G.R. No. L-12726. May 20, 1960.
LAGUNA TAYABAS BUS COMPANY, petitioner, vs. VISITACION CONSUNTO and the WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION, respondents.

FACTS

The petitioner, Laguna Tayabas Bus Company, appealed by certiorari to review a decision of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission ordering it to pay respondent Visitacion Consunto compensation for the death of her husband, Gerardo Estiva. Estiva was employed as a section inspector by the petitioner until his death on November 24, 1954, from cerebral hemorrhage. The claimant’s evidence, presented before the Hearing Officer, indicated that on November 23, 1954, Estiva bumped his head inside a bus while inspecting tickets, leading to a traumatic injury that induced cerebral hemorrhage. Dr. Villarasa, the Municipal Health Officer who first attended to Estiva, testified to finding a slight swelling on Estiva’s head and that Estiva stated he “got bumped while in the truck.” A passenger, Mrs. Aurora Villarta, testified that Estiva complained of a severe headache and vomited, and he told her he had bumped his head. The bus driver, Emilio Adriano, testified he overheard Estiva complaining of a headache. In contrast, the petitioner’s evidence, through Dr. Serafin Pañgat, the attending physician at the provincial hospital, asserted that Estiva showed no signs of trauma upon admission and that the cerebral hemorrhage was secondary to hypertension, a natural cause unrelated to employment. Dr. Pañgat’s official report stated the illness was not due to an accident or the nature of employment. The referee initially dismissed the claim, but the Commission reversed this decision, crediting the evidence of the initial injury and its connection to Estiva’s work duties.

ISSUE

Whether the death of Gerardo Estiva due to cerebral hemorrhage is compensable under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, considering the conflicting evidence on whether it resulted from an accident sustained in the course of employment or from natural causes.

RULING

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission. The Court held that the Commission’s finding—that Estiva bumped his head inside the bus while performing his duties as a section inspector, resulting in cerebral hemorrhage and death—was supported by evidence. Specifically, the testimony of Dr. Villarasa, who observed a slight swelling on Estiva’s head and recorded Estiva’s statement about being bumped in the truck, provided sufficient basis for the award. The Court emphasized that the Commission’s factual findings, when supported by evidence, are binding. Therefore, the death was compensable, and the petitioner was ordered to pay the compensation as awarded, with costs against the petitioner.