Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1981 > March 1981 Decisions > G.R. No. L-29540 March 27, 1981 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL. v. PATROCINIO POLLOSCO:




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

FIRST DIVISION

[G.R. No. L-29540. March 27, 1981.]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. PATROCINIO POLLOSCO and WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION, Respondents.

Solicitor General Felix V. Makasiar, First Assistant Solicitor General Esmeraldo Umali and Trial Attorney Diosdado Saavedra for Petitioner.

Alberto Jimenez for Private Respondent.

SYNOPSIS


The claimant, an employee of the Bureau of Public Highways ceased to work at the age of 63 years, because he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis during his employment. He filed a claim for disability and medical benefits with Regional Office No. 4 which was granted by the Acting Referee in his decision awarding P2,101.84 for disability compensation and P5,100.00 for reimbursement of medical expenses. Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration with respect to the reimbursement of medical expenses only, while private respondent on the other hand moved and was granted partial execution of the decision as regards the disability compensation. The Acting Referee forwarded the entire records of the case to the Workmen’s Compensation Commission for review. Said Commission modified the decision of the Acting Referee by increasing the award for disability compensation to P4,000.00.

On review by certiorari, the Supreme Court ruled that no appeal having been taken either by the petitioner or the private respondent from that portion of the decision of the Acting Referee awarding disability compensation, the same has become final and executory and may not be modified by the Workmen’s Compensation Commission.

Decision of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission set aside.


SYLLABUS


1. LABOR AND SOCIAL LEGISLATION; WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ACT; REVIEW OF THE DECISIONS OF THE ACTING REFEREE; WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION MAY NOT MODIFY PORTIONS OF THE DECISION WHICH HAVE BECOME FINAL AND EXECUTORY; CASE AT BAR. — The award for disability compensation has become final and executory and may not be modified by the Workmen’s Compensation Commission where it is a fact that no appeal was taken either by the petitioner or the private respondent from the decision of the Acting Referee as regards that portion ordering the petitioner to pay the claimant the amount of P2,101.84 as disability compensation. Indeed the claimant had asked for the execution of said portion of the decision and the petitioner was directed to pay the private respondent accordingly. The Workmen’s Compensation Commission, therefore, clearly erred in modifying the award by increasing the amount to P4,000.00.

2. REMEDIAL LAW; JUDGMENTS; FINALITY; BASIC RULE APPLICABLE TO JUDGMENTS OF COURTS AND AWARDS OF QUASI-JUDICIAL AGENCIES. — "In Vitug v. Republic, (L-44890, Feb. 28, 1977), we once again reaffirmed our ruling in Ramos v. Republic, 69 SCRA 576 (Feb. 27, 1976), that ‘(the) basic rule of finality of judgments is applicable indiscriminately to one and all and regardless of whether respondent employer be a public or private employer, since the rule is grounded on fundamental considerations of public policy and sound practice that at risk of occasional error, the judgment of courts and award of quasi-judicial agencies must become final at some definite date fixed by law."cralaw virtua1aw library

3. LABOR AND SOCIAL LEGISLATION; WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ACT; DISABILITY COMPENSATION; PAYMENTS CANNOT EXTEND BEYOND COMPULSORY RETIREMENT DATE. — In Ciriaco Hernandez v. Workmen’s Compensation Commission, Et Al., G.R. No. L-20202, May 31, 1965, this Court said that compensation payments premised on loss or impairment of earning capacity due to illness cannot extend beyond the compulsory retirement date of an employee.

4. ID.; ID.; ID.; BENEFITS RECEIVED WILL NOT BE DEDUCTED FROM GRATUITY BENEFITS; CASE AT BAR. — The Workmen’s Compensation Commission also erred in the computation of the disability benefit to be awarded to the private respondent in the amount of P4,000.00 where the award of P2,101.84 to the private respondent by the Acting Referee will not be deducted from the gratuity which he was entitled to receive when he reached the age of 65 years. Anent this matter, the petitioner states in its brief: "Respondent’s Commission’s differentiation between the Workmen’s Compensation Law and The Retirement Law is beside the point. Petitioner admits that the purposes of the said laws are different. Petitioner does not deny also that respondent Pollosco is entitled both to the benefits of the Workmen’s Compensation Law and the Retirement Law. In the first instance, because he contracted illness in the course of his employment with petitioner and in the second, because he applied for retirement under the Retirement Law. In the case at bar, petitioner does not contend that any benefit which respondent Pollosco will receive under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, as amended, should be deducted from the benefit which he would receive as gratuity and therefore diminishes his compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Law."


