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personal hostility, the character of which being so patent and gross as to amount to an
evasion of positive duty or to a virtual refusal to perform the duty enjoined by or to act
at all in contemplation of law.[27]
In labor disputes, grave abuse of discretion may be ascribed to the NLRC when, inter
alia, its findings and conclusions are not supported by substantial evidence, or that
amount of relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to
justify a conclusion.[28]
Guided by the foregoing considerations, the Court finds that the CA committed
reversible error in granting respondent's certiorari petition since the NLRC did not
gravely abuse its discretion in dismissing the complaint for permanent total disability
benefits for respondent's failure to establish his claim through substantial evidence.
It is doctrinal that the entitlement of seamen on overseas work to disability benefits is
a matter governed not only by medical findings but by law and by contract.[29] The
relevant legal provisions are Articles 191 to 193 of the Labor Code and Section 2, Rule
X of the Amended Rules on Employees' Compensation (AREC), while the relevant
contracts are the POEA Standard Employment Contract (POEA-SEC), the parties'
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), if any, and the employment agreement
between the seafarer and employer.
In this case, the parties entered into a contract of employment in accordance with the
POEA-SEC which, as borne from the records, was covered by an overriding
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Cruise Ship Model Agreement For
Catering Personnel, i.e., the CBA, that was effective from January 1, 2010 until
December 31, 2010.[30] Since respondent's injury on board the vessel "Star Princess"
that caused his eventual repatriation was sustained on April 27, 2010, or during the
effectivity of the CBA, his claim for the payment of permanent total disability
compensation shall be governed by Article 12 (2) of the CBA which provides:
2. Disability:
A Seafarer who suffers injury as a result of an accident from any cause
whatsoever whilst in the employment of the Owners/Company, regardless of
fault, including accidents occurring whilst traveling to or from the Ship and
whose ability to work is reduced as a result thereof, shall in addition to his
sick pay, be entitled to compensation according to the provisions of this
Agreement.
The compensation which the Owner/Company, Manager, Manning Agent, and
any other legal entity substantially connected with the vessel shall be jointly
and severally liable to pay shall be calculated by reference to an agreed
medical report, with the Owners/Company and the Seafarer both able to
commission their own and when there is disagreement the parties to this
Agreement shall appoint a third doctor whose findings shall be binding on all
parties. The aforesaid medical report determines the Degree of Disability
and the table below the Rate of Compensation.
elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/61201
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