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comment on the Petition within 10 days from notice.
Bahia Shipping filed a Motion for Extension of Time to File Comment[38] on September
13, 2013. The Comment[39] was filed on October 14, 2013.
Nonay filed her Reply[40] on January 30, 2014, which was noted by this court in the
Resolution[41] dated March 12, 2014. In the same Resolution, this court required the
parties to submit their memoranda within 30 days from notice.[42]
Nonay argues that the National Labor Relations Commission did not gravely abuse its
discretion when it found that her illness was work-related and work-aggravated since
more than 120 days lapsed without any declaration from the company-designated
physician that she was fit to work.[43] Thus, her illness was compensable.[44]
She also argues that she underwent the required pre-employment medical examination
and was certified fit to work. The fit-to-work certification shows that when she boarded
the vessel, she was in perfect health. However, she was repatriated for medical
reasons. Thus, her illness developed in the course of her work onboard the M/S
Braemer.[45]
Nonay points out that the test in claims for disability benefits is "not the absolute
certainty that the nature of employment. . . caused the illness of the worker."[46]
Instead, the test only requires "the probability that the nature of employment of the
worker . . . caused or contributed in the enhancement, development[,] and
deterioration of such illness."[47] Further, "in case of doubt as to the compensability of
an ailment, the doubt is always settled in favor of its compensability."[48] It is not the
gravity of the injury that is compensated but the loss of earning capacity.[49]
She alleges that she can no longer obtain employment and has lost her capacity to earn
income as a seafarer.[50] Thus, she is entitled to disability compensation as provided
under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.[51] She alleges that under her Collective
Bargaining Agreement, "all . . . illnesses of a medically repatriated seafarer ... are
presumed work related."[52]
Nonay cites the 2000 Philippine Overseas Employment Agency-Standard Employment
Contract (POEA Standard Employment Contract), suppletory to the Collective
Bargaining Agreement, which provides that "all other illnesses acquired by the
seafarers onboard the vessel including those not listed as occupational disease are
presumed work related and work aggravated."[53]
She further argues that the company-designated physician is biased in favor of Bcihia
Shipping.[54] On the other hand, her personal physician, Dr. Manuel C. Jacinto, Jr. (Dr.
Jacinto) is "an independent general medical practitioner and he has no special
relationship to petitioner other than doctor-patient relationship only."[55]
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