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leaving the vessel while it was docked at Mauritius Islands on July 15, 1992.
Upon his return to the Philippines, petitioner asked private respondents to pay his
salaries. Instead of doing so, they required him to surrender his passport promising
that they would procure another job for him. Later, private respondents gave him the
amount of five hundred pesos (P500.00).
Private respondents filed an answer[7] claiming that, petitioner, Victor Lim and Min Fee
Fishery Co. Ltd are all "total strangers" to them. To bolster the claim, they offered in
evidence the Joint Affidavit[8] of Efren B. Balucas and Alexander C. Natura,
petitioner's co-workers in Singapore, stating that while they were in Singapore,
petitioner admitted to them that he did not apply in any agency in the Philippines; that
he came to Singapore merely as a tourist; and that, he applied directly and personally
with Step-Up Agency. These statements were corroborated by the "Certification"[9]
issued by Step-Up Agency.
On January 23, 1993, petitioner filed a Supplemental Affidavit[10] claiming that he was
not a "total stranger" to private respondents, and that, as a matter of fact, he knew
respondent Cayanan since 1990, when they used to go to the San Lazaro Hippodrome
to watch horse races. He also averred that while the vessel was docked at Mauritius
Islands on June 1992, respondent Cayanan reminded him and his co-workers of their
loan obligations by sending them photocopies of the PNB checks he (respondent
Cayanan) issued in favor of their relatives, and the agreements whereby they
authorized Victor Lim to deduct from their salaries the amount of their loan obligations.
On January 5, 1994, the POEA rendered a decision in favor of petitioner, the dispositive
portion of which reads:
"WHEREFORE, premises considered, respondents JEAC International
Management and Contractor Services, Jose E. Cayanan and Travellers
Insurance Corp. are hereby ordered, jointly and severally to pay
complainant the amount of US DOLLARS: ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED
FORTY SIX AND 66/100 (US$1,646.66) representing his unpaid salaries and
US$164.66 as and by way of attorney's fees. Payment shall be made in
Philippine Currency at the prevailing rate of exchange at the time of
payment.
For want of jurisdiction, the claim for moral and exemplary damages is
denied.
All other claims and counterclaims are denied.
SO ORDERED."[11]
Incidentally, the POEA dismissed petitioner's claim against Country Bankers on the
ground that the surety bond which was effective at the time of petitioner's deployment
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