REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regional Arbitration Branch No III
Cit! o" San Fernan#o$ Pa%&anga

ROSALINA ' DOMIN(O$

Co%&lainant$

)er*+* NLRC CASE No RAB III ,-./0-/1.02

3Labor Arbiter4 Hon Lean#ro M 5o*e6

MECTAP INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENT SER'ICES INC$

Re*&on#ent*
7.........................
7......................................
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POSITION PAPER

RESPONDENTS $ b! co
co+n
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l$ +n
+nto
to th
thi*
i* Ho
Hono
nora
rabl
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re*&ect"+ll!
re*&ect"+ll! *tate4

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND

RELEVANT ANTECEDENTS

0 Co%&laina
nan
nt a&
a&&&lie# a* a Do%e*tic Hel&er 9ith
re*&on#ent MECTAP "or it* "oreign &rinci&al in Mala!*ia She
9a* gi)en the &ro&er orientation an# %a#e to co%&l! 9ith
the nee#e# re:+ire%ent*

/ Co%&
Co%&la
laiina
nant
nt agr
agree# tha
thatt her
her %ont
%onthlhl!
! *alar
*alar!
! *hall
*hall
be On
One e Th
Tho+
o+*a
*an#
n# T9o H+ H+n#
n#rre# Ma
Malala!*
!*ia
ian
n RiRing
nggi
gitt 3R
3RM
M
0$/,,oo6$ 9hich i* e:+i)alent to US;2,,oo$ an# to be &ai#
in Mala!*ian Ringgit$ a* e)i#ence# b! the 5ob De*cri&tion
#+l! *igne# b! co%&lainant$ a &hotoco&! o" 9hich i* hereto
attache#
attach e# an# %ar<e# a* Anne7 =A=A>

1 U&o
&on
n *+b
+b%i
%i**
**iion b! co%
co%&la
lain
inan
antt to re*&
re*&on
on#e
#ent
nt*
*
o" her &a&er* an# tra)el #oc+%ent*$ co%&lainant *igne# an
o)er*ea* e%&lo!%ent contract an# the *a%e 9a* &roce**e#
b! re
re*&o
*&on#e
n#ent
nt 9it
9ith
h POE
POEA A 9hi
9hich
ch e)e
e)ent+a
nt+alll
lll!
! a&&
a&&ro
ro)e#
)e# her
&a&er* "or #e&lo!%ent to Mala!*ia?

2 Co%&lainant #i# n ot &a! &lace%ent "ee to

re*&on#ent*?
 @ On A&ril /$ /,01$ re*&on#ent #e&lo!e#
co%&lainant to Mala!*ia to her agree# e%&lo!er an# at their
agree# %onthl! *alar!?

 Co%&lainant 9a* gi)en the &ac<age o"  

co%&en*ation 9hich 9a* agree# +&on an# a* *tate# in her
o)er*ea* e%&lo!%ent contract She 9a* treate# 9ell in
ter%* o" "oo#$ *helter an# #ignit!$ ho9e)er$ co%&lainant ran
a9a!

 E)ent+all!$ 9hen co%&lainant an# re*&on#ent

e%&lo!er %et$ the! entere# into a *ettle%ent be"ore the
O8ce o" the Labor Attache$ in 9hich the! entere# into a
co%&ro%i*e agree%ent to *ettle their #ierence*

- Re*&on#ent e%&lo!er &ai# to Co%&lainant her la*t

*alar! an# other %one! #+e her 9hich a%o+nte# to in the
total a%o+nt o" RM 0$,,oo a* "+ll an# co%&lete &a!%ent
o" the re%aining o" her *alarie* an# all her re%aining
%onetar! clai%* "ro% re*&on#ent e%&lo!er The recei&t
*tate*4

=Thi* i* to ac<on9le#ge recei&t o" One Tho+*an#

Se)en H+n#re#* RM 3RM 0$,,6 "ro% AP
SRIMANISA a* &a!%ent "or %! *alar!

