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subsequent medical report dated February 10, 2010 of the company-designated
physicians was issued within the 240-day window. Thus, following the "120/240-day
rule" on claims for permanent and total disability benefits,[34] Solacito had no basis to
insist that he is suffering from total or partial permanent disability.
Considering that Solacito's complaint is unfounded and in the absence of any of the
circumstances under Article 2208[35] of the Civil Code, there is likewise no basis to
award attorney's fees in his favor.
In view of the foregoing, petitioners are, therefore, entitled to the return of
P2,722,000.00 representing the Philippine Peso equivalent of the total and permanent
disability benefit and the 10% attorney's fees awarded by the NLRC and paid by
petitioners to Solacito during the execution proceedings. While it is unfortunate that
Solacito has already spent the amounts he collected from petitioners,[36] restitution is
in order in case of reversal of an executed judgment.[37]
Finally, interest at the rate of 6% per annum shall be imposed on the total monetary
award counted from the finality of this Decision until full payment in accordance with
prevailing jurisprudence.[38]
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Petition is GRANTED. The Decision dated
June 20, 2014 and Resolution dated March 13, 2015 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.
SP No. 123284 are hereby ANNULLED and SET ASIDE, and the complaint
DISMISSED for lack of merit.
Accordingly, respondent Roger P. Solacito is DIRECTED to return to petitioners Pacific
Ocean Manning, Inc., Industria Armamento Meridionale, and/or Capt. Amador P.
Servillon the total and permanent disability benefits and attorney's fees erroneously
paid to him in the total amount of Two Million Seven Hundred Twenty-Two Thousand
Philippine Peso (P2,722,000.00). Interest at the rate of 6% per annum is also imposed
on the total monetary award from the finality of this Decision until full payment.
SO ORDERED.
Peralta, C.J., (Chairperson), Lazaro-Javier, Inting,[*] and Zalameda,[**] JJ., concur.
[*] Designated as additional Member per Raffle dated February 3, 2020 in lieu of
Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes, Jr.
[**] Designated as additional Member per Raffle dated February 3, 2020 in lieu of
Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez.
[1] Rollo, pp. 65-75. Penned by Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes, Jr. (now a Member of
this Court) and concurred in by Associate Justices Mario V. Lopez (also now a Member
of this Court) and Socorro B. Inting.
[2] Id. at 146-149.
https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/66216
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