Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 191225 October 13, 2014
ZARSONA MEDICAL CLINIC, Petitioner,
vs.
PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
PEREZ, J.:
Before the Court is a petition for review on certiorari under Ruic 45 of the Rules of Court, questioning the 28 January 20091 and 7 December 20092 Resolutions of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 02489-MIN.
A complaint was filed against petitioner Zarsona Medical Clinic (ZMC) for violation of Section 149 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act of 1995. Section 149 penalizes any health care provider that increases the period of actual confinement of any patient with revocation of accreditation.
ZMC filed a claim withthe Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) on the confinement of National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) member Lorna M. Alestre (Alestre) on 10-12 August 2003. Said claim was denied on the ground of "extended confinement." It was stated on the claim form that Alestre was admitted to ZMC on 6 August 2003 and was discharged on 12 August 2003. Itwas also revealed in her Salaysay3 dated 12 January 2004 that Alestre’s actual confinement at ZMC was on 10-11 August 2003. Alestre, who is a teacher at Rizal Elementary School, was found to have reported for work on 12 August 2003.
In defense of ZMC, Dr. Sylvia Bragat (Dr. Bragat), its Medical Director, stated that ZMC’s Midwife/Clerk Jennifer R. Acuram (Acuram) committed an honest mistake when she wrote 6-12 August 2003 as the confinement period in the claim form. Dr. Bragat asserted that the hospital had in fact claimed only for two (2) days. Acuram acknowledged her mistake in her Affidavit of Explanation.4
ZMC also presented an Affidavit of Explanation5 dated 21 January 2005 from Alestre recanting her previous Salaysay. Alestre explained that the previous statement she gave does not reflect the truth because she was protecting herself when she logged-in at the school’s time record on 12 August 2003 when she was supposedly still confined at ZMC. Alestre narrated that she and her son were admitted at ZMC on 10 August 2003 at around 1:30 p.m. and was discharged on 12 August 2003. In the morning of 12 August 2003, after her attending physician went to check on her, she managed to slip out of the hospital. She proceeded to the school, which was a mere ten minute drive away from ZMC.She reported for work and came back to the hospital at noon to take her medicines and look after her child. Thereafter, she again wentback to the school and at about 1:30 p.m., she asked permission from the school principal that she needed to go back to the hospital. She then went back to ZMC to attend to her child and process her discharge papers. At around 2:00 p.m., she finally came back to the school.
Dr. Ariel dela Cruz, attending physician of Alestre, confirmed that he ordered Alestre’s discharge inthe morning of 12 August 2003.6
On 12 December 2007, ZMC was found liable for the charge of "Extending Period of Confinement" in violation of Section 149 of the Revised Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7875 and was meted the penalty of suspension from participating in the NHIP for a period of three (3) months and a fine of ₱10,000.00.
While Health Insurance Arbiter Michael Troy Polintan considered the admission date of 6 August 2003 reflected in Alestre’s clinical record as a mere clerical error, he refused to believe Alestre’s claim that she was discharged only on 12 August 2003 but onthat day, she was travelling back and forth from hospital tothe school where she teaches. The Philhealth Arbiter gave more evidentiary weight to the signature ofAlestre in the school’s attendance logbook which established the fact that she reported for work on 12 August 2003.
ZMC appealed but on 24 July 2008, the Philhealth Board of Directors (the Board) issued Philhealth Board Resolution No. 1151, Series of 2008 dismissing the appeal and affirming the 12 December 2007 Decision of the Philhealth Arbiter.
The Board ruled that the contentsof the Affidavit of Explanation dated 3 May 2005executed by Alestre is "too good to be true" because "in the first place, she has stated in detail all her acts from 7:17 a.m. to 8:15 [a.m.], 9:30 [a.m.], 9:50 [a.m.], 12:00 [noon]; 12:55 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 1:50 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The recollection of all these times after 22 months is not only fantastic but likewise incredible."7 Moreover, the Board also noted that Alestre could not possibly be in ZMC and in the school at the same time on 12 August 2003 while her son was still confined at the hospital.
ZMC filed a petition for review withthe Court of Appeals putting in the forefront of its arguments Alestre’s Affidavit of Explanation. ZMC admitted to Alestre’s recantation but inits defense, ZMC emphasized that the Affidavit, being notarized and executed under oath, should weigh more than the Salaysay, which was not so. ZMC added that Alestre’s retraction rang true because she was willing to incriminate herself in exchange for telling the truth.
