You are on page 1of 2

One Sentence:

There was a valid dismissal in this case because of just cause


and abandonment.

Introduction

Quality Education is a constitutional mandate. In compliance


with that, a school is given the prerogative to maintain standards of
efficiency for its teachers and to dismiss teachers who fail to attain
reasonable work goals set by it.

Ms. Evangeline C. Cobarrubias was issued a letter informing her


that she failed to meet the required minimum evaluation rating for
faculty members during the 5-year period beginning school year 1998
until 2003 and thus placed her on forced leave during the first
semester of school year 2003-2004. On June 5, 2003, she filed her
complaint for illegal dismissal on the ground that she was suspended
during the first semester of school year 2003-2004.

Petitioner, for five times, notified by Saint Louis University, Inc.


to resume teaching for the second semester of school year 200-2004
following the service of suspension during the first semester. She was
advised that teaching load had already been prepared for her.
Respondent never ever replied to those notices.

Petitioner’s justification for her failure to respond to the notices


- that her acceptance of the offer could not be constituted as a waiver
of claims – is not indeed a valid excuse.

Petitioner forgets that her complaint for “illegal dismissal”


which she filed on June 5, 2003 sprung, not her from dismissal on
December 6, 2003 due to abandonment but, from her suspension
during the first semester of school year 2003-2004.

Conclusion:

Ms. Evangeline C. Cobarrubias was accorded due process as


Saint Louis University, Inc. informed the faculty members of their
ratings after every evaluation period and inviting them to examine
their grades and discuss with their evaluators amounts to sufficient
compliance with due process. The means of checking the performance
of the respondent’s teachers are ultimately necessary to maintain the
quality of higher education it provides.

Apparently, the principle of res judicata has set in the case of


SLU v. Cobarrubias, G.R. No. 187104, 03 August 2010. The Supreme
Court decided that the complaint was validly dismissed due to
abandonment. The complainant as declared by the Supreme Court
had already abandoned her job hence the respondent’s action of
terminating her has no legal implication. She was validly dismissed.
The Decision of the Supreme Court became final and executor on
November 11, 2010 and was recorded in the Book of Entries of
Judgments.

You might also like