Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=28809:g-r-nos-73131-32-august-31,-1988-far-east-bank-amp-trust-company-v-intermediate-appellate-court,-et-al&amp;catid=1240&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 12:50:41+00:00

Document:
FAR EAST BANK & TRUST COMPANY, Petitioner, v. THE HON. INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, RUFINO FAYTAREN and MARIA CRISTINA L. ZALDARRIAGA, Respondents.
Tañada, Vivo & Tan for Petitioner.
Syquia Law Offices for respondent Rufino Faytaren.
Herminio T . Sugay for respondent Maria Cristina Zaldarriaga.
1.	LABOR LAW; LABOR RELATIONS; UNLAWFUL DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYEE; BACKWAGES; LIMITED ONLY TO A PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS FROM DATE OF DISMISSAL. — Inasmuch as Faytaren’s dismissal was unlawful, the Court of Appeals correctly ordered his reinstatement to his former position with all the salaries, emoluments, and fringe benefits appertaining thereto as of the date of his termination on March 16, 1971. However, the same shall be limited to a period of three (3) years from the date of his dismissal as previously fixed by this Court (People’s Industrial & Commercial Employees & Workers Organization (FFW) v. People’s Industrial & Commercial Corporation, 112 SCRA 440; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. v. Encarnacion, 136 SCRA 256; Mercury Drug Co., Inc. v. Court of Industrial Relations, 56 SCRA 694).
Far East Bank & Trust Company has appealed the resolution dated April 30, 1985 of the then Intermediate Appellate Court which, upon a motion for reconsideration filed by the private respondents, reversed its own decision of May 18, 1984.
In 1970, the private respondents, Maria Cristina L. Zaldarriaga and Rufino Faytaren, were employees of the Far East Bank & Trust Company at its Plaza Moraga branch, near the Escolta, Manila. Zaldarriaga had been employed as Head Teller since December 1, 1965, while Faytaren worked as Assistant Branch Cashier since February 16, 1960, until both were terminated on March 16, 1971.
"4.	It is necessary to place the check on the tray at the back of the teller’s cage for earmarking (initial) of the Current Account Bookkeeper." (p. 45, Rollo.).
On November 23, 1970, a Far East Bank Check No. YP240954 dated November 19, 1970, for P30,000 and payable to "Cash," was purportedly drawn by Renato Sunico, one of the bank’s clients who maintained a current account deposit No. 10492. According to Zaldarriaga, the check was presented to her by Faytaren for encashment. Marilene Fariñas, with whom Zaldarriaga was conversing at the time, confirmed that Faytaren requested Zaldarriaga to encash a check, but she (Fariñas) could not categorically state that it was the P30,000-check in question.
The P30,000-check was signed by "Renato Sunico" above his typewritten name. On the back was a blank endorsement signed by Rolando Santos whose signature was identified and payment guaranteed by a signature identical to Renato Sunico’s on the face of the check. Also found on the back was the initial of Gregoria Legaspi, Branch Accountant of the Bank.
When the questioned check was presented at the Bank’s Plaza Moraga Branch, the Branch Manager Rogelio Perez was absent because his house had been damaged by typhoon "Yoling." Only Gregoria Legaspi, the Branch Accountant, initialed the check.
Zaldarriaga alleged that she requested Faytaren to initial the check also but he answered "later one;" that she asked him to secure the approval of another officer of the Bank but Faytaren told her that the branch manager would do it later; that she asked Faytaren where she should affix her stamp and he said it was not necessary; and that after getting P30,000 in six bundles of P50’s from the vault, she was about to call the current accounts bookkeeper, but Faytaren himself checked the ledger and told her that the check was adequately funded. Zaldarriaga further testified that in the afternoon of the same day, November 23, 1970, after lunch, Marilene Fariñas who was also following up a check for the approval of a second approving officer, told her that Renato Singson would take care of the check. This allegation was denied by Renato Singson and Marilene Fariñas.
Faytaren denied Zaldarriaga’s allegations regarding his participation in the encashment of the P30,000-check which turned out to be a forgery. He alleged that the check which he handed to Zaldarriaga for encashment on November 23, 1970, was a check for P5,000 drawn by the General Auto Supply thru its owner, Felipe Uy Bomping his townmate from Batangas City. He admitted that he approved and initialed the "Cash Requisition Slip" for P30,000 which was presented to him by Zaldarriaga to enable her to withdraw that amount from the Bank’s vault, but he did so in the ordinary course of his duty.
On December 1 to 13, 1970, Faytaren went on vacation leave with pay, while Zaldarriaga went on sick leave from December 4 to 7, 1970. Upon reporting back for work, they were investigated and required to explain in writing the encashment of the P30,000-check. On March 16, 1971, they each received a notice of separation from the Bank.
On April 6, 1971, Zaldarriaga filed a complaint for illegal dismissal in the Court of First Instance of Manila against the Bank and Rufino Faytaren (Civil Case No. 82819). She prayed for reinstatement or, in the alternative, for payment of separation pay, with damages in either case.
On April 13, 1971, Faytaren filed in the Court of First Instance of Manila, a complaint against the Bank for reinstatement with damages for having been dismissed without just cause (Civil Case No. 82863).
It was consolidated with the case filed by Zaldarriaga and jointly tried in Branch X of the Manila Court of First Instance.
Faytaren filed a motion for reconsideration of that decision.
The Bank appealed by certiorari to this Court.
The issues in this appeal are: (1) whether the Appellate Court erred in holding that Faytaren was illegally dismissed; (2) whether the said employee should be reinstated; and (3) whether he should reimburse the Bank for the amount of the forged P30,000-check.
Inasmuch as Faytaren’s dismissal was unlawful, the Court of Appeals correctly ordered his reinstatement to his former position with all the salaries, emoluments, and fringe benefits appertaining thereto as of the date of his termination on March 16, 1971. However, the same shall be limited to a period of three (3) years from the date of his dismissal as previously fixed by this Court (People’s Industrial & Commercial Employees & Workers Organization (FFW) v. People’s Industrial & Commercial Corporation, 112 SCRA 440; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. v. Encarnacion, 136 SCRA 256; Mercury Drug Co., Inc. v. Court of Industrial Relations, 56 SCRA 694).
WHEREFORE, as above modified, the appealed decision or resolution is affirmed.

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