- Petitioner
- Maria Buena Obra
- Respondent
- Social Security System (Jollar Industrial Sales
- Citation
- G.R. No. 147745
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Puno, J.
- Decided
- April 9, 2003
Summary
Maria Buena Obra sought death and funeral benefits under P.D. 626 after her husband, a dump truck driver for over 24 years, died of myocardial infarction while working in 1988. She filed SSS death benefits immediately but only learned of ECC benefits in 1998, filing claim in 1999. SSS, ECC, and Court of Appeals denied her claim, citing prescription and lack of work-connection. The Supreme Court reversed, applying liberal construction of social legislation favoring labor. The Court ruled her SSS death benefits claim constituted notice of ECC claim to the same agency, preventing prescription. The Court found the heart attack work-related under ECC Resolution No. 432, noting the physical strain of truck driving, workplace stress, and death occurring within the required timeframe after cardiac event, demonstrating causal relationship between work and death.