FACTS:

The case involves a dispute between petitioners Comscentre Phils., Inc. and its Country Manager Patrick Boe, and respondent Camille B. Rocio. On April 4, 2011, petitioners hired respondent as a Network Engineer. On August 5, 2011, respondent informed petitioners of her intention to resign effective September 9, 2011. Prior to her resignation, petitioners informed respondent that she had to pay an "employment bond" of Eighty Thousand Pesos (P80,000.00) for resigning within twenty-four months from the time she was employed. They cited this provision in her employment contract. Respondent sought clarification regarding the "employment bond," but instead of receiving a response, she was issued a show-cause letter and was placed under preventive suspension for allegedly causing chaos and going against company directives. Subsequently, respondent filed a case against petitioners for unfair labor practice, illegal suspension, illegal deduction, underpayment of salaries, non-payment of wages, service incentive leave pay and 13th-month pay, damages, and attorney's fees. The Labor Arbiter ruled in favor of respondent, ordering petitioners to pay her various amounts. Petitioners appealed to the NLRC, maintaining that respondent was validly suspended and should also be liable to pay the "employment bond."

ISSUES:

RULING:

PRINCIPLES:

• Article 224 of the Labor Code gives the labor tribunals original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide claims for damages arising from the employer-employee relationship.

• The jurisdiction of the labor tribunals includes claims for all forms of damages arising from the employer-employee relationship.

• The requirement for jurisdiction is a "reasonable causal connection with the employer-employee relationship," which applies not only to employees' money claims against the employer but also to claims by the employer against the employee.

• Inseparability of claims: The claim for payment of the "employment bond" is inseparably intertwined with the employer-employee relationship and falls within the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the labor tribunals.

• Liability for breach of employment contract: The respondent is liable for payment of the "employment bond" for breaching the minimum employment length clause in her employment contract.

• Offset of money claims: The NLRC correctly ordered the offsetting of the parties' respective money claims against each other to avoid split jurisdiction and ensure the orderly administration of justice.