Handling Cases on Personnel/Human Resource in School/Academic Institution

Remy C. DatuMAED

PERSONNEL/HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Group IIIREMY C. DATU

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Statutes

• Acts• Batas Pambansa• Commonwealth Acts• Presidential Decrees • Republic Acts

Jurisprudence

FROM THE LATIN TERM JURIS PRUDENTIA, WHICH MEANS "THE STUDY, KNOWLEDGE, OR SCIENCE OF LAW"; IN THE UNITED STATES, MORE BROADLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PHILOSOPHY OF LAW.

FACTS OF THE CASE

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FACTS OF THE CASE

• The petitioner questions the resolutions of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) which reversed the findings of the CSC Merit Systems Board and the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports on the validity of the private respondent's reassignment. She contends that if the CSC resolutions are sustained, it would result in the "triumph of discourtesy and insubordination over that of order and efficiency in the performance of official duty."

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FACTS OF THE CASE

• On the other hand, the private respondent contends that the declaration of excess teacher in the Malvar Elementary School, her transfer by the Division Superintendent of City Schools to another school, and other acts of harassment constitute removal not for cause but because of personal ill-motives of the petitioner.

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Evidence presented

• Rufina B. Moti was appointed "National (City) Elementary Grades Teacher" in the Division of City Schools, Manila on September 1, 1970. Her status was "Regular (Permanent) Reappointment." The position to be filled was "Item No. 15-702, RA 4092 (Intermediate).

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Evidence presented

• The controversy which led to this case arose at the beginning of school year 1984-1985 when the student population of Malvar Elementary School significantly decreased. Classes in the intermediate level were reduced from eleven to ten resulting in an overall excess of one teacher. There was, however, a vacancy in Grade IV in the primary level.

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Evidence presented

• Following the "Guidelines Governing Excess Teachers", Circular No. 10, Series of 1982 of the Division of City Schools, the 58 teachers of Malvar Elementary School were evaluated. The performance rating showed that Rufina B. Moti ranked No. 55 with Rebecca Estrella, Elena Morelos, and Rosario Alarcon ranking Nos. 56, 57, and 58 respectively.

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Evidence presented

• Respondent Moti refused to accept the new assignment and insisted on any class provided it was in the intermediate grades. The refusal prompted petitioner Zenaida Orcino, principal of the school, to recommend that Ms. Moti be reassigned to another school. The then Superintendent Josefina Navarro assigned the respondent first to Lakandula Elementary School and later, to Moises Salvador Elementary School.

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Evidence presented

• When length of service and relative fitness were added to performance ratings, Rufina B. Moti ranked last. She was, therefore, declared as excess teacher. When efforts to find an acceptable position in the intermediate grades were unsuccessful, she was assigned to the Grade IV class.

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Evidence presented

• Instead of complying with the order of the Division Superintendent, respondent Moti filed a protest with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECS). The MECS sustained the Superintendent's order and ruled that Ms. Moti's transfer to Moises Salvador Elementary School was justified by the facts and the law. The respondent decided to go to the Civil Service Commission.

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Issues/Arguments

• THE HONORABLE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION GRAVELY ERRED IN INTRODUCING MATTERS BELIED (false impression)BY THE EVIDENCE ON RECORD.

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• THE COMMISSION A QUO GRAVELY ERRED IN ORDERING THAT APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION' BE METED ON PETITIONER ZENAIDA ORCINO WHO ACTED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HER AUTHORITY AND SUSTAINED BY HER SUPERIORS.

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• THE COMMISSION A QUO REVERSIBLY ERRED IN DEPRIVING PETITIONER ZENAIDA ORCINO THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUT THE CHARGES OF PRIVATE RESPONDENT IN THE LATTER'S APPEAL WITH THE COMMISSION.

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REBUT(Refute)

• to deny the truth of something, especially by presenting arguments that disprove it

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Issues/Arguments

• THE COMMISSION A QUO ERRED IN REINSTATING RUFINA MOTI DESPITE HER PROVEN ACTS OF INSUBORDINATION AND ADAMANCE CLEARLY IN

IMICAL TO THE SERVICE. (Petition, pp. 5-6)

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• ad·a·mant (d-mnt, -mnt)adj.Impervious to pleas, appeals, or reason; stubbornly unyielding. See Synonyms at inflexible.

• n.1. A stone once believed to be impenetrable in its hardness.

• 2. An extremely hard substance.

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• in·im·i·cal (-nm-kl)adj.1. Injurious or harmful in effect; adverse: habits inimical to good health.

