GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM v. JEAN E.

RAOET
G.R. No. 157038, 23 December 2009, SECOND DIVISION, (Brion, J.)

The ailment Acute Massive Hemorrhage t/c Bleeding Peptic Ulcer Disease is a work-connected disease and
thus covered by the death benefits under P.D 626.

Raoets husband, Francisco M. Raoet (Francisco) is a high class engineer at the National
Irrigation Administration (NIA). In 2000, Francisco was diagnosed with Hypertension, Severe, Stage
III, Coronary Artery Disease, and he was confined at a medical center. As the GSIS considered this a
work-related condition, Francisco was awarded Temporary Total Disability benefits, plus
reimbursement of medical expenses incurred during treatment. In 2001, Fransisco died due to
Cardiac Arrest with Bleeding Peptic Ulcer Disease as the arrests underlying cause.

Raoet then filed a case for the collection of death benefits owed by GSIS to Francis. GSIS,
however, stated that Francis is not entitled to death benefits because the ailment which is the cause
of his death was not enumerated in the Annex A of P.D. 626. The Court of Appeals (CA) ruled in
favour of Raoet.

ISSUE:

Whether or not the ailment Acute Massive Hemorrhage t/c Bleeding Peptic Ulcer Disease is not a
work-connected ailment and thus covered by the death benefits under Annex A of P.D 626

HELD:

Petition DENIED.

Peptic ulcer is most common among persons who are chronically anxious or irritated, or who
otherwise suffer from mental tension. Worry and anxiety can contribute to the development of an
ulcer and prevent it from healing. Peptic ulcer is a compensable cause of death, pursuant to ECC
Resolution No. 1676 which provides that peptic ulcer is a compensable disease listed under Annex
A, provided the claimant is in an occupation that involves prolonged emotional or physical stress,
as among professional people, transport workers and the like.
In the case at bar, since Fransisco is a high class engineer, his work entailed a lot of responsibility
and a high probability of stress and other mental or physical tension. After Francisco was confined in
2000, he still continued his heavy work. From the records, it is concluded that the stressful nature
and pressures inherent in Franciscos occupation contributed to the development of Franciscos
disease. Thus, having been proved that the Peptic ulcer suffered by Francisco was work related,
Francisco is entitled to his death benefits.
P.D. 626 is a social legislation whose primordial purpose is to provide meaningful protection to
the working class against the hazards of disability, illness, and other contingencies resulting in loss of
income. In employee compensation, persons charged by law to carry out the Constitutions social
justice objectives should adopt a liberal attitude in deciding compensability claims and should not
hesitate to grant compensability where a reasonable measure of work-connection can be inferred.
Only this kind of interpretation can give meaning and substance to the laws compassionate spirit as
expressed in Article 4 of the Labor Code that all doubts in the implementation and interpretation
of the provisions of the Labor Code, including their implementing rules and regulations, should be
resolved in favor of labor.