Manila, May 1 -- The Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal to fire an employee for testing positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, the High Court's Third Division ruled that a former overseas Filipino worker's dismissal from employment is invalid for being discriminatory.

The ruling also entitled the respondent to salaries for the unexpired portion of his two-year employment contract and moral and exemplary damages, among others.

Under Section 49(a) of Republic Act No. (RA) 11166, or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, it is unlawful for employees to be terminated from work on the sole basis of their HIV status.

The respondent was deployed to Saudi Arabia un...