GR L 1541; (June, 1948) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-1541; June 21, 1948
EXPECTACION DE LA CRUZ, for herself and as guardian ad litem of Lydia, Emerly, Recardo and Socorro, surnamed Reyes, plaintiffs-appellants, vs. THE CITY OF MANILA, defendant-appellee.
FACTS
Jose F. Reyes was an employee of the City Bus Transportation, a land transportation service created by the municipal government of Greater Manila during the Japanese occupation. He died from an accident while working. The municipal government during the occupation recognized the right of his widow and orphaned children to compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act (No. 3428) and paid them P100 for burial expenses and P664.82 as partial compensation, leaving a balance of P732.84. The balance remained unpaid until liberation. The present City of Manila government refuses to pay the balance, arguing it has no obligation to recognize the acts of its predecessor, the municipal government during the Japanese occupation.
ISSUE
Is the present City of Manila obligated to pay the remaining compensation balance to the heirs of the deceased employee, which was recognized as due by the municipal government during the Japanese occupation?
RULING
Yes. The municipal government of Manila during the enemy occupation was a de facto government. It had the power to establish services for the benefit of the community, such as the City Bus Transportation. The deceased died in the course of his employment while performing work for the benefit and convenience of the Manila community under a municipal administration that was a de facto continuation of the Commonwealth government to administer city interests and avoid chaos. All conditions for the application of the Workmen’s Compensation Act are present: compensable work, accidental death in the course of employment, and an employer-employee relationship. It would be contrary to the progressive and humanitarian nature of the law to deny its benefits simply because the right accrued during the war. The appealed judgment is reversed. The defendant City of Manila is ordered to pay the plaintiffs the remaining balance of P732.84, plus costs.
AI Generated by Armztrong.