G.R. No.

166803 October 11, 2012 Court of Appeals and reinstated and affirmed the
resolutions of NLRC and the Labor Arbiter.
CREWLINK, INC. v. EDITHA TERINGTERING

FACTS
ISSUE
Editha Teringtering and in behalf of her minor child,
filed a complaint against Crewlink for the payment of Whether or not Jacintos death was a result of
death benefits, benefit for minor child, burial insanity or deliberate will to end his life
assistance, damages, and attorneys fees as means of
compensation for the death of her husband, Jacinto HELD
Teringtering. Teringtering additionally claimed that
In the case at bar, Crewlink, the petitioner, was able
her husband Jacinto Teringtering was subjected to
to substantially prove that Jacintos death was
pre-employment medical examination and was
attributable to his deliberate act of killing himself by
pronounced fit to work thus, Jacinto joined his
jumping in the sea. On the other hand, the
vessel assignment and worked as an Oiler. On April
respondent, Editha Teringtering, wife of the
9, 2001, Jacinto died due to asphyxia of drowning.
deceased, was unable to present any evidence,
Editha claimed from Crewlink the payment of death
witness, or a medical report, to corroborate her
benefits in the amount of US $50,000 and burial
statement that her husband has been suffering from a
expenses in the amount of US$1,000 as well as
mental disorder. In addition, the record does not
additional death compensation in the amount of
show when the alleged insanity of Jacinto started.
US$7,000 for their minor daughter, Eimaereach Rose
The Court averred that homesickness and/or family
de Gracia Teringtering but was refused without any
problems may result to depression but these do not
valid cause. Despite deemed untitled of the benefits,
necessarily equate to mental disorder. The issue of
Editha Teringtering received burial assistance in the
insanity is a question of fact for insanity is a
amount of P35,800 and P13,273 on May 21, 2001
condition of the mind not susceptible of the usual
and likewise received the amount of US$792.51
means of proof. As no man would know what goes
representing donations from the GMS staff and crew.
on in the mind of another, the state or condition of a
Editha asserted that Jacinto was suffering from a persons mind can only be measured and judged by
psychotic disorder, or mood disorder bipolar type. his behavior. Establishing the insanity of an accused
Moreover, she alleged that the death was not requires opinion testimony which may be given by a
deliberate and of his own will but as a result of a witness who is intimately acquainted with the person
mental disorder. Crewlink alleged that Jacinto claimed to be insane, or who has rational basis to
jumped off the ship twice, he was saved the first time conclude that a person was insane based on the
he jumped but failed the second time. The Labor witness own perception of the person, or who is
Arbiter dismissed the complaint filed by Editha qualified as an expert, such as a psychiatrist. Hence,
Teringtering for lack of merit and held that Jacintos the Court GRANTED the petition, reversed and set
death is due a deliberate and intentional jumping to aside the decision of the Court of Appeals, and
the sea as attested by his colleagues and while he reinstated and affirmed the resolutions of NLRC and
died during the effectivity of his contract of the Labor Arbiter.
employment, his death is directly attributable to him.
Editha filed an appeal at NLRC which affirmed the
ruling of the Labor Arbiter. Editha filed a petition for
certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court before
the Court of Appeals where it reversed and set aside
the resolution of NLRC. Crewlink, petitioner, filed a
petition in the Supreme Court and the Court granted
the petition, reversed and set aside the decision of the