Case

SECOND CASE

G.R. No. 177937 : January 19, 2011

ROBINSONS GALLERIA/ROBINSONS SUPERMARKET CORPORATION and/or JESS MANUEL, Petitioners, v.IRENE R. RANCHEZ, Respondent.

The Facts

The facts of the case are as follows.

Respondent was a probationary employee of petitioner Robinsons Galleria/Robinsons Supermarket Corporation (petitioner Supermarket) for a period of five (5) months, or from October 15, 1997 until March 14, 1998.3cralaw She underwent six (6) weeks of training as a cashier before she was hired as such on October 15, 1997.4cralawredlaw

Two weeks after she was hired, or on October 30, 1997, respondent reported to her supervisor the loss of cash amounting to Twenty Thousand Two Hundred Ninety-Nine Pesos ( P 20,299.00) which she had placed inside the company locker. Petitioner Jess Manuel (petitioner Manuel), the Operations Manager of petitioner Supermarket, ordered that respondent be strip-searched by the company guards. However, the search on her and her personal belongings yielded nothing.5cralawredlaw

Respondent acknowledged her responsibility and requested that she be allowed to settle and pay the lost amount. However, petitioner Manuel did not heed her request and instead reported the matter to the police. Petitioner Manuel likewise requested the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office for an inquest.6cralawredlaw

On November 5, 1997, an information for Qualified Theft was filed with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Respondent was constrained to spend two weeks in jail for failure to immediately post bail in the amount of Forty Thousand Pesos ( P 40,000.00).7cralawredlaw

On November 25, 1997, respondent filed a complaint for illegal dismissal and damages.8cralawredlaw

On March 12, 1998, petitioners sent to respondent by mail a notice of termination and/or notice of expiration of probationary employment dated March 9, 1998.9cralawredlaw

On August 10, 1998, the Labor Arbiter rendered a decision,10cralaw the fallo of which...