FACTS: Hortillano, an
employee of petitioner Continental Steel, filed a claim for Paternity Leave,
Bereavement Leave and Death and Accident Insurance for dependent, pursuant to
the CBA. The claim was for Hortillano’s unborn child who died. Hortillano’s
wife had a premature delivery while she was on her 38th week of pregnancy.
The female fetus died during the labor. The company granted Hortillano’s claim
for paternity leave but denied his claims for bereavement leave and death
benefits. Hortillano claimed that the provision in CBS did not specifically
state that the dependent should have first been born alive or must have
acquired juridical personality. Petitioner argued that the said provision of
CBA did not contemplate death of an unborn child or a fetus without legal
personality. They also claimed that there are two elements for the entitlement
of the benefit: 1) death; and 2) status of legitimate dependent. None which
existed in Hortillano’s case. They further contend that the only one with civil
personality could die, based on Art 40-42 of Civil Code. Hence, according to
petitioner, the unborn child never died. Labor Arbiter Montana argued that the
fetus had the right to be supported by the parents from the very moment he/she
was conceived. Petitioner appealed to CA but CA affirmed Labor Arbiter’s
decision. Hence, this petition.
ISSUE: W/N only one
with juridical personality can die.
HELD: No. The reliance
of Continental Steel on Articles 40, 41 and 42 of the Civil Code for the legal
definition of death is misplaced.
Article 40 provides that a conceived child acquires personality only
when it is born, and Article 41 defines when a child is considered born. Article 42 plainly states that civil
personality is extinguished by death. The issue of civil personality is
irrelevant in this case. Arts 40-42 do not provide at all definition of death.
Life is not synonymous to civil personality. One need not acquire civil
personality first before s/he could die. The Constitution in fact recognizes
the life of the unborn from conception.
ISSUE: W/N a fetus can
be considered as a dependent.
HELD: Yes. Even an unborn child is a dependent
of its parents. The fetus would have not reached 38-39 weeks without depending
upon its mother.
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