D E C I S I O N


FERNANDEZ, J.:


This is a petition for certiorari to review the decision of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission in RO4-WCC-Case No. 91, entitled "Patrocinio Pollosco, Claimant v. Republic of the Philippines (Bureau of Public Highways), Respondent", affirming the decision of the Acting Referee in Regional Office No. 4, Quezon City Sub-Regional Office, Workmen’s Compensation Commission but modifying said decision by increasing the disability compensation to P1,000.00. 1

The claimant, Patrocinio Pollosco, was an employee of the Bureau of Public Highways. When he was already 63 years old, he ceased to work because he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis during his employment. He filed a claim for disability and medical benefit with Regional Office No. 4, Quezon City Sub-Regional Office, Department of Labor.

The Acting Referee rendered a decision dated December 29, 1966, the dispositive portion of which reads:chanrobles virtual lawlibrary

"WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered ordering respondent to pay claimant, through this Office, the following amounts in lump sum:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library

1. TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED ONE & 84/100 PESOS (P2,101.84) as disability compensation; and

2. FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED PESOS (P5,100.00) as for reimbursement of medical expenses.

"Respondent is further ordered to pay direct to this Office the sum of TWENTY TWO PESOS (P22.00) as administrative fee pursuant to Section 55 of the Act.

"SO ORDERED.

"Quezon City, Philippines, December 29, 1966." 2

On January 13, 1967, the Republic of the Philippines (Bureau of Public Highways), petitioner herein, filed with the Workmen’s Compensation Commission, Regional Office No. 4 at Quezon City Sub-Regional Office, a motion for reconsideration of the decision of the Acting Referee, only with respect to the award to the claimant of the sum of P5,100.00 as reimbursement of medical expenses, on the ground that the penultimate paragraph of Section 13 of Act 3428, as amended by Republic Act 4119 was not complied with, but not with respect to the compensability of the claim nor the amount of disability compensation awarded to the said Respondent. 3

On January 16, 1967, the private respondent Pollosco, filed a motion for partial execution of the decision of the Acting Referee dated December 29, 1966, as regards the disability compensation awarded to the claimant. Acting on said motion, the Chief of Section of Regional Office No. 4 issued an order dated January 18, 1967 directing the petitioner to pay unto the respondent Pollosco the sum of P2,101.84 as disability compensation.chanrobles law library : red

On January 17, 1967, Acting Referee Pedro P. Pelaez issued an Order forwarding to the Workmen’s Compensation Commission the entire records of the case for review. 4

The Workmen’s Compensation Commission, through one of its Commissioners, rendered a decision, the dispositive portion of which reads:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"WHEREFORE, the decision sought to be reviewed is affirmed and the respondent is hereby ordered:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library

1. To pay claimant thru this Commission the sum of FOUR THOUSAND PESOS (P4,000.00) as compensation under Sections 14 and 15 of Act 3428, as amended;

2. To reimburse the claimant the sum of EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE PESOS (P875.00) for medical expenses he incurred for his compensable illness of tuberculosis and to provide him with whatever medical assistance he may need until his illness is pronounced arrested or cured by competent authority under Section 13 of Act No. 3428, as amended;

3. To pay attorney’s fees in the sum of P400 under Section 30 of Act No. 3428, as amended; and

4. To pay the Workmen’s Compensation Fund the sum of FORTY-SIX PESOS (P46.00) (plus P5.00 cost of the review) as fees under Section 55 of Act No. 3428, as amended.

"SO ORDERED.

"Quezon City, May 31, 1968." 5

The motion for reconsideration of the petitioner was denied by the Workmen’s Compensation Commission en banc. 6

The petitioner assigned the following errors:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library

"I


"THE COMMISSION EN BANC ERRED IN MODIFYING THE DECISION DATED DECEMBER 29, 1966 OF ACTING REFEREE PEDRO P. PELAEZ AND IN ORDERING THE PETITIONER TO PAY RESPONDENT POLLOSCO THE TOTAL SUM OF P4,000.00 WHEN THE SAID DECISION HAD BECOME FINAL AND EXECUTORY.