  3Signe#6
ROSALINA DOMIN(O

A &hotoco&! o" 9hich i* hereto attache# an# %ar<e# a*

Annex “B”

 Co%&lainant recei)e# all her *alarie* an#

e7ec+te# = A8#a)it o" Relea*e$ ai)er  G+itclai%>
Co%&lainant *tate# in her G+itclai%* a* "ollo9*4

“I, ROSALINA DOMINGO, of legal age,

Single/Maie!, Fili"ino an! #i$% P%ili""ine
A!!e&& a$ Ri'al, N(e)a E*i+a, an! Mala&ian
A!!e&& a$ -. alan SS0/12 Pe$aling aa,
af$e %a)ing 3een !(l &#on $o la#, !e"o&e
an! &a4

.5 T%a$ I %ee3 ie)o*a3l an!

a3&ol($el !i&*%age 6 Mala&ian Agen* 7

2
 SRIMANISA #i$% 3(&ine&& a!!e&& a$ 8(ala
L(6"(, Mala&ia an! 6 P%ili""ine Agen*
MECTAP xxxx, i$& O9*e& an! S$a: fo6 an
an! all lia3ili$ie& an! o3liga$ion& ai&ing fo6
o, *onne*$e! #i$% 6 o)e&ea& e6"lo6en$;

05 T%a$ I %a)e no 6oe *lai6& o

!e6an!&, 6one$a o, o$%e#i&e again&$
&ai! Mala&ian Agen* SRIMANISA an!
P%ili""ine Agen* MECTAP, i$& O9*e& an!
S$a: an! E6"loee& %a)ing 3een <nall
&e$$le! $o 6 *o6"le$e &a$i&fa*$ion;

=5 T%a$ I agee an! (n!e$a>e $o

!e&i&$ fo6 ini$ia$ing, in&$i$($ing an!
"o&e*($ing an &(i$, a*$ion o, "o*ee!ing
again&$ &ai! Mala&ian Agen* SRIMANISA
an! P%ili""ine Agen* i$& O9*e&, S$a: an!
e6"loee& ai&ing fo6 6 o)e&ea&
e6"lo6en$;

?5 T%a$ I (n!e&$an! an! a**e"$ $%a$

$%i& A9!a)i$ &%all *on&$i$($e an! 6a3e
in)o>e! a& $o$al !efen&e in an a*$ion o
"o*ee!ing& 3efoe NATIONAL LABOR
RELATIONS COMMISSION @NLRC 
PILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOMENT
ADMINISTRATION @POEA;

15 T%a$ I %a)e ea! an! (n!e&$oo!

$%e *on$en$& %eeof an! no fa(!, )iolen*e o
in$i6i!a$ion %a& 3een e6"loe! again&$ an
"e&on;

5 T%a$ I a6 exe*($ing $%i& A9!a)i$

>no#ingl, #illingl an! )ol(n$ail $o a$$e&$
$o $%e $($% of $%e foegoing an! fo
#%a$e)e o$%e legal "("o&e& i$ 6a &e)e;

5 T%a$ I f(ll (n!e&$an! $%e a3o)e

$e6& an! *on!i$ion& an! I &ign $%i& A9!a)i$
feel an! )ol(n$ail5”

A &hotoco&! o" her *ai# =A8#a)it o" Relea*e$ ai)er 

G+itclai%> i* hereto attache# an# %ar<e# a* Annex “C”5

3
 0, On No)e%ber /-$ /,01$ co%&lainant ret+rne# bac<
ho%e to the Phili&&ine*?

