
Id.at8489.
8
Id.at9098DocketedasRO400A0904RFOAU001.
9
Id.at98.

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Decision 3 G.R.No.196276

Inrevokingrespondent'scertificateofregistration,theRegional
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Directorfoundthatthe68employeeswhoattendedtheorganizational
meetingwasobviouslylessthan20%ofthetotalnumberof396regular
rankandfileemployeeswhichrespondentsoughttorepresent,hence,short
oftheunionregistrationrequirementthattheattendancesheetwhich
containedthesignaturesandnamesoftheunionmemberstotallingto68
contradictedthelistofnamesstatedinthedocumentdenominatedas
PangalanngmgaKasapingUnyon.ThedocumentSamaSamang
PahayagngPagsapiwasnotattachedtotheapplicationforregistrationasit
wasonlysubmittedinthepetitionforcertificationelectionfiledby
respondentatalaterdate.TheRegionalDirectoralsofoundthatthe
proceedingsinthecancellationofregistrationandcertificationelectionsare
twodifferentandentirelyseparateandindependentproceedingswhichwere
notdependentoneachother.

Dissatisfied,respondent,throughBukluranngManggagawang
Pilipino(BMP)ParalegalOfficer,DomingoP.Mole,filedaNoticeand
MemorandumofAppeal10withtheBureauofLaborRelations(BLR).
However,onSeptember28,2009,respondent,throughitscounsels,Attys.
NapoleonC.Banzuela,Jr.andJehnLouieW.Velandrez,filedanAppeal
MemorandumwithFormalEntryofAppearance11totheOfficeofthe
DOLESecretary,whichthelattereventuallyreferredtotheBLR.Petitioner
filedanOppositiontotheAppeals12prayingfortheirdismissalonthe
groundofforumshoppingasrespondentfiledtwoseparateappealsintwo
separatevenuesandforfailingtoavailofthecorrectremedywithinthe
periodandthatthecertificateofregistrationwastaintedwithfraud,
misrepresentationandfalsification.

InitsAnswer,13respondentclaimedthattherewasnoforumshopping
asBMP'sParalegalOfficerwasnolongerauthorizedtofileanappealon
behalfofrespondentasthelatter'slinkwithBMPwasalreadyterminated
andonlytheUnionPresidentwasauthorizedtofiletheappealandthatit
compliedwithDepartmentOrderNo.4003.

OnDecember9,2009,afterconsideringrespondent'sAppeal
MemorandumwithFormalEntryofAppearanceandpetitioner'sAnswer,the
BLRrendereditsDecision14reversingtheOrderoftheRegionalDirector,
thedecretalportionofwhichreads:

10
Id.at99107.
11
Id.at108119.
12
Id.at120186.
13

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14
Id.at187189.
Id.at191196PerDirectorIVRebeccaC.ChatoDocketedasBLRAC4310109.

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Decision 4 G.R.No.196276

WHEREFORE,theappealisherebyGRANTED.TheDecisionof
RegionalDirectorRicardoS.Martinez,Sr.,dated27August2009,ishereby
REVERSEDandSETASIDE.

Accordingly,SamahangLakasManggagawangTAKATA
(SALAMAT)shallremainintherosteroflabororganizations.15

Inreversing,theBLRfoundthatpetitionerfailedtoprovethat
respondentdeliberatelyandmaliciouslymisrepresentedthenumberofrank
andfileemployees.Itpointedoutpetitioner'sbasisfortheallegednon
compliancewiththeminimummembershiprequirementforregistrationwas
theattendanceof68memberstotheMay1,2009organizationalmeeting
supposedlycomprisingonly17%ofthetotal396regularrankandfile
employees.However,theBLRfoundthatthelistofemployeeswho
participatedintheorganizationalmeetingwasaseparateanddistinct
requirementfromthelistofthenamesofmemberscomprisingatleast20%
oftheemployeesinthebargainingunitandthattherewasnorequirement
forsignaturesoppositethenamesoftheunionmembersandtherewasno
evidenceshowingthattheemployeesassailedtheirinclusioninthelistof
unionmembers.

Petitionerfiledamotionforreconsideration,whichwasdeniedbythe
BLRinaResolution16datedJanuary8,2010.

Undaunted,petitionerwenttotheCAviaapetitionforcertiorari
underRule65.

Afterthesubmissionoftheparties'respectivepleadings,thecasewas
submittedfordecision.