Acting on the petition, the Court of Appeals issued the 4 September 2008 Resolution, which reads:
In the greater interest of substantial justice, petitioner is directed to RECTIFY within five (5) days from notice, the following deficiencies in its petition: (1) failure to attach the Special Power of Attorney executed by the petitioner Zarsona Medical Clinicin favor of Ma. Irene M. Hao, authorizing the latter to execute the verification and certification of nonforum shopping; (2) failure of the petitioner to attach the certified true copy of the assailed decision of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation as required under Rule 43, Section 6(c) of the Revised Rules of Court; (3) failure of the petitioner’s counsel, Atty. John Tracy F. Cagas, to indicate the dates and places of issuance of his IBP and PTR Receipts as well as his Roll of Attorneys Number.
Further action on the petition isheld in abeyance pending the petitioner’s compliance on these matters.8
On 30 October 2008, ZMC filed its Compliance, attaching thereto the plain copies of the Official Receipts of Atty. John Tracy F. Cagas’ Integrated Bar of the Philippines dues and Professional Tax Receipts showing the dates and places of issuance thereof, his roll number, a certified true copy of the assailed Decision dated 24 July 2008, and a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) dated 5 February 2001 executed by Dr. Leandro Zarsona, Jr. (Dr. Zarsona) in favor of Dr. Bragat and William Bragat.
On 28 January 2009, the Court of Appeals dismissed the petition for failure on the part of ZMC to attach a valid SPA. The appellate court found the SPA defective on the ground that it does not explicitly authorize Dr. Bragat to sign and execute the required verification and certification of nonforum shopping in this case. The appellate court noted that the powers granted to Dr. Bragat pertain only to her administrative functions as Medical Director of ZMC.
ZMC moved for reconsideration but itwas denied for lack of merit on 7 December 2009. In his Dissent, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ruben Ayson believed that ZMC should be given the opportunity to rectify any defect or infirmity in the petition pursuant to the preference on liberal construction of the Rules of Court over strict construction.9
Hence, this petition for review with the following assignment of errors:
1. THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN RULING THAT THE SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY (SPA) EXECUTED IN FAVOR OF DR. SYLVIA P. BRAGAT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE AUTHORITY GRANTED UPON HER TO SIGN THE VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING OF THIS INSTANT CASE.
2. THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN DISMISSING THIS INSTANT CASE BY DISREGARDING THE MERITS THEREOF.10
ZMC insists that the SPA provided that the Attorney-in-fact can make, execute and sign any contract, documents or all other writing of whatever kind and nature which are necessary to the power granted to it which is to represent, process, follow-up, transact and facilitate claims in Philhealth. This also covers the execution of verification and certification of non-forum shopping. ZMC then asserts that it will not gain anything in extending the period of confinement and reiterates that its clerk committed a mistake in entering the exact period of confinement.
At the outset, the issues revolve on the sufficiency of the SPA authorizing Dr. Bragat to sign the verification and certification of non-forum shopping in the petition filed before the Court of Appeals.
Verification of a pleading is a formal, not jurisdictional, requirement intended to secure the assurance that the matters alleged in a pleading are true and correct. Thus, the court may simply order the correction of unverified pleadings or act on them and waive strict compliance with the rules. It is deemed substantially complied with when one who has ample knowledge to swear to the truth of the allegations in the complaint or petition signs the verification, and whenmatters alleged inthe petition have been made in good faith orare true and correct.11
As to certification against forum shopping, non-compliance therewith or a defect therein, unlike in verification, is generally not curable by its subsequent submission or correction thereof, unless there is a need to relax the Rule on the ground of "substantial compliance" or presence of "special circumstances or compelling reasons."12 Rule 7, Section 5 of the Rules of the Court, requires that the certification should be signed by the "petitioner or principal party" himself. The rationalebehind this is "because only the petitioner himself has actual knowledge of whether or not he has initiated similar actions or proceedings indifferent courts or agencies."13
In Lim v. The Court of Appeals, Mindanao Station,14 we reiterated that the requirements of verification and certification against forum shopping are not jurisdictional. Verification is required to secure an assurance that the allegations in the petition have been made in good faith or are true and correct, and not merely speculative. Non-compliance with the verification requirement does not necessarily render the pleading fatally defective, and is substantially complied with when signed by one who has ample knowledge of the truth of the allegations in the complaint or petition, and when matters alleged in the petition have been made in good faith orare true and correct. On the other hand, the certification against forum shopping is required based on the principle that a party-litigantshould not be allowed to pursue simultaneous remedies in different fora. While the certification requirement is obligatory, non-compliance or a defect in the certificate could be cured by its subsequent correction or submission under special circumstances or compelling reasons, or on the ground of "substantial compliance."15
In both cases, the submission of an SPA authorizing an attorney-infact to sign the verification and certification against forum-shopping in behalf of the principal party is considered as substantial compliance with the Rules.