"II


"THE COMMISSION EN BANC ERRED IN DISREGARDING THE RULING LAID DOWN BY THIS HONORABLE COURT IN THE CASE OF HERNANDEZ VERSUS WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION, ET AL., G.R. NO. L-20202, MAY 31, 1965." 7

It is a fact that no appeal was taken either by the petitioner or the private respondent Patrocinio Pollosco from the decision of the Acting Referee as regards that portion ordering the petitioner to pay the claimant, Patrocinio Pollosco, the amount of P2,101.84 as disability compensation. Indeed the claimant had asked for the execution of said portion of the decision and the petitioner was directed to pay the private respondent Pollosco the sum of P2,101.84.chanrobles.com.ph : virtual law library

The award for disability compensation having become final and executory, the same may not be modified by the Workmen’s Compensation Commission.

In Carreon v. Workmen’s Compensation Commission, 8 this Court said:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"In Vitug v. Republic, (L-44890, Feb. 28, 1977), we once again reaffirmed our ruling in Ramos v. Republic, 69 SCRA 576 (Feb. 27, 1976), that (the) basic rule of finality of judgments is applicable indiscriminately to one and all and regardless of whether respondent employer be a public or private employer, since the rule is grounded on fundamental considerations of public policy and sound practice that at risk of occasional error, the judgment of courts and award of quasi-judicial agencies must become final at some definite date fixed by law."cralaw virtua1aw library

The Workmen’s Compensation Commission, therefore, clearly erred in modifying the award by increasing the amount to P4,000.00.

Moreover, the computation of the award of P2,101.84 by the Acting Referee is correct. He computed the amount thus:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"The claimant having been shown to have been disabled for labor as a result of his illness and was by reason thereof compelled to retire prematurely at the age of 63 years, 2 years away from the compulsory retirement age of 65 years, he is entitled to disability compensation for two (2) years and reimbursement of expense for medical supplies and services since the requirements of notice of the illness and corresponding treatment has been substantially complied with.

"Under Sections 14 and 15 of Act 3428 as amended, having been totally and permanently disabled for labor, and in the light of the rule laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Hernandez v. W.C.C. Et. Al., G.R. No. L-20202, May 31, 1965, claimant is entitled to disability compensation in an amount equivalent to 60% of his average weekly wage for a maximum period of two (2) years, or 104 weeks, the aggregate amount not to exceed P4,000.00. By the evidence his last rate of pay was P146.00 a month or P1,752.00 per annum (P1,752.00 divided by 52 equals P33.69) 60% of which is P20.21 for 104 weeks, gives P2,101.84 as disability compensation." 9

In Ciriaco Hernandez v. Workmen’s Compensation Commission, Et Al., G.R. No. L-20202, May 31, 1965, 10 this Court said that compensation payments premised on loss or impairment of earning capacity due to illness cannot extend beyond the compulsory retirement date of an employee.chanrobles lawlibrary : rednad

The award of P2,101.84 to the private respondent will not be deducted from the gratuity which he was entitled to receive when he reached the age of 65 years. Anent this matter, the petitioner states in its brief:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"Respondent Commission’s differentiation between the Workmen’s Compensation Law and the Retirement Law is beside the point. Petitioner admits that the purposes of the said laws are different. Petitioner does not deny also that respondent Pollosco is entitled both to the benefits of the Workmen’s Compensation Law and the Retirement Law. In the first instance, because he contracted illness in the course of his employment with petitioner and in the second, because he applied for retirement under the Retirement Law. In the case at bar, petitioner does not contend that any benefit which respondent Pollosco will receive under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, as amended, should be deducted from the benefit which he would receive as gratuity and therefore diminishes his compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Law." 11

The Workmen’s Compensation Commission also erred in the computation of the disability benefit to be awarded to the private Respondent.