OnDecember22,2010,theCArendereditsassaileddecisionwhich

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deniedthepetitionandaffirmedthedecisionoftheBLR.Petitioner'smotion
forreconsiderationwasdeniedinaResolutiondatedMarch29,2011.

Hencethispetitionforreviewfiledbypetitionerraisingthefollowing
issues,towit:

THEHONORABLECOURTOFAPPEALSCOMMITTEDGRAVE
ANDSERIOUSERRORINAFFIRMINGTHEDECISIONOFPUBLIC
RESPONDENTBLRANDNOTFINDINGANYVIOLATIONBY
SAMAHANGLAKASMANGGAGAWASATAKATA(SALAMAT)OF
THERULEONFORUMSHOPPINGINTHEFILINGOFTWO
VERIFIEDAPPEALSFORANDITSBEHALF.BOTHOFTHE

15
Id.at196.(Emphasisintheoriginal)
16
Id.at233234.

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Decision 5 G.R.No.196276

APPEALSSHOULDHAVEBEENDISMISSEDOUTRIGHTBY
PUBLICRESPONDENTBLR,ONGROUNDOFFORUMSHOPPING.

THEHONORABLECOURTOFAPPEALSSERIOUSLYERREDIN
FINDINGTHATTHEAPPLICATIONFORREGISTRATIONOF
SAMAHANGLAKASMANGGAGAWASATAKATA(SALAMAT)
WASCOMPLIANTWITHTHELAW.CONSIDERINGTHE
CIRCUMSTANCESOBTAININGINTHEREGISTRATIONOF
SALAMAT,ITISCLEARTHATTHESAMEISTAINTEDWITH
FRAUD,MISREPRESENTATIONANDFALSIFICATION.SALAMAT
DIDNOTPOSSESSTHEREQUIREDNUMBEROFMEMBERSAT
THETIMEOFFILINGOFITSAPPLICATIONFORREGISTRATION,
HENCE,ITSHOULDBEHELDGUILTYOFMISREPRESENTATION,
ANDFALSESTATEMENTSANDFRAUDINCONNECTION
17
THEREWITH.

Anentthefirstissue,petitionercontendsthatrespondenthadfiledtwo
separateappealswithtwodifferentrepresentationsattwodifferentvenues,
inviolationoftheruleonmultiplicityofsuitsandforumshopping,and
insteadofdismissingbothappeals,theappealerroneouslyfiledbeforethe
LaborSecretarywastheoneheldvalidlyfiled,entertainedandevengranted

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thatitisnotwithinthediscretionofBLRtochoosewhichbetweenthetwo
appealsshouldbeentertained,asitisthefactofthefilingofthetwoappeals
thatisbeingprohibitedandnotwhoamongtherepresentativestherein
possessedtheauthority.

Wearenotpersuaded.

WefindnoerrorcommittedbytheCAinfindingthatrespondent
committednoforumshopping.AstheCAcorrectlyconcluded,towit:

ItisundisputedthatBMPParalegalOfficerDomingoP.Molewas
nolongerauthorizedtofileanappealonbehalfofunionSALAMATandthat
BMPwasdulyinformedthatitsserviceswasalreadyterminated.SALAMAT
evensubmittedbeforetheBLRitsResolusyonBlg.012009terminating
theservicesofBMPandrevokingtherepresentationofMr.DomingoMole
inanyofthependingcasesbeinghandledbyhimonbehalfoftheunion.So,
consideringthatBMPParalegalOfficerDomingoP.Molewasnolonger
authorizedtofileanappealwhenitfiledtheNoticeandMemorandumof
AppealtoDOLERegionalOfficeNo.IVA,thesamecannolongerbe
treatedasanappealfiledbyunionSALAMAT.Hence,thereisnoforum
shoppingtospeakofinthiscaseasonlytheAppealMemorandumwith
FormalEntryofAppearancefiledbyAtty.NapoleonC.Banzuela,Jr.and
Atty.JehnLouieW.VelandrezissanctionedbySALAMAT.18

17
Id.at1718.
18
Id.at333.

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Decision 6 G.R.No.196276

SinceMole'sappealfiledwiththeBLRwasnotspecifically
authorizedbyrespondent,suchappealisconsideredtohavenotbeenfiledat
all.Ithasbeenheldthatifacomplaintisfiledforandinbehalfofthe
plaintiffwhoisnotauthorizedtodoso,thecomplaintisnotdeemedfiled.
Anunauthorizedcomplaintdoesnotproduceanylegaleffect.19

