Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2010 > November 2010 Decisions > G.R. No. 190545 : November 22, 2010 JERRY M. FRANCISCO, Petitioner, v. BAHIA SHIPPING SERVICES, INC. and/or CYNTHIA C. MENDOZA, and FRED OLSEN CRUISE LINES, LTD., Respondents.:




THIRD DIVISION

G.R. No. 190545 : November 22, 2010

JERRY M. FRANCISCO, Petitioner, v. BAHIA SHIPPING SERVICES, INC. and/or CYNTHIA C. MENDOZA, and FRED OLSEN CRUISE LINES, LTD., Respondents.

D E C I S I O N

CARPIO MORALES, J.:

Jerry M. Francisco (petitioner) entered into a shipboard employment contract on April 5, 2004 with respondent Bahia Shipping Services, Inc. (Bahia Shipping) to work for its co-respondent foreign principal Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd. as ordinary seaman on board the ocean-going vessel M/S Black Prince for a period of nine (9) months, with a monthly guaranteed pay of US$467.00, inclusive of basic salary, fixed overtime and leave pay.[1]cra This was the fourth contract of petitioner with respondents since May 2002.[2]cralaw

On April 20, 2004, petitioner went through the mandatory Pre-Employment Medical Examination (PEME) with Maritime Clinic for International Services, Inc., (the Clinic) which noted that he was repatriated in January 2004 while serving under a previous contract with respondents due to a Generalized Tonic-Clonic Type Seizure Disorder which was possibly alcohol-induced;[3]cra that during the repatriation, petitioner was treated from January 9, 2004 up to January 30, 2004 by the company-designated physician Dr. Robert Lim (Dr. Lim) who assessed him �to consider seizure disorder.�[4]cra The Clinic nevertheless found him fit to work, hence, he, on April 24, 2004, boarded the vessel for the fourth time.

Petitioner boarded the vessel on April 24, 2004 but was repatriated on June 3, 2004, after his tonic-clonic seizures recurred, having suffered four to five fits of seizures nighttime of May 26, 2004, and the ship doctor having found that petitioner was not fit to continue employment at sea.[5]cralaw

Following his repatriation, he was attended by Dr. Lim who advised him to undergo 21 Channel EEG and cranial CT scan, and referred him to a neurologist.[6]cralaw

Dr. Lim found the Seizure Disorder, Generalized Tonic-Clonic Type[7]cra with which petitioner was affected was not work-related.[8]cralaw

Petitioner continued to avail of his follow-up check-ups and re-evaluations with the company-designated physicians from June to September 2004.[9]cra After the lapse of the 120-day period following petitioner�s repatriation, respondents informed him that further medical expenses would be on his own account.

On October 14, 2004, respondents paid petitioner his full sickness benefit amounting to P104,234.40.[10]cralaw

On April 21, 2005, petitioner consulted a private, independent physician, Dr. Efren R. Vicaldo (Dr. Vicaldo), who issued a Medical Certificate declaring him to be suffering from a seizure disorder with an Impediment Grade X (20.15%).[11]cra Dr. Vicaldo deemed petitioner�s illness as work-aggravated, found him unfit to resume work as seaman in any capacity and was not expected to land a gainful employment.[12]cralaw

Petitioner thus filed on May 9, 2005 a Complaint with the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) for payment of disability benefits, illness allowance, reimbursement of medical expenses, damages and attorney�s fees against respondents.[13]cralaw

Respondents disclaimed that petitioner�s illness is compensable, the same not being an occupational disease and was pre-existing.[14]cralaw

By Decision of December 19, 2005,[15]cra the Labor Arbiter ruled in favor of petitioner, holding that he got ill during the effectivity of his employment contract, hence, entitled to disability benefits. Had the illness been pre-existing, the Labor Arbiter held that it could have been discovered during the PEME.

By Decision of March 31, 2008,[16]cra the NLRC overturned the Labor Arbiter�s Decision holding that the illness of petitioner was pre-existing in nature because it was the same illness for which he was medically repatriated under a previous contract with respondents;[17]cra that petitioner was fit to work at the time of his engagement could not be the basis to grant compensation as the results of PEME is not a measure of the seafarer�s true state of health;[18]cra and it was error for the Labor Arbiter to award sickness wages, as it was manifest from the records that petitioner was duly paid therefor on October 14, 2004.[19]cralaw

The Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the NLRC, by Decision[20]cra of August 13, 2009, holding that under the 2000 Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) Standard Employment Contract, for disability to be compensable, it must be the result of work-related injury or illness, unlike in the 1996 POEA Standard Employment Contract in which it was sufficient that the seafarer suffered injury or illness during his term of employment;[21]cra that the 2000 POEA Standard Employment Contract defines a work-related illness as any sickness resulting in disability or death as a result of an occupational disease listed under Section 32-A of the Contract with the conditions set therein satisfied; and that while any illness not listed in Section 32 is disputably presumed to be work-related, such disputable presumption was sufficiently rebutted when the company-designated doctors categorically stated that petitioner�s seizure disorder was not work-related.

The appellate court noted that no substantial evidence was presented by petitioner to show that there is a reasonable connection between the nature of his employment or working conditions and his illness;[22]cra and that the findings of the company-designated physicians deserve greater weight viz-a-viz the conclusion of petitioner�s private doctor which was arrived at after only one consultation.[23]cralaw

His motion for reconsideration of the appellate court�s decision having been denied,[24]cra petitioner lodged the present petition for review on certiorari, arguing in the main that his illness is presumed to be work-related.

The petition fails.

Petitioner�s illness was already existing when he commenced his fourth contract of employment with respondents, hence, not compensable.[25]cra Given that the employment of a seafarer is governed by the contract he signs every time he is rehired and his employment is terminated when his contract expires,[26]cra petitioner�s illness during his previous contract with respondents is deemed pre-existing during his subsequent contract.

That petitioner was subsequently rehired by respondents despite knowledge of his seizure attacks does not make the latter a guarantor of his health. A seafarer only needs to pass the mandatory PEME in order to be deployed on duty at sea. Notably, petitioner was consistently declared �fit to work� at sea after every PEME. However, while PEME may reveal enough for respondents to decide whether a seafarer is fit for overseas employment, it may not be relied upon as reflective of petitioner�s true state of health. The PEME could not have revealed petitioner�s illness as the examinations were not exploratory.[27]cralaw

But even granting arguendo that petitioner�s illness was not pre-existing, he still had to show that his illness not only occurred during the term of his contract but also that it resulted from a work-related injury or illness, or at the very least aggravated by the conditions of the work for which he was contracted for.[28]cra Petitioner failed to discharge this burden, however.[29]cralaw

That the exact and definite cause of petitioner�s illness is unknown cannot be used to justify grant of disability benefits, absent proof that there is any reasonable connection between work actually performed by petitioner and his illness.

It bears noting that the company-designated physician of respondent who monitored petitioner�s condition and treatment for several months categorically stated that petitioner�s illness is not work-related was controverted by petitioner�s own physician, however. Section 20 (B) of the POEA Standard Contract provides that [I]f a doctor appointed by the seafarer disagrees with the assessment, a third doctor may be agreed jointly between the employer and the seafarer. The third doctor�s decision shall be final and binding on both parties. This procedure however was not availed of by the parties.

While the Court adheres to the principle of liberality in favor of the seafarer in construing the POEA Standard Contract, it cannot allow claims for compensation based on surmises. When the evidence presented then negates compensability, the claim must fail, lest it causes injustice to the employer.[30]cralaw

WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED.

SO ORDERED.

CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES
Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice

ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice

MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.
Associate Justice

MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO
Associate Justice

ATTESTATION

I attest 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.

CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES
Associate Justice
Chairperson

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, and the Division Chairperson�s Attestation, 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.

RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice



cralaw Endnotes:

[1]cra National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) records, p.3.

[2]cra Id. at 171.

[3]cra Id. at 173.

[4]cra Id. at 180.

[5]cra Id. at 177.

[6]cra Id. at 179-180.

[7]cra Id. at 179-181.

[8]cra Id. at 181.

[9]cra Id. at 182-185.

[10]cra Id. at 186.

[11]cra Id. at 66.

[12]cra Id. at 67.

[13]cra Id. at 51.

[14]cra Id. at 76.

[15]cra Rollo, pp.94-102.

[16]cra Id. at 140-148.

[17]cra Id. at 144.

[18]cra Id. at 144-145.

[19]cra Id. at 147.

[20]cra Id. at 180-193.

[21]cra Id. at 189.

[22]cra Id. at 190.

[23]cra Id. at 191.

[24]cra Id. at 210-211.

[25]cra NYK-Fil Ship Management, Inc, v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. No. 161104. September 27, 2006, 503 SCRA 595.

[26]cra Millares v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. No. 110524, July 29, 2002, 385 SCRA 306.

[27]cra Supra note 25 at 60.

[28]cra Masangcay v. Trans-Global Maritime Agency, Inc., G.R. No. 172800, October 17, 2008, 569 SCRA 592, 593

[29]cra See Estate of Poseido Ortega vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 175005, April 30, 2008, 553 SCRA 649.

[30]cra Ibid.




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  • G.R. No. 187978 : November 24, 2010 ROMULO R. PERALTA, Petitioner, v. HON. RAUL E. DE LEON, Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court of Para�aque, Branch 258, HON. ARBITER DUNSTAN SAN VICENTE, in his capacity as Housing and Land Use Regulatory Arbiter and LUCAS ELOSO EJE, in his capacity as Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Para�aque City and CONCEPTS AND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT INC., as represented by its CHAIRMAN KASUO NORO, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. HOJ-10-03 (Formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-04-HOJ) : November 15, 2010 THELMA T. BABANTE-CAPLES, Complainant, v. PHILBERT B. CAPLES, Utility Worker II, Hall of Justice, Municipal Trial Court, La Paz, Leyte, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 190754 : November 17, 2010 SAN PEDRO CINEPLEX PROPERTIES, INC., Petitioner, v. HEIRS OF MANUEL HUMADA ENA�O, represented by VIRGILIO A. BOTE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 181956 : November 11, 2010 VICTORIA L. TEH, Petitioner, v. NATIVIDAD TEH TAN, TEH KI TIAT, and JACINTA SIA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 187751 : November 22, 2010 EDNA EUGENIO, MARY JEAN GREGORIO, RENATO PAJARILLO, ROGELIO VILLAMOR, Petitioners, v. STA. MONICA RIVERSIDE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 186158 : November 22, 2010 CAREER PHILIPPINES SHIP MANAGEMENT, INC., Petitioner, v. GERONIMO MADJUS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 190545 : November 22, 2010 JERRY M. FRANCISCO, Petitioner, v. BAHIA SHIPPING SERVICES, INC. and/or CYNTHIA C. MENDOZA, and FRED OLSEN CRUISE LINES, LTD., Respondents.

