G.R. No. L-1232; January 12, 1948
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION SERVICE (METRAN), Petitioner, vs. JOSE MA. PAREDES, VICENTE DE LA CRUZ and ARSENIO C. ROLDAN, Judges of Court of Industrial Relations, and THE NATIONAL LABOR UNION, Respondents.

FACTS

The National Labor Union filed a petition before the Court of Industrial Relations (CIR) against the Metropolitan Transportation Service (METRAN), a semi-governmental transportation entity created by Executive Order and operating under the Department of Public Works and Communications. METRAN moved to dismiss the case on the ground that, as an entity belonging to the Republic of the Philippines, it could not be sued without its consent. The CIR denied the motion, and METRAN appealed.

ISSUE

Whether the Court of Industrial Relations has jurisdiction over METRAN, a non-corporate government agency, in a labor dispute.

RULING

No. The Supreme Court granted the petition and declared the proceedings before the CIR null and void. The Court held that METRAN is not a juridical person under the law but a mere office or agency of the government. A suit against it is effectively a suit against the government itself, which cannot be sued without its consent. Since METRAN is not a corporation with the capacity “to sue and be sued,” it cannot be a party in a civil action before the CIR, which is considered a court of justice. Therefore, the CIR lacked jurisdiction to entertain the petition.

AI Generated by Armztrong.