Powers of the Commission.
Article 266
ART. 266. Powers of the Commission. — The Commission shall have the power and authority: To promulgate, subject to the approval of die Secretary of Labor, rules and regulations governing the hearing and disposition of cases before it and its regional branches, as well as those pertaining to its internal functions and such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Code; To administer oaths, summon the parties to a controversy, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of such books, papers, contracts, records, statements of accounts, agreements, and others, as may be material to a just determination of the matter under investigation, and to testily in any investigation or hearing conducted in pursuance of this Code; To conduct investigation for the determination of a question, matter or controversy within its jurisdiction, proceed to hear and determine the disputes in the absence of any party thereto who has been summoned or served with notice to appear, conduct its proceedings or any part thereof in public or in private, adjourn its hearings to any time and place, refer technical matters or accounts to an expert and to accept his report as evidence after hearing of the parties upon due notice, direct parties to be joined in or excluded from the proceedings, correct, amend, or waive any error, defect or irregularity, whether in substance or in form, give all such directions as it may deem necessary or expedient in the determination of the dispute before it, and dismiss any matter or refrain from hearing further or from determining the dispute or part thereof, where it is trivial or where further proceeding by the Commission are not necessary or desirable; and To hold any person in contempt, directly or indirectly, and impose appropriate penalties therefor. A person guilty of misbehavior in the presence of or so near the Chairman or any member of the Commission or any Labor Arbiter as to obstruct or interrupt the proceedings before the same, including disrespect toward said officials, offensive personalities toward others, or refusal to be sworn to, or to answer as a witness or to subscribe to an affidavit or deposition when lawfully required to do so, may be summarily adjudged in direct contempt by said officials and punished by fine not exceeding two hundred pesos (P200) or imprisonment not exceeding ten (10) days, or both, if it be the Commission, or a member thereof, or by fine not exceeding ten pesos (P10.00) or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) day, or both, if it be a Labor Arbiter. The person adjudged in direct contempt by a Labor Arbiter may appeal to the Commission and the execution of the judgment shall be suspended pending the resolution of the appeal upon the filing of such person of a bond on condition that he will abide by and perform the judgment should the appeal be decided against him. Judgment of the Commission on direct contempt is immediately executory and nonappealable. Indirect contempt shall be dealt with by the Commission or Labor Arbiter in the manner prescribed under Rule 7 1 of the Revised Rules of Court.