  • A.C. No. 8391 [Formerly CBD Case No. 06-1631] : November 23, 2010 MANUEL C. YUHICO, Complainant, v. ATTY. FRED L. GUTIERREZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 190755 : November 24, 2010 LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. ALFREDO ONG, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 182086 : November 24, 2010 BEBINA G. SALVALOZA, representing her late husband, GREGORIO SALVALOZA, Petitioner, v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION, GULF PACIFIC SECURITY AGENCY, INC., and ANGEL QUIZON, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 189326 : November 24, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. FRANCISCO RELOS, SR., Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 189239 : November 24, 2010 SPOUSES LETICIA & JOSE ERVIN ABAD, SPS. ROSARIO AND ERWIN COLLANTES, SPS. RICARDO AND FELITA ANN, SPS. ELSIE AND ROGER LAS PI�AS, LINDA LAYDA, RESTITUTO MARIANO, SPS. ARNOLD AND MIRIAM MERCINES, SPS. LUCITA AND WENCESLAO A. RAPACON, SPS. ROMEO AND EMILYN HULLEZA, LUZ MIPANTAO, SPS. HELEN AND ANTHONY TEVES, MARLENE TUAZON, SPS. ZALDO AND MIA SALES, SPS. JOSEFINA AND JOEL YBERA, SPS. LINDA AND JESSIE CABATUAN, SPS. WILMA AND MARIO ANDRADA, SPS. RAYMUNDO AND ARSENIA LELIS, FREDY AND SUSANA PILONEO, Petitioners, v. FIL-HOMES REALTY and DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and MAGDIWANG REALTY CORPORATION, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 183699 : November 24, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. ROSALIE COLILAP BA�AGA, Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 188412 : November 22, 2010 CITIBANK, N.A., Petitioner, v. ATTY. ERNESTO S. DINOPOL, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 188051 : November 22, 2010 ASIA UNITED BANK, Petitioner, v. GOODLAND COMPANY, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 173428 : November 22, 2010 FROILAN DEJURAS , Petitioner, v. HON. RENE C. VILLA, in his official capacity as Secretary of Agrarian Reform; the BUREAU OF AGRARIAN LEGAL ASSISTANCE, the CENTER FOR LAND USE AND POLICY PLANNING INSTITUTE, the DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD, all of the Department of Agrarian Reform; CONCHITA DELFINO; ANTHONY DELFINO; ARTEMIO ALON; and SM PRIME HOLDINGS, INC., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 165676 : November 22, 2010 JOSE MENDOZA, cralaw* Petitioner, v. NARCISO GERMINO and BENIGNO GERMINO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 150284 : November 22, 2010 SPOUSES ELISEO SEVILLA and ERNA SEVILLA, Petitioners, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS and PATRICIA VILLAREAL, for herself and in behalf of her children, TRICIA and CLAIRE HOPE VILLAREAL, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 183868 : November 22, 2010 COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, Petitioner, v. MARINA SALES, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 172605 : November 22, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES , Appellee, v. EVANGELINE LASCANO y VELARDE, Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 185616 : November 24, 2010 THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. ARNEL MACAFE y NABONG, Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 181858 : November 24, 2010 KEPCO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 176260 : November 24, 2010 LUCIA BARRAMEDA VDA. DE BALLESTEROS, Petitioner, v. RURAL BANK OF CANAMAN INC., represented by its Liquidator, the philippine deposit insurance corporation, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 175887 : November 24, 2010 HEIRS OF THE LATE NESTOR TRIA, Petitioners, v. ATTY. EPIFANIA OBIAS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 173339 : November 24, 2010 LEDESCO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. WORLDWIDE STANDARD INTERNATIONAL REALTY, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 160933 : November 24, 2010 NICEAS M. BELONGILOT, Petitioner, v. ROLANDO S. CUA, ROEL ERIC C. GARCIA, LORENZO R. REYES, AUGUSTO P. QUIJANO, IANELA G. JUSI-BARRANTES and SALVADOR P. RAMOS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 157479 : November 24, 2010 PHILIP TURNER and ELNORA TURNER, Petitioners, v. LORENZO SHIPPING CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-10-2781 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 02-1419-P) : November 24, 2010 PASTOR C. PINLAC, Complainant, v. OSCAR T. LLAMAS, Cash Clerk II, Regional Trial Court, Office of the Clerk of Court, San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 173815 : November 24, 2010 MILWAUKEE INDUSTRIES CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. COURT OF TAX APPEALS and COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondents.