00 A"ter nine 36 %onth* "ro% her arri)al$ that i*$ on
A+g+*t 00$ /,02$ co%&lainant le# thi* ca*e be"ore thi*
Honorable O8ce a&&arentl! #i*regar#ing her G+ticlai%
be"ore re*&on#ent* an# the O8ce o" the Labor Attache in
Mala!*ai No9$ *he clai%* ACTUAL illegal #i*%i**al$ non.
&a!%ent o" *alar!9age* an# attorne!J* "ee* Hence$ thi*
&o*ition &a&er

III ISSUE

HETHER OR NOT THIS CASE SHOULD BE DISMISSED

BECAUSE COMPLAINANT IS (UILTY OF ESTOPPEL AND
LACHES IN FILIN( THIS CASE A(AINST THE
RESPONDENTS

HETHER OF NOT THERE IS ACTUAL ILLE(AL

DISMISSAL

HETHER OR NOT COMPLAINANT HAS CAUSE OF

ACTION A(AINST THE RESPONDENTS

I' DISCUSSIONS

Ba*ic i* the &rinci&le that he 9ho i* negligent or o%itte# to

a**ert a right 9ithin a rea*onable ti%e i* &re*+%e# that he ha*

either aban#one# or #ecline# to a**ert *+ch a right

 Thi* i* the *a%e *it+ation in thi* ca*e Co%&lainant entere#

into a *ettle%ent 9ith the re*&on#ent an# *he e7ec+te# the

=A8#a)it o" Relea*e$ ai)er  G+itclai%>

In "act$ e)en a"ter *he ret+rne# bac< to the Phili&&ine*$

neither #i# co%&lainant le i%%e#iatel! an! co%&laint "or

+n#er&a!%ent o" *alar! nor #e%an# "ro% the re*&on#ent* her

allege# clai%* She 9aite# the la&*e o" nine 36 %onth* be"ore

co%ing to thi* Honorable O8ce an# le# the &re*ent co%&laint

4
  5+ri*&r+#ence on thi* %atter i* 9ell.*ettle# here a &art!

*lee&* on hi* right* an# allo9* lache* to *et in$ the *a%e i* "atal

to hi* ca*e 3Peri:+et$ 5r )* Inter%e#iate A&&ellate Co+rt$ /1-

SCRA 6

Lache* ha# been #ene# a* the "ail+re or neglect "or an

+nrea*onable an# +ne7&laine# length o" ti%e$ to #o that 9hich b!

e7erci*ing #+e #iligence co+l# or *ho+l# ha)e been #one earlier?

it i* negligence or o%i**ion to a**ert a right 9ithin a rea*onable

ti%e$ 9arranting a &re*+%&tion that the &art! entitle# to a**ert it

either ha* aban#one# it or #ecline# to a**ert it 3OliKon )* Co+rt

o" A&&eal*$ /1 SCRA 02-6

It i* to be note# in thi* ca*e that co%&lainant 9a* #e&lo!e#

on A&ril /$ /,01$ an# a"ter *he entere# into a *ettle%ent 9ith

the e%&lo!er an# recei)ing con*i#eration thereo"$ *he ca%e bac<

to the Phili&&ine* on No)e%ber /-$ /,02 I%%e#iatel! a"ter her

arri)al$ co%&lainant co+l# ha)e le# thi* ca*e be"ore thi*

Honorable O8ce$ b+t *he #i# not$ in*tea#$ onl! a"ter the la&*e o" 

nine 36 %onth*$ that i*$ onl! on A+g+*t 00$ /,02 9hen *he le#

thi* ca*e be"ore thi* Honorable O8ce Thi* #ela!e# action in ling

thi* ca*e i* "atal to co%&lainantJ* ca+*e o" action a* LACHES ha*

alrea#! *et in

 The la9 hel&* the )igilant b+t not tho*e 9ho *lee& on their right*

For ti%e i* a %ean* o" #e*tro!ing obligation* an# action*$ beca+*e

ti%e r+n* again*t the *loth"+l an# conte%ner* o" their o9n right*

3(onKale* )* Inter%e#iate A&&ellate Co+rt$ 0@ SCRA @$ 5an+ar! /$

0--6

5
 Lache* i* the "ail+re or neglect$ "or an +nrea*onable length o" 

ti%e to #o that 9hich b! e7erci*ing #+e #iligence co+l# or *ho+l# ha)e

been #one earlier? it i* negligence or o%i**ion to a**ert a right 9ithin a

rea*onable ti%e 9arranting a &re*+%&tion that the &art! entitle# to

a**ert it ha* either aban#one# it or ha* #ecline# to a**ert it 3Cor%ero

)* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ et al$ /2 SCRA /0 0@? Bailon.Ca*ilao )*

Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ 0, SCRA 1- 0--? 'illa%or )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$

0/ SCRA @2 0--? Marcelino )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ /0, SCRA 222$

22 0/? Ching )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ 0-0 SCRA $ 0 0,6

Lache* ha* al*o been #ene# a* *+ch neglect or o%i**ion to

a**ert a right ta<en in con+nction 9ith the la&*e o" ti%e an# other

circ+%*tance* ca+*ing &re+#ice to an a#)er*e &art!$ a* 9ill o&erate a*

a bar in e:+it! 300 Heir* o" Bationg.Laca%en )* Heir* o" Lar+an$ @

SCRA 0/@ 0@? 'ictoriano )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ 02 SCRA 0$ /2

00? 5acob )* Co+rt o" A&&eal*$ //2 SCRA 0-$ 0 016

 The S+&re%e Co+rt r+le# in Catholic Bishop of Balanga vs Court 

of Appeals, ( /2 SCRA 016,that4

 That &rinci&le o" lache* i* a creation o" e:+it! 9hich$ a* *+ch$ i*

a&&lie# not reall! to &enaliKe neglect or *lee&ing +&on one*

right$ b+t rather to a)oi# recogniKing a right 9hen to #o *o 9o+l#

re*+lt in a clearl! ine:+itable *it+ation A* an e:+itable #e"en*e$

lache* #oe* not concern it*el" 9ith the character o" the

#e"en#ant* title$ b+t onl! 9ith 9hether or not b! rea*on o" the

&lainti* long inaction or ine7c+*able neglect$ he *ho+l# be

barre# "ro% a**erting thi* clai% at all$ beca+*e to allo9 hi% to #o

*o 9o+l# be ine:+itable an# +n+*t to the #e"en#ant

6
  The #octrine o" lache* or *tale #e%an#* i* ba*e#

+&on gro+n#* o" &+blic &olic! 9hich re:+ire*$ "or the

&eace o" *ociet!$ the #i*co+rage%ent o" *tale clai%*

an#    i* &rinci&all! a :+e*tion o" the ine:+it! or

+n"airne** o" &er%itting a right or clai% to be

en"orce# or a**erte#

 The ti%e.honore# r+le anchore# on &+blic &olic! i* that relie" 9ill

be #enie# to a litigant 9ho*e clai% or #e%an# ha* beco%e

*tale or 9ho ha* ac:+ie*ce# "or an +nrea*onable length o" 

ti%e$ or 9ho ha* not been )igilant or 9ho ha* *le&t on hi* right*

either b! negligence$ "oll! or inattention In other 9or#*$ &+blic

&olic! re:+ire*$ "or the &eace o" *ociet!$ the #i*co+rage%ent o" 

clai%* gro9n *tale "or non.a**ertion? th+* lache* i* an

i%&e#i%ent to the a**ertion or en"orce%ent o" a right 9hich ha*

beco%e$ +n#er the circ+%*tance*$ ine:+itable or +n"air to

&er%it>

Not9ith*tan#ing the "oregoing$ co%&lainant ha* no ca+*e o" 

action beca+*e all o" her *alarie* 9ere #+l! &ai# b! her e%&lo!er?

in "act$ *he e7ec+te# a recei&t 3Anne7 =B> hereo"6

Nonethele**$ a* rea*one# o+t abo)e an# a* &ro)en b!

