Professional Documents
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Case Digest
Case Digest
More Maritime Agencies, Inc. vs. National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), and Homicillada
307 SCRA 189, GR No. 124927, May 18, 1999
FACTS:
The POEA sustained Homicillada and ordered petitioners jointly and severally to pay
Homicillada US1, 642.30 dollar or 14.93% of US11, 000.00 dollar. Appealing to the
NLRC, Homicillada insisted that he was entitled to more than the amount decreed by
the POEA, while petitioners asserted that his sickness was not work-connected and was
in fact already in existence prior to his deployment abroad. The NLRC increased the
disability award to US7, 465.00 dollar based on POEA Memorandum Circular No. 5,
upgrading the basis for disability allowance to US50, 000.00 dollar. Petitioners’ motion
for reconsideration was likewise denied. Hence, this petition which states that the NLRC
completely ignored a “Receipt and Release” purportedly signed by Homicillada
receiving P15, 750.00 from petitioners while the case was pending in POEA.
ISSUE:
Being more inclined to believe the findings of the POEA, which are supported by
substantial evidence, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition.
The law does not consider as valid any agreement to receive less compensation than
a worker is entitled to recover nor prevent him from demanding benefits to which he is
entitled.
Requisites for a valid quitclaim: (a) There was no fraud or deceit on the part of any of
the parties; (b) The consideration of the quitclaim is credible and reasonable; and, (c)
The contract is not contrary to law, public order, public policy, morals or good customs
or prejudicial to a third person with a right recognized by law.
Compensability of an ailment does not depend on whether the injury or disease was
pre-existing at the time of the employment but rather if the disease or injury is work-
related or aggravated the worker’s condition.