Facts:

• Petitioners: Career Philippines Shipmanagement Inc., Columbia Shipmanagement, and Verlou R. Carmelino.
• Respondent: Ardel S. Garcia.
• Garcia filed a complaint for total and permanent disability benefits on June 19, 2013, registered as NLRC NCR Case No. OFW (M)-06-08883-13.
• Employed as a bosun on the vessel Cape Bastia with a basic salary of USD 690.00 since February 19, 2011.
• Responsibilities included overseeing deck operations, operating tools, managing inventory, and ensuring seaworthiness.
• On November 19, 2011, while in Lexum, Portugal, Garcia was thrown overboard due to rough seas, sustaining a pneumothorax.
• Treated in a Portuguese hospital and repatriated on December 2, 2011.
• Underwent treatment by company-designated physician Dr. Nicomedes Cruz until April 2, 2012.
• Declared fit to work on April 16, 2012, but continued to experience chest pains.
• Sought a second opinion from personal physician Dr. May S. Donato-Tan, who concluded he was permanently disabled.
• Petitioners contested the claim, asserting Garcia was fit to work.
• Labor Arbiter dismissed the complaint; NLRC reversed this decision, awarding benefits to Garcia.
• Court of Appeals affirmed NLRC's ruling but absolved Carmelino of personal liability.
• Petitioners sought review from the Supreme Court.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court granted the petition, reversing the Court of Appeals' decision and reinstating the Labor Arbiter's ruling that ...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court highlighted the importance of the company-designated physician's assessment under the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Standard Employment Contract in determining a seafarer's disability.
• If a seafarer disagrees with the company-designated physician's assessment, they may seek a second opinion from their own physician.
• In cases of conflicting assessments, a third doctor must be consulted, whose decision is final and binding.
• The company-...continue reading