G.R. No. L-30798 November 26, 1970
KAISAHAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA SA LA CAMPANA, petitioner, vs. THE HON. WALFRIDO DE LOS ANGELES as Presiding Judge of Branch V, Court of First Instance of Rizal, Quezon City Branch, and LA CAMPANA FOOD PRODUCTS, INC., respondents.

FACTS

A labor dispute arose in 1951 between petitioner Kaisahan Ng Mga Manggagawa Sa La Campana (Kaisahan) and La Campana Coffee Factory, Inc. and Tan Tong (doing business as La Campana Gaugau Packing). The Supreme Court held that the Court of Industrial Relations (CIR) had jurisdiction, finding the two entities operated under one single management. Ramon Tantongco (Tan Tong) died in 1956. The CIR rendered a partial decision on November 12, 1956, finding the management guilty of unfair labor practice. On February 18, 1957, the CIR ordered the management and the administrator of Ramon Tantongco’s estate to reinstate laborers with back wages. After the intestate proceedings closed, Ricardo Tantongco (as representative of the heirs) notified employees on August 10, 1957, that the business (La Campana Starch Packing) would close. The Kaisahan sought execution. On February 11, 1960, the Kaisahan moved for a writ of execution and sought to include “La Campana Food Products, Inc.” in the writ, alleging the respondent company’s name had been changed to that. La Campana Food Products, Inc. opposed, claiming it was a corporation organized in 1953 with a separate juridical personality. The CIR issued the writ on March 8, 1960, and the Sheriff levied on trucks claimed by La Campana Food Products, Inc. Ricardo Tantongco and La Campana Food Products, Inc. filed a petition for prohibition with the CFI of Quezon City, which issued a restraining order. The Supreme Court, in a related case, held on July 20, 1961, that the CFI could not issue writs against the CIR. The Kaisahan obtained an alias writ from the CIR on May 13, 1961. On August 1, 1961, Ricardo Tantongco and La Campana Food Products, Inc. filed a petition with the Supreme Court to declare the writs null and void, which was dismissed for lack of merit on August 3, 1961. On October 27, 1965, the CIR issued an order for a writ of execution against La Campana Starch and Coffee Factory and Ricardo Tantongco as administrator. The Kaisahan moved to amend the writ to include La Campana Food Products, Inc., which the CIR granted on July 3, 1967. An amended writ was issued on August 1, 1967. To prevent its enforcement, La Campana Food Products, Inc. filed an action for annulment of sale with preliminary injunction (Civil Case Q-12580) with the CFI of Quezon City on August 4, 1967, claiming the CIR’s amended writ was void for lack of jurisdiction and due process. The CFI issued a preliminary injunction. The Kaisahan then filed the present petition for certiorari, prohibition, and injunction to oust the CFI of jurisdiction.

ISSUE

Whether the Court of First Instance of Quezon City has jurisdiction to try, hear, and decide Civil Case Q-12580 (an action for annulment of sale with preliminary injunction filed by La Campana Food Products, Inc. to annul the CIR’s amended writ of execution and the sale thereunder).

RULING

No. The CFI is without jurisdiction. The CIR retained jurisdiction over the case for execution and implementation of its final and executory decisions. The amended writ of execution issued by the CIR was a necessary consequence of its authority to execute its decisions. The claim of La Campana Food Products, Inc. that it was a separate entity and not a party to the original case was a matter already passed upon by the CIR and the Supreme Court in previous proceedings; it was an issue incidental to the execution of the CIR’s judgment and thus within the CIR’s jurisdiction. The CFI cannot interfere with or annul the processes of the CIR, a court of equal rank. The proper remedy for La Campana Food Products, Inc. was to seek relief from the CIR itself or by appeal to the Supreme Court. The CFI is directed to dismiss Civil Case Q-12580. The compromise agreement between the Kaisahan and La Campana Food Products, Inc. is declared null and void.