G. R. No. 179177 21 of 29 http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/july2009/179177.htm Medical Report issued by the Dar Al Taafi, which stated that petitioner Nisda was suffering from Myositis, or a non-specific inflammation of the muscles of the parascapular region or [73] chest area. We note that petitioner Nisda was then only attended to by an Orthopedist, a surgeon whose area of expertise is the skeletal system composed of the bones and muscles. Petitioner Nisda was not seen by a cardiologist in Saudi Arabia even though his blood pressure was high, high enough that he was advised to regularly monitor the same. It is also of no moment that petitioner Nisda passed his pre-employment medical examination before he was hired and deployed by respondent ADAMS as a seafarer. It has been accepted that pre-employment medical examinations are usually not exploratory in [74] nature. The same is not intended to be a totally in-depth and thorough examination of an applicants medical condition. It merely determines whether one is fit to work at sea or fit for sea service; it does not describe the real state of health of an applicant. While a [pre-employment medical examination] may reveal enough for the [foreign employer] to decide whether a seafarer is fit for overseas employment, it may not be relied upon to inform petitioners of a seafarers true state of health. The [pre-employment medical examination] could not have divulged respondents illness considering that the examinations were not exploratory. [75] As a defense against any liability, respondents Sea Serve and ADAMS incessantly posit that petitioner Nisdas POEA-SEC had already expired when the latter was repatriated to the Philippines on 17 July 2002 and subsequently diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. We disagree. To be sure, the duration of petitioner Nisdas POEA-SEC was 6 MONTHS [76] Continuation of 3 months, or nine months entirely. Petitioner Nisda signed his POEA-SEC on 7 August 2001; but per Sec. 2(A) of the same, it was to commence only on 22 August 2001, the date of petitioner Nisdas actual departure from the airport in the point of hire, which was Quezon City, carrying with him his POEA-approved employment [77] The period of nine months, counted from 22 August 2001, expired on 21 May contract. 2002. 1/28/2016 1:07 PM