Villavert v.

ECC
GR L-48605, 14 December 1981 (110 SCRA 233)
First Division, Fernandez (p): 4 concurring

Facts:

Marcelino Villavert was employed as a Code Verifier in the Philippine Constabulary. However,
due to the shortage of civilian personnel, he also performed the duties of computer operator and
clerk typist. One afternoon (December 11, 1975), although he complained of chest pain and
headache, he was still required to render overtime work, typing voluminous classified
communications, computing allowances and preparing checks for the salary of PC-INP personnel
throughout the country for distribution.

He went home late at night and due to fatigue, he went to sleep without taking his meal. Shorkty,
he was gasping for breaht and was rushed to University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay (UERM)
Memorial Hospital where he died at 5:30 am. The cause of death was acute hemorrhagic
pancreatitis.

Petitoner, Domna Villavert, the mother of the decased, filed a claim for income benefits for the
death of her son under PD 626, as amended, with the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS). In support of such claim, she presented the certification of the Commanding Officer of the
PCSO the effect that the deceased’s illness was the result of the perfromacne of his duties as code
verificer, computater operator and clerk typist which was corroborated by affidavit of the Chief
immediate supervisor.

GSIS denied the claim on the ground that acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is not an occupational
disease and that the petitioner had failed to show that there was a causal connection between the
fatal ailment of Marcelino N. Villavert and the nature of his employment. The petitioner appealed
to the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC). On 31 May 1978, the ECC affirmed the
decision of GSIS denying the claim.

Hence, the petition.

1.) WoN Villavert is entitled to receive the GSIS death benefit of her son, who died of
hemorrhagic pancreatitis, pursuant to P.D. No. 626?
a.) YES. From the foregoing facts of record, it is clear that Marcelino N. Villavert died of acute
hemorrhagic pancreatitis which was directly caused or at least aggravated by the duties he
performed as code verifier, computer operator and clerk typist of the Philippine
Constabulary. Further, Article 4 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, provides that
“all doubts in the implementation and interpretation of this Code, including its implementing rules
and regulations shall be resolved in favor of labor.”