Joaquin Lu Case

Joaquin Lu v. Tirso Enopia, et. al G.R. No.
197899, 6 March 2017

Facts:
Respondents were hired from January 20, 1994 to March 20, 1996 as crew members of the
fishing mother boat F/B MG-28 owned by respondent Joaquin "Jake" Lu (herein petitioner Lu)
who is the sole proprietor of Mommy Gina Tuna Resources [MGTR] based in General Santos City.
Petitioners and Lu had an income-sharing arrangement wherein 55% goes to Lu, 45% to the crew
members, with an additional 4% as "backing incentive." They also equally share the expenses for
the maintenance and repair of the mother boat, and for the purchase of nets, ropes and payaos.
Sometime in August 1997, Lu proposed the signing of a Joint Venture Fishing Agreement
between them, but petitioners refused to sign the same as they opposed the one-year term provided
in the agreement. According to petitioners, during their dialogue on August 18, 1997, Lu
terminated their services right there and then because of their refusal to sign the agreement.
On August 25, 1997, petitioners filed their complaint for illegal dismissal, monetary claims
and damages. Petitioners alleged that their refusal to sign the Joint Venture Fishing Agreement is
not a just cause for their termination.
On the other hand, Lu denied having dismissed petitioners, claiming that their relationship
was one of joint venture where he provided the vessel and other fishing paraphernalia, while
petitioners, as industrial partners, provided labor by fishing in the high seas. Lu alleged that there
was no employer-employee relationship as its elements were not present.
The LA dismissed the case for lack of merit, finding no employer-employee relationship
existing between petitioner and the respondents but a joint venture. It found that (1) respondents
were not hired by petitioner as the hiring was done by the piado or master fisherman; (2) the
earnings of the fishermen from the labor were in the form of wages they earned based on their
respective shares; (3) they were never disciplined nor sanctioned by the petitioner; and (4) the
income-sharing and expense splitting was no doubt a working set up in the nature of an industrial
partnership.
While petitioner issued memos, orders and directions, however, those who were related
more on the aspect of management and supervision of activities after the actual work was already
done for purposes of order in hauling and sorting of fishes, and thus, not in the nature of control
as to the means and method by which the actual fishing operations were conducted as the same
was left to the hands of the master fisherman. It ruled that the checker for recording of catches and
ensuring proper sharing and use of radio for the monitoring and supplying logistics requirement
of the fishermen while at sea did not mean supervision on how, when and where to fish.
The NLRC affirmed the LA decision and subsequently denied the MR. Respondents filed
a petition for certiorari with the CA which dismissed the same for having been filed beyond the
60-day reglementary period under Rule 65 and the certificate of non-forum shopping was signed
only by two of the respondents who had not shown any authority to sign on behalf of the others.
Respondents went to SC via a petition for certiorari assailing the dismissal. The SC
remanded the case to the CA for further proceedings. The CA reversed the NLRC decision, found
that petitioner exercised control over respondents based on the following: (1) respondents were the
fishermen crew members of petitioner’s fishing vessel, thus, their services to the latter were so
indispensable and necessary that without them, petitioner’s deep-sea fishing industry would not
have come to existence much less fruition; (2) he had control over the entire fishing operations
undertaken by the respondents through the master fisherman (piado) and the assistant master
fisherman (assistant piado) employed by him; (3) respondents were paid based on a percentage
share of the fish catch did not in any way affect their regular employment status; and (4) petitioner
had already invested millions of pesos in its deep-sea fishing industry, hence, it is highly
improbable that he had no control over respondents’ fishing operations.
Issue:
W/N there was an employer-employee relationship between the parties.
Held:
Yes. In determining the existence of an employer-employee relationship, the following
elements are considered: (1) the selection and engagement of the workers; (2) the power to control
the worker’s conduct; (3) the payment of wages by whatever means; and (4) the power of
dismissal.
All these elements present in this case. It is settled that no particular form of evidence is
required to prove the existence of an employer-employee relationship. Any competent and relevant
evidence to prove the relationship may be admitted.
It is not essential that the employer actually supervises the performance of duties by the
employee. It is enough that the former has a right to wield the power. —It should be remembered
that the control test merely calls for the existence of the right to control, and not necessarily the
exercise thereof. It is not essential that the employer actually supervises the performance of duties
by the employee. It is enough that the former has a right to wield the power.
The payment of respondents’ wages based on the percentage share of the fish catch would not be
sufficient to negate the employer-employee relationship existing between them.

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Joaquin Lu v. Tirso Enopia, et. al G.R. No.

197899, 6 March 2017

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