WHEREFORE, the portion of the decision dated May 31, 1968 of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission ordering the petitioner to pay respondent Pollosco the sum of P4,000.00 as disability compensation is hereby set aside and the decision dated December 29, 1966 of Acting Referee Pedro P. Pelaez ordering petitioner to pay respondent Pollosco the sum of P2,101.84 as disability compensation is affirmed.

SO ORDERED.

Teehankee (Chairman), Guerrero, De Castro and Melencio-Herrera, JJ., concur.

Makasiar, J., took no part.

Endnotes:



1. Annex "E", Rollo, pp. 19-42.

2. Rollo, p. 14.

3. Brief for the Petitioner, p. 3.

4. Idem., p. 3-4.

5. Rollo, p. 22.

6. Rollo. pp. 24-25.

7. Brief for the Petitioner, pp. 1-2.

8. 77 SCRA 297. 300.

9. Annex "A", Rollo, pp. 13-14.

10. 14 SCRA 219.

11. Brief for the Petitioner, p. 9.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






March-1981 Jurisprudence                 

  • A.M. No. 1220-CFI March 17, 1981 - CRISOSTOMO D. MONTE v. BENIGNO M. PUNO

  • A.M. No. 1926-CAR March 17, 1981 - ERNESTO DENORE v. AMADO B. CASTAÑO

  • G.R. No. L-55151 March 17, 1981 - DAVID AGUILA v. MELECIO A. GENATO

  • G.R. No. L-55514 March 17, 1981 - TIU PO v. PEDRO JL. BAUTISTA

  • G.R. No. 56158-64 March 17, 1981 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. PABLO SOLA

  • A.M. No. 967-MJ March 24, 1981 - FIDEL SERRA v. LEODEGARIO A. BELARMINO

  • A.M. No. 1724-MJ March 24, 1981 - NARDO MERCADO v. INOCENCIO M. JAURIGUE

  • G.R. No. L-29041 March 24, 1981 - BACOLOD-MURCIA MILLING CO., INC. v. FIRST FARMERS MILLING CO., INC.

  • G.R. No. L-31475 March 24, 1981 - LAO ENG GUAN v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL.

  • G.R. No. L-31892 March 24, 1981 - JUAN SIMON v. REPUBLlC OF THE PHIL.

  • G.R. No. L-47492 March 24, 1981 - ROGELIO H. MANDAPAT v. EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION

  • G.R. No. 54082 March 24, 1981 - MOHAMAD LAMPING MITMUG v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

  • G.R. No. L-26677 March 27, 1981 - HEIRS OF MARIANO V. TAJONERA v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-29540 March 27, 1981 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL. v. PATROCINIO POLLOSCO

  • G.R. No. L-34754 March 27, 1981 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. SILVESTRE A. MATE

  • G.R. No. L-49181 March 27, 1981 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. DAMASO DEL VALLE

  • A.M. No. OCA-69 (2438-MJ) March 30, 1981 - CONRADO MAKILING v. PEDRO J. CALLEJO, JR.

  • A.M. No. 1946-CTJ March 30, 1981 - AMALIO RONDAEL v. LEONARDO E. LOZANO

  • G.R. Nos. L-27046 & L-27047 March 30, 1981 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. MARIANO M. ESTEBAN

  • G.R. No. L-37191 March 30, 1981 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. HORACIO JARDINIANO

  • G.R. No. L-43098 March 30, 1981 - MARIANO R. BASA v. WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION

  • G.R. No. L-49483-86 March 30, 1981 - SALUD P. BERADIO v. COURT OF APPEALS

  • G.R. No. L-54554 March 30, 1981 - EUSTAQUIO M. MEDALLA, JR. v. MARCELINO N. SAYO

  • G.R. No. L-43835 March 31, 1981 - DOMINGO F. BONDOC v. PEOPLE’S BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

  • G.R. No. L-44725 March 31, 1981 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. RAYMUNDO BOADO

  • G.R. No. L-47135 March 31, 1981 - GREGORIO ANDES, SR. v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL.

  • G.R. No. L-52390 March 31, 1981 - MANUEL I. SANTOS v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

  • G.R. No. L-52451 March 31, 1981 - ZACARIAS A. TICZON v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

  • G.R. No. L-52749 March 31, 1981 - SOTERO OLFATO v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS