G.R. No. 230473 - Seacrest Maritime Management, Inc. vs. Alma Q. Roderos

The respondent, Alma Q. Roderos, is the widow and legal heir of Francisco Roderos, a Filipino seafarer.
Francisco Roderos was employed under a Contract of Employment with Heming Shipping Asia Pte. Ltd., through its Philippine manning agent, Seacrest Maritime Management, Inc.
Roderos served as Chief Cook aboard the vessel "MT ANNELISE THERESA" for six months, receiving a basic monthly salary of US $648 plus overtime pay and annual leave with pay.

In July 2011, Roderos experienced constipation and abdominal pains which persisted until September 2011.
While at the Port of Rostock, Germany, on September 4, 2011, he was hospitalized in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg Hospital with symptoms including blood in stool and swollen intestines.
Roderos was repatriated and admitted to St. Luke's Medical Center in the Philippines on September 29, 2011.
He was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon Adenocarcinoma with metastasis to pericolonic lymph nodes.
Chemotherapy was initiated under company-designated physician Dr. Natalio Alegre, who subsequently issued a medical report declaring the illness not work-related.

Based on the medical report and non-inclusion of colon cancer in the POEA's list of occupational diseases, chemotherapy was discontinued.
Roderos sought disability benefits through his union (AMOSUP) but failed to settle with the employer.
He filed a complaint for disability benefits, illness allowance, attorney's fees, and medical expenses before the Labor Arbiter (LA), who dismissed the case.
On appeal, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) affirmed the dismissal.
Roderos died during the pendency of the appeal; his widow was substituted as complainant.
The Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the NLRC, ruling the illness to be work-related or, at minimum, work-aggravated due to dietary and work conditions.
The CA awarded the widow US$60,000 for total and permanent disability, US$6,000 for attorney's fees, and imposed six percent interest from the date of death.
Petitioners moved for reconsideration which the CA denied, prompting this Supreme Court appeal.

Whether the illness (stage 4 Colon Adenocarcinoma) of Francisco Roderos was work-related and thus entitling the respondent to disability and death benefits under the POEA-SEC and related agreements.
Whether the Court of Appeals erred in awarding attorney's fees without finding bad faith or malice.
Whether the imposition of a six percent interest from the date of death was proper given the non-payment was based on legal grounds.