CA restrains RTC in SMFI case

The Court of Appeals issued yesterday an order to the Pasig City Regional Trial Court stopping the implementation of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on former employees of Pure Foods Corp. and from further taking action on the case.

In an earlier order by the lower court, the said employees were prevented from "continuing their employment of engagement with Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. and/or Tyson Agro Ventures."

The resolution promulgated by the Court of Appeals orders the lower court to cease-and-desist from executing and/or enforcing the questioned TRO dated Nov. 12, 2002 in Civil Case No. 69055. The ruling also prohibits the lower court from further taking action on the case.

Last July, several former Pure Foods employees filed a labor complaint against SMFI/SMC with the National Labor Relations Commission for alleged unpaid benefits/separation pay. Subsequently, SMFI filed a civil case against some of the complainants with the Pasig RTC which issued the TRO.