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RespondentthroughitsauthorizedrepresentativefileditsAppeal
MemorandumwithFormalEntryofAppearancebeforetheLaborSecretary,
andnotwiththeBLR.Astheappealemanatedfromthepetitionfor
cancellationofcertificateofregistrationfiledwiththeRegionalOffice,the
decisioncancelingtheregistrationisappealabletotheBLR,andnotwiththe
LaborSecretary.However,sincetheLaborSecretarymotupropioreferred
theappealwiththeBLR,thelattercannowactonit.Consideringthat
Mole'sappealwiththeBLRwasnotdeemedfiled,respondentsappeal,
throughBanzuelaandAssociates,whichtheLaborSecretaryreferredtothe
BLRwastheonlyexistingappealwiththeBLRforresolution.Thereis,
therefore,nomerittopetitioner'sclaimthatBLRchosetheappealof
BanzuelaandAssociatesoverMole'sappeal.

ThecaseofAbbottLaboratoriesPhilippines,Inc.v.Abbott
LaboratoriesEmployeesUnion20citedbypetitionerisnotatallapplicablein
thiscaseastheissuethereinistheauthorityoftheLaborSecretaryto
reviewthedecisionoftheBureauofLaborRelationsrenderedinthe
exerciseofitsappellatejurisdictionoverdecisionoftheRegionalDirector
incasesinvolvingcancellationsofcertificateofregistrationoflaborunions.
WefoundnograveabuseofdiscretioncommittedbytheSecretaryofLabor
innotactingonthereinpetitioner'sappeal.ThedecisionoftheBureauof
LaborRelationsoncasesbroughtbeforeitonappealfromtheRegional
Directorarefinalandexecutory.Hence,theremedyoftheaggrievedpartyis
toseasonablyavailofthespecialcivilactionofcertiorariunderRule65and
theRulesofCourt.Inthiscase,aftertheLaborSecretarymotupropio
referredrespondent'sappealfiledwithittotheBLRwhichrenderedits
decisionreversingtheRegionalDirector,petitionerwentdirectlytotheCA
viaapetitionforcertiorariunderRule65.

Astothesecondissue,petitionerseeksthecancellationof
respondent'sregistrationongroundsoffraudandmisrepresentationbearing
ontheminimumrequirementofthelawastoitsmembership,considering
thebigdisparityinnumbers,betweentheorganizationalmeetingandthelist
ofmembers,andsomisleadingtheBLRthatitobtainedtheminimum
requirednumberofemployeesforpurposesoforganizationandregistration.

19
Tamondongv.CourtofAppeals,486Phil.729,741(2004).
20
380Phil.364(2000).

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Decision 7 G.R.No.196276

Wefindnomeritinthearguments.

Art.234oftheLaborCodeprovides:

ART.234.RequirementsofRegistration.Afederation,national
unionorindustryortradeunioncenteroranindependentunionshall
acquirelegalpersonalityandshallbeentitledtotherightsandprivileges
grantedbylawtolegitimatelabororganizationsuponissuanceofthe
certificateofregistrationbasedonthefollowingrequirements:

(a)Fiftypesos(P50.00)registrationfee
(b)Thenamesofitsofficers,theiraddresses,theprincipal
addressofthelabororganization,theminutesofthe
organizationalmeetingsandthelistoftheworkerswho
participatedinsuchmeetings
(c)Incasetheapplicantisanindependentunion,thenames
ofallitsmemberscomprisingatleasttwentypercent(20%)
ofalltheemployeesinthebargainingunitwhereitseeksto
operate
(d)Iftheapplicantunionhasbeeninexistenceforoneor
moreyears,copiesofitsannualfinancialreportsand
(e)Fourcopiesoftheconstitutionandbylawsofthe
applicantunion,minutesofitsadoptionorratification,and
thelistofthememberswhoparticipatedinit."

Andaftertheissuanceofthecertificateofregistration,thelabor
organization'sregistrationcouldbeassaileddirectlythroughcancellationof
registrationproceedingsinaccordancewithArticles238and239ofthe
LaborCode.Andthecancellationofunioncertificateofregistrationandthe
groundsthereofareasfollows:

ART.238.CancellationofRegistration.Thecertificateof
registrationofanylegitimatelabororganization,whethernationalorlocal,
maybecancelledbytheBureau,afterduehearing,onlyonthegrounds
specifiedinArticle239hereof.