In this case, Philhealth found the SPA defective.
The SPA granted by Dr. Zarsona tohis attorneys-in-fact, Dr. Bragat and William Bragat, authorizes the latter to do the following:
A) To represent(,) process, follow up, transact and facilitate all claims, benefits and privileges belonging to or owing to Zarsona Medical Clinic in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Health and in other agencies, may it be private or government;
B) To receive, withdraw, and encash any check or checks belonging to or in the name of Zarsona Medical Clinic;
C) To make, execute, and sign any contract, documents or all other writings of whatever kind and nature which are necessary to the foregoing powers.16
Indeed, a reading of the SPA reveals that the powers conferred by Dr. Zarsona to his attorneys-in-fact pertain to administrative matters. The phrase "claims, benefits and privileges belonging to or owing to Zarsona Medical Clinic" clearly does not include the filing of cases before the courts or any quasi-judicial agencies. The term"claims" in particular refers to those claims for payment of services rendered by the hospital during a Philhealth member’s confinement. These claims are filed by the hospital with Philhealth. Furthermore, the SPA makes no mention of any court, judicial or quasi-judicial bodies. The enumeration of agencies in the first paragraph of the SPA, such as Philhealth and Department of Health, refers to those agencies which are health-related. There is no explicit authorization for Dr. Bragat to sign and execute the requirement verification and certification in this case. At the very least, the SPA should have granted the attorneys-in-fact the power and authority to institute civil and criminal actions which would necessarily include the signing of the verification and certification against forum-shopping.
The defects in the SPA notwithstanding, we rule in favor of ZMC. We agree with the Dissent registeredby Associate Justice Ruben Ayson when he suggested that ZMC should begiven the opportunity to rectify the defects in the petition. We are aware that the Court of Appeals in its Resolution dated 28 January 2009 had directed ZMC to submit an SPA. ZMC had in good faith complied by submitting an SPA which it thought was sufficient and encompasses the filing of the instant suit. Time and again, we had espoused the doctrine that provisions of the Rules of Court should be liberally construed in order to promote their objective of securing a just, speedy and inexpensive disposition of every action and proceeding. Otherwise put, the rule requiring a certification of forum shopping to accompany every initiatory pleading, or the verification for that matter "should not be interpreted with such absolute literalness as to subvert its own ultimate and legitimate objective or the goal of all rules of procedure – which is to achieve substantial justice as expeditiously as possible."17 While it is true that the rules of procedure are intended to promote rather than frustrate the ends of justice, and the swift unclogging of court docket is a laudable objective, it nevertheless mustnot be met at the expense of substantial justice. This Court has time and again reiterated the doctrine that the rules of procedure are mere tools aimed at facilitating the attainment of justice, rather than its frustration. A strict and rigid application of the rules must always be eschewed when it would subvert the primary objective of the rules, that is, to enhance fair trialsand expedite justice. Technicalities should never be used to defeat the substantive rights of the other party. Every party-litigant must be affordedthe amplest opportunity for the proper and just determination of his cause, free from the constraints of technicalities.18
We choose to apply liberality becauseof the substantial merit of the petition.
The petition was dismissed by the Court of Appeals purely on a procedural ground. Ordinarily, procedure dictates that the Court of Appeals should be tasked with properly disposing the petition, a second time around, on the merits. However, when there is enough basis on which a proper evaluation of the merits of petitioner’s case may be had, the Court may dispense with the time-consuming procedure of remand in order to prevent further delays in the disposition of the case. Clearly, a remand of the instant case to the Court of Appeals would only unnecessarily prolong its resolution which had been pending for a decade. It is already an accepted rule of procedure for us to strive to settlethe entire controversy in a single proceeding, leaving no root or branch tobear the seeds of future litigation. If, based on the records, the pleadings, and other evidence, the dispute can be resolved by us, we will do so to serve the ends of justice instead of remanding the case to the lower court for further proceedings.19
Thus, we find the petition meritorious.
ZMC was charged with extending the period of confinement punishable under Section 149 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7875, which provides:
Section 149. Extending Period of Confinement. — This is
committed by any health care provider who, for the purpose of claiming payment from the NHIP, files a claim with extended period of confinement by:
a. Increasing the actual confinement of any patient;
b. Continuously charting entries in the Doctor's Order, Nurse's Notes and Observation despite actual discharge or absence of the patients;
c. Using such other machinations that would result in the unnecessary extension of confinement.
