G.R. No.

L-48605 December 14, 1981

DOMNA N. VILLAVERT, petitioner,
vs.
EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION COMMISSION & GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM
(Philippine Constabulary), respondents.

Facts: Marcellino N. Villavert, son of the petitioner, was an employee in the Philippine Constabulary
as a code verifier. In addition to his duties, he also performed the duties of a computer operator and
clerk typist. He performed his duties not only as code verifier but also handled administrative
functions, computer operation and typing jobs due to the shortage of civilian personnel. On
December 11, 1975, Marcelino reported to his work as usual. He was complaining chest pain and
headache in the late afternoon but because of the voluminous work, he was still required to render
overtime service for computing allowance and preparing checks for the salary of the Philippine
Constabulary and Integrated National Police personnel throughout the country on or before
December 15, 1975. When he came home due to fatigue he went to his bed as he arrived without
taking his meal. Shortly after, his mother, the petitioner, noticed that Marcellino was grasping for
breath, perspiring profusely and mumbling incoherent words. Petitioner tried to wake him but
failed to do so. She therefore rushed him to the hospital but he never regained consciousness and
pronounced that the case of death was acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

Petitioner filed claim for the death benefits of Marcelino to the Government Service Insurance
System together with the affidavit of Lt. Colonel Felino C. Pacheco attesting that he worked as code
verifier and performed other additional duties. Inter alia, he testified that the deceased was
computer operator consequently subject to excessive heat and cold. He also testified that the
deceased never drinks alcohol liquor nor smokes nor engages on immoral habits. To corroborate
Pacheco’s affidavit, Rustico P. Valenzuela, Chief Clerk of the Constabulary Computer Center certified
that indeed the deceased was performing additional work load due to the shortage of qualified
civilian personnel. He also certified that on the said date, the deceased was complaining of chest
pain and headache but he was obligated to carry on work because of the said deadline. He also
pointed out that Marcelino was not able to consult for his routine physical check-up due to the
rotation of his duties.

The petition was denied by GSIS on the ground that acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is not an
occupational disease and the petitioner failed to show that there was causal connection between
the fatal ailment of Marcellino and the nature of his work. On the hand, Medico-Legal of the National
Bureau of Investigation stated that the exact cause of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is still
unknown although the most research data are agreed that physical and mental stresses are strong
casual factors in the development of the disease.

Issue: whether in claiming death benefits of an employee in GSIS, the causal connection of
occupational disease that caused death and the nature of work should be clearly established?

Held: As stated by the Medico Legal Officer of NBI that although the cause of acute hemorrhagic
pancreatitis is unknown, researches points out that physical and mental stresses are strong causal
factors in the development of the disease. And it was clearly established based on evidence
presented by the petitioner that the nature of the work of that deceased directly caused or at least
aggravates his disease. This was supported by the fact that he never drinks nor smoke nor engages
on immoral habits. And as mandated in Art. 4 of the Labor Code, “All doubts in the implementation
and interpretation of this Code, including its rules and implementation shall be resolved in favor of
the labor”.

Ruling: the assailed decision was set aside and GSIS was ordered to pay petitioner death benefits.