• 2. Unfriendly; hostile: a cold, inimical voice.• [Late Latin inimclis, from Latin inimcus, enemy;

see enemy.]

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• n·sub·or·di·nate (ns-bôrdn-t)adj.Not submissive to authority: has a history of insubordinate behavior.

• insub·ordi·nation n.• Synonyms: insubordinate, rebellious, mutinous,

factious, seditiousThese adjectives mean in opposition to and usually in defiance of established authority. Insubordinate implies failure or refusal to recognize or submit to the authority of a superior: was fired for being insubordinate.

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• quasi-judicialadj(Law) denoting or relating to powers and functions similar to those of a judge, such as those exercised by an arbitrator, administrative tribunal, etc.

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Jurisprudence

• As a rule, the Court respects the factual findings of the Court of Appeals and quasi-judicial agencies like the CSC, giving them a certain measure of finality. However, the rule is not without clearly defined exceptions. Findings of facts of the Court of Appeals (in this case, the Civil Service Commission) are not conclusive and may be set aside when:

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Jurisprudence

(1) the conclusion is a finding grounded entirely on speculation, surmise and conjectures;

(2) the inference made is manifestly mistaken;(3) he judgment is based on misapprehension of

facts; (4) he Court of Appeals went beyond the issues of

the case and its findings are contrary to the admission of both appellant and appellees [

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Jurisprudence

(6) the findings of facts of the Court of Appeals are contrary to those of the trial court

(7) said findings of facts are conclusions without citation of specific evidence on which they are based;

(8) the facts set forth in the petition as well as in the petitioner's main and reply briefs are not disputed by the respondents]; and

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Jurisprudence

(9) when the finding of fact of the Court of Appeals is premised on the absence of evidence and is contradicted by evidence on record

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Jurisprudence

• WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby GRANTED. The questioned RESOLUTIONS of the Civil Service Commission are SET ASIDE. The private respondent's COMPLAINT is DISMISSED. The Temporary Restraining Order dated August 7, 1990 is made PERMANENT.

• SO ORDERED.

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Legal Bases used in the case

• THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS R.A. 4670 June18,1966

• Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers 1994 Philippine Professionalization Act

THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

R.A. 4670June18,1966

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THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

• Sec. 5. Tenure of Office. Stability on employment and security of tenure shall be assured the teachers as provided under existing laws.

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THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS• Subject to the provisions of Section three hereof,

teachers appointed on a provisional status for lack of necessary civil service eligibility shall be extended permanent appointment for the position he is holding after having rendered at least ten years of continuous, efficient and faithful service in such position.

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Tenure• A right, term, or mode of holding or occupying

something of value for a period of time.• In feudal law, the principal mode or system by which a

person held land from a superior in exchange for the rendition of service and loyalty to the grantor.

• The status given to an educator who has satisfactorily completed teaching for a trial period and is, therefore, protected against summary dismissal by the employer.

• A length of time during which an individual has a right to occupy a public or private office.

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THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS• Sec. 6. Consent for Transfer Transportation

Expenses. Except for cause and as herein otherwise provided, no teacher shall be transferred without his consent from one station to another.

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THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS• Where the exigencies of the service require the

transfer of a teacher from one station to another, such transfer may be effected by the school superintendent who shall previously notify the teacher concerned of the transfer and the reason or reasons there for.

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THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS• If the teacher believes there is no justification for

the transfer, he may appeal his case to the Director of Public Schools or the Director of Vocational Education, as the case may be. Pending his appeal and the decision thereon, his transfer shall be held in abeyance: Provided, however, That no transfers whatever shall be made three months before any local or national election.

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THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS• Necessary transfer expenses of the teacher and

his family shall be paid for by the Government if his transfer is finally approved.

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THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS• Necessary transfer expenses of the teacher and

his family shall be paid for by the Government if his transfer is finally approved.

Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers

1994 Philippine Professionalization Act

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5. The Teacher and Higher Authorities in the Philippines

• Make an honest effort to understand and support the legitimate policies of the school and the administration.

• Make no false accusation or charges against superiors, especially under anonymity.

• Transact all official business through channels.

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. The Teacher and Higher Authorities in the Philippines• Seek redress against injustice and discrimination and

raise his grievances within democratic processes.

• Invoke the Principle that appointments, promotions, and transfer of teachers are made only on the basis of merit and need in the interest of the service.

• Live up to his contractual obligation – assuming full knowledge of the employment terms and conditions.