Evic Human Resource Management · G.R. 235977

Petitioner: Evic Human Resource Management
Respondent: Jocel B. Cecilio
Citation: G.R. No. 235977
Court: Supreme Court
Division: First Division
Decided: November 18, 2020

Summary

A seafarer sustained a back injury while lifting ropes aboard M/V Sea Rose and was diagnosed with herniated disc. After repatriation and treatment by company-designated physicians, he was verbally declared fit to work, but an independent medical opinion found him permanently disabled with Grade 8 impediment. The Supreme Court affirmed lower tribunals' decisions granting permanent disability benefits, ruling that the seafarer's entitlement arose by operation of law due to the company's failure to issue a definitive medical assessment within the prescribed 120/240-day periods. The Court distinguished the case as involving a work accident rather than illness, making the reasonable linkage test inapplicable. The decision reinforces the strict timelines for company-designated physicians' assessments and the consequences of non-compliance in maritime disability claims.

Statutes applied

Civil Code, Art. 2208

Related cases

Other Philippine cases on the same provisions and issues.

Joyce v. Ardiente G.R. No. 161921
Land Bank of the Philippines v. Alfredo Ong G.R. No. 190755
Rosalina Ricafuente v. Oriental Construction G.R. No. 249306
Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils. v. Ernani Guingona Meñez G.R. No. 209906
Doris U. Sunbanun v. Aurora B. Go G.R. No. 163280
Cornelio Lampesa v. Dr. Juan de Vera, Jr. G.R. No. 155111
Rodolfo Morales v. Court of Appeals (Former Seventeenth Division) G.R. No. 117228
Far East Bank v. The Honorable Court of Appeals G.R. No. 108164

By Intellegal Editorial Board · November 18, 2020

Search Philippine case law on Intellegal →

AI-assisted case analysis — for research only. Verify against the official decision. A research aid, not legal advice; using this page creates no attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, consult a Philippine lawyer. Verify every holding and citation against the official decision (Supreme Court E-Library / Official Gazette) before relying on it.