ART.239.GroundsforCancellationofUnionRegistration.The
followingmayconstitutegroundsforcancellationofunionregistration:

(a)Misrepresentation,falsestatementorfraudin
connectionwiththeadoptionorratificationofthe
constitutionandbylawsoramendmentsthereto,the
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minutesofratification,andthelistofmemberswhotook
partintheratification
(b)Misrepresentation,falsestatementsorfraudin
connectionwiththeelectionofofficers,minutesofthe
electionofofficers,andthelistofvoters
(c)Voluntarydissolutionbythemembers.

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Decision 8 G.R.No.196276

Petitioner'schargethatrespondentcommittedmisrepresentation
andfraudinsecuringitscertificateofregistrationisaseriouschargeand
mustbecarefullyevaluated.Allegationsthereofshouldbecompounded
withsupportingcircumstancesandevidence.21Wefindnoevidenceon
recordtosupportpetitioner'saccusation.

Petitioner'sallegationofmisrepresentationandfraudisbasedonits
claimthatduringtheorganizationalmeetingonMay1,2009,only68
employeesattended,whilerespondentclaimedthatithas119membersas
showninthedocumentdenominatedasPangalanngmgaKasaping
Unyonhence,respondentmisrepresentedonthe20%requirementofthe
lawastoitsmembership.

Wedonotagree.

ItdoesnotappearinArticle234(b)oftheLaborCodethatthe
attendeesintheorganizationalmeetingmustcomprise20%ofthe
employeesinthebargainingunit.Infact,eventheImplementingRulesand
RegulationsoftheLaborCodedoesnotsoprovide.ItisonlyunderArticle
234(c)thatrequiresthenamesofallitsmemberscomprisingatleasttwenty
percent(20%)ofalltheemployeesinthebargainingunitwhereitseeksto
operate.Clearly,the20%minimumrequirementpertainstotheemployees
membershipintheunionandnottothelistofworkerswhoparticipatedin
theorganizationalmeeting.Indeed,Article234(b)and(c)providefor
separaterequirements,whichmustbesubmittedfortheunion'sregistration,
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andwhichrespondentdidsubmit.Here,thetotalnumberofemployeesin
thebargainingunitwas396,and20%ofwhichwasabout79.Respondent
submittedadocumententitledPangalanngMgaKasapingUnyon
showingthenamesof119employeesasunionmembers,thusrespondent
sufficientlycompliedevenbeyondthe20%minimummembership
requirement.Respondentalsosubmittedtheattendancesheetofthe
organizationalmeetingwhichcontainedthenamesandsignaturesofthe68
unionmemberswhoattendedthemeeting.Consideringthatthereare119
unionmemberswhicharemorethan20%ofalltheemployeesofthe
bargainingunit,andsincethelawdoesnotprovidefortherequirednumber
ofmemberstoattendtheorganizationalmeeting,the68attendeeswhich
comprisedatleastthemajorityofthe119unionmemberswouldalready
constituteaquorumforthemeetingtoproceedandtovalidlyratifythe
ConstitutionandBylawsoftheunion.Thereis,therefore,nobasisfor
petitionertocontendthatgroundsexistforthecancellationofrespondent's
unionregistration.Forfraudandmisrepresentationtobegroundsfor
cancellationofunionregistrationunderArticle239oftheLaborCode,the

21
SanMiguelCorporationEmployeesUnionPhil.TransportandGeneralWorkersOrg.v.San
MiguelPackagingProductsEmployeesUnionPambansangDiwangManggagawangPilipino,559Phil.
549,566567(2007).

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Decision 9 G.R.No.196276

natureofthefraudandmisrepresentationmustbegraveandcompelling
enoughtovitiatetheconsentofamajorityofunionmembers.22

Petitioner'sclaimthattheallegedunionmemberssigneddocuments
withoutadequateinformationisnotpersuasive.Theonewhoallegesafact
hastheburdenofprovingitandamereallegationisnotevidence.23Infact,
wenotethatnotoneofthoselistedinthedocumentdenominatedas
PangalanngMgaKasapingUnyonhadcomeforwardtodenytheir
membershipwithrespondent.Notably,ithadnotbeenrebuttedthatthe
sameunionmembershadsignedthedocumententitledSamaSamang
PahayagngPagsapi,thus,strengtheningtheirdesiretobemembersofthe
respondentunion.

