The Supreme Court First Division has set aside and declared as invalid and without legal effect the 90-day suspension slapped in August 2012 against Stefani Saño, former Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
The 14-page decision affirmed Saño’s argument that he was deprived of due process when former SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia suspended him for 90 days for his alleged misconduct in connection to the questionable shipment of 420,000 bags of Indian rice on April 2, 2012.
“The favorable decision of the Supreme Court brings joy not only to me but also to my family, colleagues, and friends who all suffered because of the unjust and atrocious treatment I got from certain officials of a previous administration of the SBMA. We all feel relieved with this vindication,” Saño said.
The former SBMA executive also said: “The emphasis is on due process. This is a constitutional right which cannot be violated by anyone.”
Saño expressed optimism that the SC decision would encourage beleaguered employees to speak their minds out when their rights are violated by their superiors.
“As this decision becomes part of Philippine jurisprudence, may this guide official, managers, and employees on the rights and proper behavior and handling of cases in the workplace. I hope this vindication sends strong signals to tyrants and would-be tyrants in the agencies and offices, government and private alike: You cannot just charge and suspend people. Everyone has a right to due process,” he said.
The SC First Division ruling was promulgated on October 13, 2021, and was penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, and concurred in by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, and Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro Javier.