Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28718:g-r-no-l-46654-august-9,-1988-lupo-s-cabajal-v-government-service-insurance-system&catid=1240&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 00:39:16+00:00

Document:
LUPO S. CABAJAL, Petitioner, v. GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (Municipality of San Julian, Eastern Samar), and EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION COMMISSION, Respondents.
Pompeyo V. Tan for Petitioner.
2.	ID.; ID.; ID.; OPINION OF ECC MEDICAL OFFICER; OVERRULED IN FAVOR OF SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY CLAIMANT. — Records reveal that petitioner’s wife while working as Campaign Clerk in the Treasurer’s Office of San Julian, Eastern Samar, suffered "two attacks of vaginal bleeding and hypogastric pain" attributing said ailment to the lifting of heavy tax declaration books, due to abortion incomplete. This opinion of the decedent’s physicians is in accord with the findings/analysis of medical authorities which read as follows: "It is not considered desirable for pregnant women to be employed in the following types of occupation and they should, if possible, be transferred to lighter and more sedentary works: (a) occupation that involve heavy lifting or other heavy work; (b) occupation involving continuous standing and moving about." (One of the Standards for Maternity Case and Employment of Mothers recommended by the Children’s Bureau of the United States). (Rollo, p. 12). Moreover, spontaneous abortion may result from the influence of periodicity as the uterine muscle reaches a certain state of distention; or in various accidents as a fall, strain or overmuscular exertion when the uterus reacts and expels its load." (Underscoring supplied; "Anatomy and Allied Sciences for Lawyers, W.F. English, p. 181). Therefore, the opinion of the ECC Medical Officer (ECC Record, p. 20) that there was no causal relation between the ailment of petitioner’s spouse and the nature and or conditions of his wife’s employment cannot overcome the substantial evidence submitted by petitioner cases cited.
4.	ID.; ID.; ID.; RATIONALE. — This kind of interpretation gives meaning and substance to the liberal and compassionate spirit of the law as embodied in Article 4 of the New Labor Code which states that ‘all doubts in the implementation and interpretation of the provisions of this Code including its implementing rules and regulations shall be resolved in favor of labor." ‘ (Cristobal v. ECC, supra). The policy is to extend the applicability of the decree to a greater number of employees who can avail of the benefits under law, which is in consonance with the avowed policy of the State to give maximum aid and protection to labor.
The late Nenita P. Carbajal was employed as Campaign Clerk in the Municipal Treasurer’s Office of San Julian, Eastern Samar. On February 2, 1976 while typing tax declarations and making entries in their books, which were her duties aside from campaigning for tax collections, she suffered from bleeding per vaginum due to incomplete abortion. Her hospitalization and treatment at the Bagacay Mines Hospital due to profuse hermorrhage of one month duration secondary to complete abortion and shock were of no avail for on March 8, 1976, petitioner’s wife died.
On May 12, 1976, he filed his claim for benefits for the death of his wife with the respondent Government Service Insurance System under P.D. No. 626, as amended.
On June 3, 1976, the Senior Assistant General Manager of the Underwriting and Claims Department of GSIS, Mr. Domingo N. Garcia, denied the petitioner’s claim stating that the ailments of his wife were not occupational.
Petitioner requested reconsideration of respondent’s adverse ruling. However, his request was also turned down by respondent GSIS reiterating its previous stand that ailment which resulted in his wife’s death is not causally related to her duties and conditions of work. From this decision, a petition for review was filed by petitioner before the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).
The sole issue raised in the case at bar is the compensability of petitioner’s wife’s ailments.
Respondent ECC in its decision denying petitioner’s claim, stressed that the causes of abortion are: (1) fetal, as when there is defective development of the fertilized ovum; (2) maternal, as in acute infections, disease, and when the spermatozoa is inadequate to give ovum the necessary generative impulse (Obstetrics, J.P. Greenhill, 12th Edition, 1060).
Respondent ECC asserted that there is absence of any proof that the abortion suffered by petitioner’s wife was caused by her employment and that petitioner failed to establish risk of his wife’s contracting it was increased by working conditions attendant in her employment.
Records reveal that petitioner’s wife while working as Campaign Clerk in the Treasurer’s Office of San Julian, Eastern Samar, suffered "two attacks of vaginal bleeding and hypogastric pain" attributing said ailment to the lifting of heavy tax declaration books, due to abortion incomplete.
"Pregnant women become tired more readily, therefore, the prevention of fatigue must be stressed very emphatically. The body is made up of various types of cells, each type with a specific function. Depletion of nerve-cell energy results in fatigue, and fatigue causes certain reactions in the body that are injurious." (Maternity Nursing 12th Edition, by Fitzpatrick, Reeder and Mastroianni, Jr.).
(b)	occupation involving continuous standing and moving about." (One of the Standards for Maternity Case and Employment of Mothers recommended by the Children’s Bureau of the United States). (Rollo, p. 12).
Moreover, spontaneous abortion may result from the influence of periodicity as the uterine muscle reaches a certain state of distention; or in various accidents as a fall, strain or overmuscular exertion when the uterus reacts and expels its load." (Emphasis supplied; "Anatomy and Allied Sciences for Lawyers, W.F. English, p. 181).
Additionally, medical opinion to the contrary can be disregarded especially when there is some basis in the facts for inferring a work connection (Delegente v. ECC, 118 SCRA 67; San Valentin v. ECC, 118 SCRA 160 cited in Sarmiento v. ECC, Sept. 24, 1986, 144 SCRA 421).
"While the presumption of compensability and theory of aggravation espoused under the Workmen’s Compensation Act may have been abandoned under the New Labor Code (the constitutionality of such abrogation may still be challenged), it is significant that the liberality of the law in general still subsists.
". . . As agents charged by the law to implement social justice guaranteed and secured by both 1935 and 1973 Constitutions respondents should adopt a more liberal attitude in deciding claims for compensability specially where there is some basis in the facts for inferring a work connection." (Cristobal v. ECC, supra).
Moreover, "this kind of interpretation gives meaning and substance to the liberal and compassionate spirit of the law as embodied in Article 4 of the New Labor Code which states that ‘all doubts in the implementation and interpretation of the provisions of this Code including its implementing rules and regulations shall be resolved in favor of labor." ‘ (Cristobal v. ECC, supra). The policy is to extend the applicability of the decree to a greater number of employees who can avail of the benefits under law, which is in consonance with the avowed policy of the State to give maximum aid and protection to labor (Acosta v. ECC, 109 SCRA 209 cited in Sarmiento v. ECC and GSIS, L-65648, September 24, 1986, 144 SCRA 421).

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