Case Digest (G.R. No. L-42739)
Facts:
- Five separate petitions were filed by Amado T. Cruz, Resurreccion Tinio, Leonor San Juan, Edward Chandler, and Alejandro Ecarma against the Workmen's Compensation Commission and the Republic of the Philippines.
- The Supreme Court rendered decisions on January 31, 1978.
- Each petitioner had received awards for disability compensation due to work-related ailments.
- In G.R. No. L-42739, Amado T. Cruz was awarded P5,796.28 for acute rheumatism and hypertension, developed during his employment from January 10, 1928, to October 31, 1972.
- The respondent failed to appeal within the 15-day statutory period, citing a heavy workload, and filed a belated petition for relief on January 6, 1976.
- In G.R. No. L-43221, Resurreccion Tinio received P4,438.19 for malignant hypertension after teaching from 1947 to 1975, with a late appeal filed on January 16, 1976.
- In G.R. No. L-43406, Leonor San Juan was awarded P2,684.40 for pulmonary tuberculosis and cerebro-vascular thrombosis, with a late appeal filed on February 10, 1976.
- In G.R. No. L-43470, Edward Chandler received P11,653.88 for medical expenses related to pulmonary tuberculosis, with a late petition for relief filed on March 4, 1976.
- In G.R. No. L-44599, Alejandro Ecarma was granted P6,000.00 for permanent disability due to Parkinson's Disease, with a late appeal filed on November 27, 1975.
- The Workmen's Compensation Commission reversed the referees' awards, claiming a lack of merit, despite the awards being final and executory.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioners, reinstating the referees' awards of disability compensation and benefits.
- The Court held that the Commission lacked the authority to alter final judgments or awards that had become final due to the lapse of s...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The decision was based on the principle of finality of judgments, a fundamental aspect of judicial proceedings.
- The Court emphasized that statutory periods for appeal and petitions for relief are jurisdictional, not merely procedural.
- The respondent's failure to file a...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. L-42739)
Facts:
The case involves five separate petitions filed by Amado T. Cruz, Resurreccion Tinio, Leonor San Juan, Edward Chandler, and Alejandro Ecarma against the Workmen's Compensation Commission and the Republic of the Philippines, represented by various government departments. The decisions in question were rendered on January 31, 1978, by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Each petitioner had previously received awards for disability compensation from referees of the Workmen's Compensation Commission due to ailments contracted during their employment.
In G.R. No. L-42739, Amado T. Cruz was awarded P5,796.28 for disabilities including acute rheumatism and hypertension, which he developed while working as a laborer from January 10, 1928, until his retirement on October 31, 1972. The respondent failed to appeal the referee's decision within the statutory 15-day period, citing a heavy workload, and only filed a belated petition for relief from judgment on January 6, 1976.
In G.R. No. L-43221, Resurreccion Tinio was granted P4,438.19 for her illnesses, including malignant hypertension, after her employment as a teacher from 1947 until her retirement in 1975. The respondent similarly failed to appeal in a timely manner, filing a petition for relief on January 16, 1976.
In G.R. No. L-43406, Leonor San Juan received P2,684.40 for pulmonary tuberculosis and cerebro-vascular thrombosis, having worked as an accountant until July 7, 1973. The respondent's appeal was also late, filed on February 10, 1976.
In G.R. No. L-43470, Edward Chandler was awarded P11,653.88 for medical expenses related to his pulmonary tuberculosis, with the responden...