A.C. No. 3283 - Millare vs. Montero

On January 27, 2012, Manolo N. Licuanan signed a nine‑month contract with Singa Ship Management, Inc. (SSMI) on behalf of Singa Ship Management Pte Ltd., Singapore, to work as chef de partie on board the vessel "Queen Mary 2."
He commenced his duties on March 7, 2012 by boarding the vessel.

In July 2012, Manolo experienced difficulty swallowing solid food, which later evolved into a persistent dry cough.
He was evaluated by an ENT specialist in Hamburg, Germany, where a diagnosis revealed a large ulcerated mass in the nasopharynx, extending towards the mastoid, associated with muco-tympania and right ear hearing loss.
A nasopharyngeal biopsy was recommended, and on July 27, 2012, he was medically repatriated to the Philippines for further evaluation.
On August 17, 2012, the company-designated physician diagnosed him with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and recommended chemoradiotherapy.
Initially, his condition was declared not work-related; however, on November 23, 2012, the same physician assigned him a Grade 7 disability rating, which became final on December 14, 2012.

Manolo died on February 15, 2014, leaving behind his heirs, headed by his wife, Virginia S. Licuanan.
The Heirs of Manolo filed a complaint for recovery of death benefits, damages, and attorney’s fees against SSMI, SSMPL, and Rene N. Riel.
SSMI, et al. contended that the death benefits were not applicable since Manolo’s illness was not work-related.

The Labor Arbiter ruled on February 23, 2015, finding SSMI, et al. liable to pay permanent total disability benefits based on the determination that the illness was work-related, influenced by Manolo’s onboard diet and the issued disability rating.
The NLRC reversed the Labor Arbiter’s decision on January 29, 2016, holding that his death did not occur during the term of employment (as he had been medically repatriated and terminated) and thus denied death benefits, while leaving open a separate claim for disability benefits.
The Court of Appeals, in its Decision dated October 12, 2017, reversed the NLRC ruling by awarding disability benefits on the basis that the company-designated physician had found the illness work-related, though still denying death benefits.
Both parties subsequently filed motions for reconsideration, which were denied in a Resolution dated March 22, 2018, leading to the consolidated petitions before the Supreme Court.

Whether Manolo’s nasopharyngeal carcinoma, initially declared as non-work-related, can be deemed work-related based on contributory factors such as his poor onboard diet and the final disability rating issued by the company-designated physician.
Whether the issuance of a Grade 7 disability rating by the company-designated physician suffices to establish the work-related nature of Manolo’s illness.

Whether the death of the seafarer, which occurred after his medical repatriation and termination of employment, falls within the compensable period under the POEA-SEC.
Whether a liberal construction of Section 20 (B)(1) of the 2010 POEA‑SEC allows for awarding death benefits even when the actual death occurs after the termination of the contract, provided that the causative work-related injury or illness occurred during the term of employment.