August 26th, 2024

 Doctrine:
 While  a  corporate  director,  trustee,  or  officer  who  entered i nto  contracts i n  behalf  of  the  corporation  generally  cannot  be  held  personally l iable  for  the l iabilities  of  the l atter, i n  deference  to  the  separate  and  distinct l egal  personality  of  a  corporation.  their  personal l iability  may  validly  attach  when  they  are  specifically  made  by  a  particular provision of law, as in this case.
 Section  10  of  RA  8042,  as  amended,  expressly  provides f or j oint  and  solidary l iability  of  corporate  directors  and  officers  with  the  recruitment/placement  agency  for  all  money  claims  or  damages  that may be awarded to Overseas Filipino Workers.

 Facts:
●     On  November  24,  2014,  UPLI  hired  respondent  as  Assistant
 Stage  Manager  for  and  on  behalf  of i ts  foreign  principal,  Holland  America  Line  Westours,  Inc.  (Holland),  under  a f our-month  contract  on  board  the  vessel  "Westerdam."  His  task  was  to  assist  the  Manager,  supervise,  and  organize  the  stage  before,  during,  and after every show in the vessel.
●     While  on  board  the  vessel  on M arch  20,  2015,  respondent  started  to  feel  back  pains a fter h e m oved  several  boxes  to  be u sed f or  the  show.  Later  on,  he  began  experiencing l ower  back p ains  with  right l eg  numbness,  described  as s harp a nd  severe  when  aggravated by movement.
 the  company-designated  physician advised  respondent to  undergo s urgical p rocedure,  transforaminal  interlumbar f usion  (TILF)
●     respondent  refused  to  undergo  the  surgical  procedure  and  chose  to have treatment and PT sessions.
●     The  companydesignated  physician f inally d eclared  him  partially  and  permanently  disabled  with  Grade  8 i mpediment-moderate  rigidity or 2/3 loss of motion or lifting power of the trunk.
●     respondent  filed  a  complaint  for  payment o f  total a nd  permanent  disability benefits with the NCMB-PVA.
●     Ruling  of  NCMB-PVA: f ound  respondent e ntitled  to  permanent  total d isability  benefits  under t he  HAL  AMOSUP C BA.  It  held  UPLI,  Holland,  and  Consunji  jointly  and  severally l iable  in t he  amount o f U S$72,000.00.
●     C A: a greed  with  the  ruling  of  NCMB-PVA  but i t  held t hat  there i s n o  legal  basis t o h old  Consunji  solidarity  liable t o r espondent  as i t  did n ot  act i n b ad f aith i n  denying  respondent's  claim f or t otal  and permanent disability benefits.

 Issue:  Whether  Consunji,  the  owner  and  President  of  UPLI, i s  solidarily liable with UPLI.

 Held:
●     YES
●     Section  10  of  RA  8042  ("Migrant  Workers  and  Overseas  Filipinos  Act  of  1995”),  as  amended,  expressly  provides  for j oint  and  solidary l iability  of  corporate  directors  and  officers  with  the  recruitment/placement  agency  for  all  money  claims  or  damages  that may be awarded to Overseas Filipino Workers.
●     While  a  corporate  director,  trustee,  or  officer  who  entered i nto c ontracts i n  behalf  of  the  corporation  generally c annot  be h eld  personally l iable  for t he l iabilities  of  the  latter, i n  deference  to  the s eparate  and  distinct l egal  personality  of  a  corporation,  their  personal  liability  may  validly a ttach  when t hey  are  specifically  made by a particular provision of law, as in this case.
 Indubitably,  Consunji,  as  the  owner and  President  of  UPLI, i s  solidarily l iable  with  the l atter i n  the  amount  of  US$20,154.00  representing  respondent's  partial  and  permanent  disability  benefits.