G.R. No. L-43258. October 30, 1978.
MARIA VILLEGAS, petitioner, vs. WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION and REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (Bureau of Public Schools), respondents.

FACTS

This case involves a motion for partial reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s decision dated September 30, 1977. The original decision reversed the Workmen’s Compensation Commission and reinstated an award by a Hearing Referee in favor of petitioner Maria Villegas, widow of a deceased public school teacher. The award included compensation benefits, burial expenses, medical expenses (P9,463.30), attorney’s fees, and an administrative fee.
Petitioner seeks reconsideration on two points. First, she claims that after her motion for partial reconsideration before the Hearing Officer, and following a further evaluation by the Regional Medical Rating Officer of the submitted documentary evidence, the Hearing Officer amended his decision on June 6, 1975, to grant a higher amount of P20,971.19 as reimbursement for the deceased’s medical expenses. Second, she requests a reconsideration of the awarded attorney’s fees. Petitioner attached an annex listing bills, receipts, and invoices to substantiate the medical costs.

ISSUE

The primary issue is whether the Supreme Court should grant the motion for partial reconsideration to increase the award for medical expenses from P9,463.30 to P20,971.19 and to adjust the attorney’s fees accordingly.

RULING

The Supreme Court granted the motion for partial reconsideration, partially modifying its previous decision. The Court found no merit in the respondent Republic’s objection to the increased medical expense award. The Republic, through the Solicitor General, argued that the Commission failed to determine the propriety and reasonableness of the increased amount and that a re-evaluation was necessary.
The Court held that the medical expenses were clearly and satisfactorily substantiated by the receipts, bills, and vouchers listed in the petitioner’s annex. These documents initially totaled over P30,000 but were reduced to P20,971.19 after evaluation by the Regional Medical Rating Officer. The Court deemed these expenses necessary and reasonable given the deceased’s severe illnesses—uremia, metastatic carcinoma of the rectum, diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension—which required operations, medications, and confinements in two hospitals. There was no showing that the evaluation was excessive, unnecessary, unreasonable, or that the Rating Officer acted arbitrarily or with bias. The Court applied the presumption that official duty was regularly performed with sound judgment and diligence.
Consequently, the Court awarded the petitioner P20,971.19 as reimbursement for medical expenses. Furthermore, the Court increased the attorney’s fees to ten percent (10%) of the compensation benefits, amounting to P468.00, and adjusted the administrative fee to P61.00. All other portions of the original decision were affirmed.