#oc+%ent* *+b%itte# here9ith$ co%&lainant clai%* ha)e been

*ettle# an# &ai# an# alrea#! e7ec+te# a :+itclai% an# relea*e in

"a)or o" the re*&on#ent*$ hence thi* ca*e %+*t be #i*%i**e#

It %a! be arg+e# that the co%&lainant 9o+l# not ha)e le#

thi* ca*e i" there 9a* no )iolation o" her right Thi* arg+%ent

7
lac<* ba*i* in "act an# in la9 beca+*e “T%e <ling 3

*o6"lainan$ of allege! illegal !i&6i&&al an! (n"ai!

&alaie& ae 3($ "lain 6i&$a>e5 Co6"lainan$ %a& no$%ing $o

lo&& in <ling $%i& *a&e again&$ e&"on!en$& 3($ &%e %a!

e)e$%ing $o gain 3e*a(&e $%i& *a&e *an e)en 3e <le!

#i$%o($ "aing an 6one$a *o&$& o &"en!ing fo a <ling

fee5 None$%ele&&, 3e $%a$ a& i$ 6a, $%e &(3&$an$ial

e)i!en*e %eein &(36i$$e! 3 e&"on!en$& $%a$

*o6"lainan$ %a& no *a(&e of a*$ion &%o(l! no$ 3e ignoe!

on $%e "e$ex$ $%a$ %eein *o6"lainan$ #o(l! no$ %a)e

<le! $%i& *o6"lain$ if &%e #a& "ai! in f(ll #i$% %e &ala5

T%i& non &e(i$o ea&oning *anno$ $a>e $%e "la*e of $%e

e)i!en*e &(36i$$e! 3 %eein e&"on!en$& $%a$ in!ee!

$%ee #a& no &(*% (n!e"a6en$”5

HEREFORE$ &re%i*e* con*i#ere#$ it i* %o*t re*&ect"+ll!

%o)e# that the in*tant co%&laint be #i*%i**e# "or lac< o" %erit

Other relie"* +*t an# e:+itable in the &re%i*e* are li<e9i*e

*o+ght

G+eKon Cit!$ October /$ /,02

Att! RO(ER ALIM RODRI(UEQ

Co+n*el "or Re*&on#ent*
co MECTAP INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENT SER'ICES INC
Roo%* 0,@  0, 'IR B+il#ing
0-2, E Ro#rig+eK$ C+bao$ G+eKon Cit!
PTR No -212-0  Pa*ig Cit!  5an+ar! 00$ /,01
IBP No --/@-2  Pa*ig Cit!  5an+ar! 0,$ /,01
MCLE No III .?1?2  Pa*ig Cit!  A&ril /$ /,0,
Roll No 21

8
9
 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES6
 6 SS

'ERIFICATION

I$ METELINA B FORMENTO$ o" legal age an# Fili&ino$ a"ter

ha)ing been #+l! *9orn to in accor#ance 9ith la9$ #e&o*e an#
*tate THAT4

I a% the &re*i#ent o" Mecta& International Place%ent

Ser)ice* Incor&orate#$ one o" the re*&on#ent* in the abo)e.
entitle# ca*e$ that I ha)e ca+*e# the &re&aration an# ling
o" the "oregoing POSITION PAPER an# I ha)e rea# an#
+n#er*too# the content* thereo" an# the *a%e are tr+e an#
correct to the be*t o" %! &er*onal <no9le#ge an# ba*e# on
a+thentic recor#* on han#?

AFFIANT SAYETH NAU(HT

IN ITNESS HEREOF$ I here+nto a87 %! *ignat+re thi*

October /$ /,02

METELINA B FORMENTO
  A8ant
 Pa**&ort N+%ber EC0,@,1,

SUBSCRIBED AND SORN to be"ore %e thi* October $

/,02? a8ant e7hibite# to %e her Pa**&ort N+%ber EC0,@,1, a
co%&etent an# go)ern%ent i**+e# i#

DOC NO 

PA(E NO  NOTARY PUBLIC
BOO NO 
Serie* o" /,02

Co&! "+rni*he#4

ROSALINA DOMIN(O
Co%&lainant

10