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RepublicofthePhilippinesSUPREMECOURT

Manila

FIRSTDIVISION

G.R.No.82458September7,1989

CONCRETEAGGREGATESCORPORATION,petitioner,vs.NATIONALLABORRELATIONSCOMMISSIONandSOLITAB.LOPEZ,respondents.

SantiagoandSantiagoLawOfficeandFranciscoOrtigas,Jr.forpetitioner.

DioscoroG.Peligroforprivaterespondent.

GANCAYCO,J.:

The sole issue in this petition is whether or not private respondent was constructively dismissed from heremploymentwithpetitioner.

In1979,privaterespondentstartedtoworkwithpetitionerasprobationarypersonneldepartmentsecretary.Later,shewaspromotedtoSecretary"A"oftheAdministrativeLegal/CorporateDivisionofthepetitioner.Sometimein1983, theGeneralManager,ArleoMagtibaycalledastaffmeetingandaccusedherasoneof thosespreadinggossip to the effect that he has girlfriends in the office. Since then, she felt a growing animosity of her bosstowardsher.

OnSeptember19,1985,Magtibayinformedherthatthecompanywascreatinganewsecretarialstaffingpatternandaspecialprojectsgroupdesignedtolookintomoreincomegeneratingendeavors.Thecompanywasthensufferingfromfinancialreversesandithadtoretrenchmanyofitsemployees.Privaterespondentwastransferredtothespecialprojectscommitteetoconductfeasibilitystudiesonmanpowerexports.Anotheremployee,LilibethHonradowashiredandassignedtothesecretarialstaff.

Whenprivate respondent learnedofhernewassignment,she feltdepressedandgotsick.Whenshe reportedbacktowork,shedidnotknowwhattodoinhernewjob.Hertypewriterwastakenawayfromher.Shereceivedanofficememorandumaskingher to report forworkat theoldengineeringoffice.Feeling that shewasbeingeasedout,shehandeda letterof resignationeffectiveOctober16,1985.Shewasgivenherseparationpayofonehalfmonthpayforeveryyearofservice,13thmonthpayandthesalaryforOctober115,1985forwhichshesignedaquitclaimandwaiver.

However,onNovember26,1985,shefiledwithpublicrespondentNationalLaborRelationsCommission(NLRC)acomplaint for illegal dismissal, reimbursement of hospital expenses, moral and exemplary damages andattorney'sfees.

In a decision datedOctober 30,1987, the labor arbiter ordered the reinstatement of private respondent to herformerpositionwithbackwagesfromOctober16,1985untilthedateofreinstatementandthatshebereimbursedP300.00asmaternitybenefitforhersecondchildbirthbypetitioner.PetitionerappealedtotheNLRCwhereinindue course a resolution was promulgated on February 26, 1988 affirming the appealed decision with themodification thatprivaterespondentshouldreturn topetitioner theamountshereceivedasseparationpayandthatshe isnotentitled tomaternitybenefits.WhilePresidingCommissionerLourdesC.Javierconcurred in thesaidresolution,shedissentedbyadvancingtheviewthatconstructivedismissalwasnotsufficientlyestablished.

Hence,thehereinpetition.

Thepetitionisimpressedwithmerit.

Theenvironmentalcircumstancesofthecaseshowthatprivaterespondentvoluntarilyresignedfromemploymentandsignedthequitclaimandwaiverafterreceivingall thebenefits forherseparation.While itmaybetruethatherbossMr.Magtibayappearedtobehostiletowardsher,hedidnotshowbyhisactsanydesiretofireherfromemployment.At that time, thecompanywassufferingbusiness lossesand ithadto layoff54of itsemployees.Privaterespondentcouldhavebeenincludedintheretrenchmentbutshewasnot.

Perhapsshefeltmisplacedwhenshewasreassignedtothespecialprojectsgroupwithaparticularassignmenttostudymanpowerexports.Petitioneralleges thatasshehadexperienceand training inpersonnelwork,MBAunits and connections in theMinistry of Labor andEmployment, shewas consideredmost appropriate for thisnew assignment that may open the way to expand the petitioner's business. On the other hand, her formerpositionwasabolishedandinareorganization,asecretarialstaffwascreatedwhereinHonradowasappointed.Moreover,privaterespondentwasnot theonlyemployeewhoresignedthen.Therewere100otheremployeeswhoresignedastheycouldseethatthefutureofthebusinesswasdim.Itwasonlyprivaterespondentwhofiledacomplaintagainstpetitioner.

It is thus clear that she was not eased out much less was she forced to resign. This is a case of voluntaryresignationandnotofaconstructivedismissal.

WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The decision of the National Labor Relations Commission datedFebruary 26, 1988 is hereby set aside and another decision is hereby rendered dismissing the privaterespondent'scomplaint.Nocosts.

SOORDERED.

Narvasa,Cruz,GrioAquinoandMedialdea,JJ.,concur.

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