Case Digest (G.R. No. 214542)
Facts:
Ronnie L. Singson v. Arktis Maritime Corp./Filpride Shipping, Co., Inc./Prosper Marine Private Ltd., G.R. No. 214542, January 13, 2021, the Supreme Court Third Division, Hernando, J., writing for the Court.Petitioner Ronnie L. Singson was hired on January 13, 2010 by Fil-Pride Shipping Co. to serve as third engineer on the M/V "MIT Atlanta 2" for a ten-month tour of duty for foreign principal Prosper Marine Private Ltd. He boarded on January 20, 2010; subsequently Fil-Pride was replaced as manning agent by Arktis Maritime Corp.
On October 13–14, 2010, petitioner was hospitalized in Singapore for severe stomach pains; a treating physician initially cleared him to rejoin the vessel for three days, but his condition did not improve and he was repatriated to Manila on October 17, 2010. On October 18, 2010 he was examined at the company-accredited Christian Medical Clinic, Inc., where the company physician, Dr. Lyn C. de Leon, diagnosed cholecystolithiasis with possible pancreatic pseudocyst and recommended surgery. One hundred thirty-four days after his arrival (February 28, 2011) Dr. de Leon issued a Medical Report declaring petitioner "fit to work."
On September 12, 2011 petitioner filed a complaint against Arktis, Fil-Pride and Prosper seeking permanent and total disability benefits, sickness allowance, refund of medical expenses, moral and exemplary damages, and attorney's fees. He alleged the illness was work-related, that respondents were inactive in obtaining treatment and denied him benefits and disability assessment. Respondents countered that petitioner voluntarily disembarked on October 17, 2010 and thus was no longer employed; they also relied on Dr. de Leon's fit-to-work certification.
The Labor Arbiter granted petitioner full disability benefits, sickness allowance, refund of medical expenses, moral and exemplary damages, and attorney's fees (with awards stated in U.S. dollars and pesos). Respondents appealed to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). The NLRC initially dismissed the appeal as late, but on reconsideration found the appeal timely; nevertheless it denied respondents' motion to reduce the appeal bond and denied respondents' motion for reconsideration, effectively affirming the Labor Arbiter's award.
Respondent Arktis then filed a petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals (CA). In its May 31, 2013 Decision the CA reversed the NLRC, holding petitioner was not entitled to permanent and total disability benefits but awarded sickness allowance (134 days), refund of medical expenses, moral and exemplary damages, and attorney's fees in peso amounts. Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration which the CA denied in its August 15, 2014 Resolution.
Petitioner sought relief in this Court by a Petition for Review on Certiorari (Rule 45), rai...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals err in ruling that petitioner is not entitled to permanent and total disability benefits...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)