5/19/2021
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WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered finding
[Narbonita] entitled to pe1manent total disability benefits in the amount of
US$60,000.00 and ten percent attorney's fees.
All other claims are dismissed tor lack of merit.
SO ORDERED.[30]
Ruling of the NLRC
Upon appeal, the NLRC, like the LA, found no merit in the contention of the petitioners
that Narbonita's illness was not work-related considering that: (1) Narbonita's illness
arose or was sustained while working on board the vessel; (2) Narbonita was
repatriated and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery supervised by the companydesignated physician; and (3) on his subsequent embarkation, Narbonita suffered the
same injury that led to his second medical repatriation. It thus affirmed the ruling of
the LA, as follows:
WHEREFORE, the appeal filed by [petitioners] is DISMISSED. The herein
assailed Decision dated August 29, 2014 of [the LA] is hereby AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED.[31]
Petitioners' Motion for Reconsideration was denied in a Resolution[32] dated June 2,
2015.
Consequently, the respondents filed a Petition for Certiorari before the CA. During its
pendency, Narbonita sought the execution of the NLRC Resolutions dated April 10, 2015
and June 2, 2015. On August 13, 2015, petitioners, with the intent of preventing
further execution proceedings, paid Narbonita the peso equivalent of US$66,000.00
which is P2,978,646.00 as full and complete satisfaction of the NLRC's judgment award.
Such payment was subject to the condition that in case of reversal or modification of
the NLRC Decision and Resolution by the CA, Narbonita shall return to petitioners
whatever amount may be due and owing.[33]
Ruling of the CA
The CA, in the herein assailed Resolution dated December 2, 2015, dismissed the
petition holding that the challenged resolutions of the NLRC was in accordance with law
and prevailing jurisprudence and that no grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or
excess of jurisdiction can be imputed against the said labor tribunal, viz.:
WHEREFORE, the instant petition is DISMISSED for lack of merit. With costs.
SO ORDERED.[34]
Petitioners filed a motion for reconsideration, but the same was denied by the CA in its
May 16, 2016 Resolution.
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