Manila: The Supreme Court (SC) has denied the petition filed by a computer engineer for damages from his employer, which had suspended and later terminated him in a dispute over a software he developed while he was an employee.

According to Philippines News Agency, the SC's 3rd Division, in a 12-page decision made public on Friday, turned down the petition for review filed by Santiago Sillano against his former employer JGC Philippines. Sillano sought moral and exemplary damages, as well as unpaid earned benefits and attorney's fees, following his preventive suspension by the company when he refused access to five programs he created.

In January 2004, a dispute arose between Sillano and JGC over the ownership of the computer programs. Sillano claimed ownership as the creator, while JGC contended that the programs belonged to the company since they were developed during Sillano's employment.

Subsequently, Sillano activated security features on the programs, rendering them inaccessible for JGC's business use, which led to his preventive suspension. On March 15, 2004, JGC filed a complaint against Sillano for breach of employment agreement before the National Labor Relations Commission.

Sillano appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA), which ruled that he was illegally dismissed and awarded him separation pay and back wages. However, the CA did not grant the moral and exemplary damages or attorney's fees Sillano sought.

The SC, in denying Sillano's petition, upheld the CA's decision for monetary compensation through separation pay and back wages, and rejected the claim for moral and exemplary damages and attorney's fees. The court also modified the decision to include a 6 percent annual legal interest on the awarded separation pay and back wages from the decision's finality until full payment. The CA found insufficient evidence to justify awarding moral and exemplary damages or attorney's fees.