“Accordingly, the court is constrained to find that Cerena is the legitimate spouse of Pedrito at the time of his death, and her 30-year separation de facto from the latter, as well as her subsequent marriage to Rene, do not negate her right to the subject death benefits proceeding from Pedrito’s death,” the SC said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.
Source: SC says only children, legal spouse can claim seafarer death benefits | ABS-CBN News
LN: Awit!