  • [G.R. No. 180914 : November 24, 2010] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. DOMINGO DOMINGUEZ, JR., ALIAS "SANDY," ACCUSED-APPELLANT.

  • [G.R. No. 184599 : November 24, 2010] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. TEDDY BATOON Y MIGUEL AND MELCHOR BATOON Y MIGUEL, ACCUSED-APPELLANTS.

  • [G.R. No. 185766 : November 23, 2010] CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, PETITIONER, VS. COURT OF APPEALS AND PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE, RESPONDENTS. [G.R. No. 185767] CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, PETITIONER, VS. COURT OF APPEALS AND PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE, RESPONDENTS.

  • [A.M. No. P-09-2603 (Formerly A.M. No. 08-7-221-MeTC) : November 23, 2010] RE: HABITUAL ABSENTEEISM OF MR. NELSON G. MARCOS, SHERIFF III, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, CALOOCAN CITY.

  • [G.R. No. 166566 : November 23, 2010] PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, VS. WENCESLAO DERI y BENITEZ, ACCUSED-APPELLANT.

  • [A.M. No. MTJ-08-1719] : November 23, 2010] ATTY. ARNOLD B. LUGARES, COMPLAINANT, VS. JUDGE LIZABETH GUTIERREZ-TORRES, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 60, MANDALUYONG CITY, RESPONDENT. [A.M. NO. MTJ-08-1722A.M. No. MTJ-08-1719] JOSE MARIA J. SEMBRANO, COMPLAINANT, VS. JUDGE LIZABETH GUTIERREZ-TORRES, PRESIDING JUDGE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 60, MANDALUYONG CITY, RESPONDENT. [ A.M. NO. MTJ-08-1723A.M. No. MTJ-08-1719 ] MARCELINO LANGCAP, COMPLAINANT, VS. JUDGE LIZABETH GUTIERREZ-TORRES, PRESIDING JUDGE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 60, MANDALUYONG CITY, RESPONDENT.

  • [A.M. No. P-06-2225 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 04-2027-P), November 23, 2010] BERNALETTE L. RAMOS, COMPLAINANT, VS. SUSAN A. LIMETA, LEGAL RESEARCHER, RESPONDENT.

  • [A.M. No. P-06-2211 (Formerly A.M. No. 06-5-175-MTC) : November 23, 2010] OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, COMPLAINANT, VS. MS. ROSEBUEN B. VILLETA, CLERK OF COURT II, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT, OTON, ILOILO, RESPONDENT.

  • [G.R. No. 148269 : November 22, 2010] PRESIDENTIAL AD HOC FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE ON BEHEST LOANS THRU THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT, REPRESENTED BY ATTY. ORLANDO L. SALVADOR, PETITIONER, VS. HON. ANIANO DESIERTO, IN HIS CAPACITY AS OMBUDSMAN, ULPIANO TABASONDRA, ENRIQUE M. HERBOSA, ZOSIMO C. MALABANAN, ARSENIO S. LOPEZ, ROMEO V. REYES, NILO ROA, HERADEO GUBALLA, FLORITA T. SHOTWELL, BENIGNO DEL RIO, JUAN F. TRIVIÑO, SALVADOR B. ZAMORA II, AND JOHN DOES, RESPONDENTS.

  • [G.R. No. 179898 : November 22, 2010] MAUNLAD HOMES, INC., N.C. PULUMBARIT, INC., N.C.P. LEASING CORPORATION, AND NEMENCIO C. PULUMBARIT, SR., PETITIONERS, VS. UNION BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES AND JULIE C. GO, RESPONDENTS.

  • [G.R. No. 150318 : November 22, 2010] PHILIPPINE TRUST COMPANY (ALSO KNOWN AS PHILTRUST BANK), PETITIONER, VS. HON. COURT OF APPEALS AND FORFOM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, RESPONDENTS.