The foregoing offenses shall be penalized by revocation of accreditation. In addition, a recommendation shall be submitted to the DOH for cancellation of its license, oraccreditation, orclearance to operate, as appropriate.
The Philhealth Arbiter and the Board did not give weight to the Affidavit of Explanation submitted by the patient herself recanting her previous statement and categorically stating that she was discharged only on 12 August 2003.
It is an oft-repeated rule that findings of administrative agencies are generally accorded not only respect but also finality when the decision and order are not tainted with unfairness or arbitrariness that would amount to abuse of discretion or lack of jurisdiction. The findings of facts must be respected, so long as they are supported by substantial evidence even if not overwhelming or preponderant.20
After an exhaustive review of the records, we find that this case warrants a departure from said rule.1âwphi1
We are inclined to give more credence to Alestre’s Affidavit, which is essentially a recantation of her previous Salaysay, for the following reasons: First, Alestre has fully explained toour satisfaction why she initially misdeclared her dates of confinement in ZMC. In her desire to report and be compensated for one day of work, Alestre hied back and forth between school and the hospital. It is difficultto believe that she would risk her reputation as a public schoolteacher, as well as prosecution for violation of civil service rules, to be an abettor ofZMC. Second, Alestre truly cannot be in two places at the same time. But her narration clearly accounts for her whereabouts on 12 August 2003. She travelled at least 3 times to and from the hospital and school. She admitted that the school was a mere ten-minute drive away from the hospital so she can easily traverse between the two locations. Third, ZMC had in fact admitted to its error in indicating the dates of Alestre’s confinement so there is no reason for ZMC to further conceal the actual days of Alestre’s confinement. Fourth, the Salaysayis not notarized. While recantation is frowned upon and hardly given much weight in the determination of a case, the affidavit is still a notarized document which carries in its favor the presumption of regularity with respect to its due execution, and thatthere must be clear, convincing and more than merely preponderant evidence to contradict the same.21
Based on the foregoing, we reverse the finding of Philhealth and hold that ZMC is not guilty of extending the period of confinement.
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The Resolution of the Court or Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 02489-MIN dismissing the petition is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Philhcalth Board Resolution No. 1151, Series or 2008 is SET ASIDE.
SO ORDERED.
JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ
Associate Justice
WE COCNUR:
MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO
Chier Justice
Chairperson
TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
Associate Justice |
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Associate Justice |
ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Associate Justice
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court's Division.
MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO
Chief Justice
Footnotes
1 Penned by Associate Justice Associate .Justice Rodrigo F. Lim, .Ir. with Associate Justices Jane Aurora C. Lantion, Michael P. Elbinias, and Elihu A. Ybanez, concurring. Associate Justice Ruben C. Ayson dissented. Rollo. pp. 29-31.
2 Penned by Associate Justice Rodrigo F. Lim, Jr. with Associate .Justices Elihu A. Ybanu, Edgardo T. Lloren and Danton Q. Bueser, concurring. Associate Justice Ruben C. Ayson dissented. Id. at 23-25.
3 CA rollo, p. 176.
4 Id. at 178.
5 Id. at 218-219.
6 Id. at 220.
7 Id. at 65.
8 Penned by Associate Justice Ruben C. Ayson with Associate Justices Rodrigo F. Lim, Jr., and Michael P. Elbinias, concurring. Id. at 49-50.
9 Rollo, pp. 26-27.
10 Id. at 12.
11 Bello v. Bonifacio Security Services, Inc., G.R. No. 188086, 3 August 2011, 655 SCRA 143, 147-148.
12 Vda. de Formoso v. Philippine National Bank, G.R. No. 154704, 1 June 2011, 650 SCRA 35, 44.
13 Id. at 43.
14 G.R. No. 192615, 30 January 2013, 689 SCRA 705.
15 Id. at 713-714.
16 Rollo, p. 20.
17 Sps. Wee v. Galvez, 479 Phil. 737, 752 (2004).
18 Alcantara v. Philippine Commercial and International Bank, G.R. No. 151349, 20 October 2010, 634 SCRA 48, 60-61.
19 Id. at 61-62.
20 Cuerdo v. Commission on Audit,G.R. No. L-84592, 27 October 1988, 166 SCRA 657, 662.
21 Meneses v. Venturozo, G.R. No. 172196, 19 October 2011, 659 SCRA 577, 586.
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