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Petitionerclaimsthatinthelistofmembers,therewasanemployee
whosenameappearedtwiceandanotheremployeewhowasmerelyaproject
employee.Suchcouldnotbeconsideredamisrepresentationintheabsence
ofshowingthatrespondentdeliberatelydidsoforthepurposeofincreasing
theirunionmembership.Infact,evenifthosetwonameswerenotincluded
inthelistofunionmembers,therewouldstillbe117memberswhichwas
stillmorethan20%ofthe396rankandfileemployees.

Astopetitioner'sargumentthatthetotalnumberofitsemployeesasof
May1,2009was470,andnot396asrespondentclaimed,stillthe117union
memberscomprisedmorethanthe20%membershiprequirementfor
respondent'sregistration.

InMariwasaSiamCeramicsv.SecretaryoftheDepartmentofLabor
andEmployment,24wesaid:

Forthepurposeofdecertifyingaunionsuchasrespondent,itmust
beshownthattherewasmisrepresentation,falsestatementorfraudin
connectionwiththeadoptionorratificationoftheconstitutionandbylaws
oramendmentsthereto,theminutesofratificationor,inconnectionwiththe
electionofofficers,theminutesoftheelectionofofficers,thelistofvoters,
orfailuretosubmitthesedocumentstogetherwiththelistofthenewly
electedappointedofficersandtheirpostaladdressestotheBLR.

Thebarefactthattwosignaturesappearedtwiceonthelistofthose
whoparticipatedintheorganizationalmeetingwouldnot,toourmind,
provideavalidreasontocancelrespondentscertificateofregistration.The
cancellationofaunionsregistrationdoubtlesshasanimpairingdimension
ontherightoflabortoselforganization.Forfraudandmisrepresentation

22
MariwasaSiamCeramics,Inc.v.SecretaryoftheDepartmentofLaborandEmployment,G.R.No.
183317,December21,2009,608SCRA706,716(2009).
23
P.T.CernaCorporationv.CourtofAppeals,G..R.No.91622,April6,1993,221SCRA19,25.
24
Supranote22.

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Decision 10 G.R.No.196276

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tobegroundsforcancellationofunionregistrationundertheLaborCode,
thenatureofthefraudandmisrepresentationmustbegraveandcompelling
enoughtovitiatetheconsentofamajorityofunionmembers.

Inthiscase,weagreewiththeBLRandtheCAthatrespondent
couldnothavepossiblycommittedmisrepresentation,fraud,orfalse
statements.Theallegedfailureofrespondenttoindicatewithmathematical
precisionthetotalnumberofemployeesinthebargainingunitisofno
moment,especiallyasitwasabletocomplywiththe20%minimum
membershiprequirement.Evenifthetotalnumberofrankandfile
employeesofpetitioneris528,whilerespondentdeclaredthatitshould
onlybe455,itstillcannotbedeniedthatthelatterwouldhavemorethan
25
compliedwiththeregistrationrequirement.

WHEREFORE,premisesconsidered,thepetlt10nforreviewis
DENIED.TheDecisiondatedDecember22,2010andtheResolutiondated
March28,2011oftheCourtofAppeals,inCAG.R.SPNo.112406,are
AFFIRMED.

SOORDERED.

WECONCUR:

PRESBITE0J.VELASCO,JR.
AociateJustice
Chairperson

~VILLA~ JOSE CAT~NDOZA

Asso~~ftice
AssociateJus

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25
Id.at 715716.

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Decision 11 G.R.No.196276

AssociateJustice

ATTESTATION

IattestthattheconclusionsintheaboveDecisionhadbeenreachedin
consultationbeforethecasewasassignedtothewriteroftheinionofthe
Court'sDivision.

PRESBITERJ.VELASCO,JR.
AssciateJustice
Chairpson,ThirdDivision

CERTIFICATION

PursuanttoSection13,ArticleVIIIoftheConstitutionandthe
DivisionChairperson'sAttestation,Icertifythattheconclusionsintheabove
Decisionhadbeenreachedinconsultationbeforethecasewasassignedto
thewriteroftheopinionoftheCourt'sDivision.
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MARIALOURDESP.A.SERENO
ChiefJustice

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