Seaman na tinanggihan sa pag-claim ng sickness at disability claim

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | June 8, 2022

Dear Chief Acosta,

Ako ay seaman na pumirma ng Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Standard Contract. Ako ay ni-repatriate ng aking employer matapos na ako ay atakihin sa puso.

Ako ay ipinadala sa accredited physician ng aming employer sa Pilipinas upang matingnan at maoperahan. Subalit noong ako ay nag-claim ng sickness at disability benefit, ito ay tinanggihan ng aking employer at agency sapagkat ang aking sakit diumano ay pre-existing condition bago pa man ako sumakay ng barko. - Maying

Dear Maying,

Ang sagot sa inyong katanungan ay tinalakay ng Korte Suprema sa kaso ng Seagull Shipmanagement and Transport, Inc. vs. NLRC and Benjamin Tuazon (G.R. No. 123619, June 8, 2000, Ponente: Retired Honorable Associate Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing). Sang-ayon sa nasabing desisyon:

“It will be noted that the claim for sickness and permanent disability benefits of the private respondent arose from the stipulations on the standard format contract of employment between him and petitioner Seagull per Circular No. 2, Series of 1984 of POEA. This circular was intended for all parties involved in the employment of Filipino seamen on board any ocean going vessel. Significantly, under the contract, compensability of the illness or death of seamen need not depend on whether the illness was work connected or not. It is sufficient that the illness occurred during the term of the employment contract. It will also be recalled that petitioners admitted that the private respondent’s work as a radio officer exposed him to different climates and unpredictable weather, which could trigger a heart attack or heart failure.” (Binigyang-diin)

Sang-ayon sa nasabing desisyon, ang sickness at permanent disability benefits claim na saklaw ng POEA Standard Format Contract of Employment, tulad ng sa inyo ay nagsasaad na ang compensability ng illnessor death ng seaman ay hindi na tinitingnan kung work connected o hindi. Sapat nang mapatunayang ito ay nangyari habang balido pa ang employment contract.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa impormasyon na inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.