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It took cognizance
of another case (Civil Case No. 3490), filed by
VICENTE CALALAS, petitioner, Calalas against Salva and Verena, for quasi-delict, in
vs. which Branch 37 of the same court held Salva and his
COURT OF APPEALS, ELIZA JUJEURCHE SUNGA driver Verena jointly liable to Calalas for the damage
and FRANCISCO SALVA, respondents. to his jeepney.
There is, thus, no basis for the contention that the First, as found by the Court of Appeals, the jeepney
ruling in Civil Case No. 3490, finding Salva and his was not properly parked, its rear portion being
driver Verena liable for the damage to petitioner's exposed about two meters from the broad shoulders
jeepney, should be binding on Sunga. It is immaterial of the highway, and facing the middle of the highway
that the proximate cause of the collision between the in a diagonal angle. This is a violation of the R.A. No.
jeepney and the truck was the negligence of the truck 4136, as amended, or the Land Transportation and
driver. The doctrine of proximate cause is applicable Traffic Code, which provides:
only in actions for quasi-delict, not in actions involving
breach of contract. The doctrine is a device for
Sec. 54. Obstruction of Traffic. — No person shall
imputing liability to a person where there is no relation
drive his motor vehicle in such a manner as to
between him and another party. In such a case, the
obstruct or impede the passage of any vehicle, nor,
obligation is created by law itself. But, where there is
while discharging or taking on passengers or loading
a pre-existing contractual relation between the
or unloading freight, obstruct the free passage of
parties, it is the parties themselves who create the
other vehicles on the highway.
obligation, and the function of the law is merely to
regulate the relation thus created. Insofar as
contracts of carriage are concerned, some aspects Second, it is undisputed that petitioner's driver took in
regulated by the Civil Code are those respecting the more passengers than the allowed seating capacity of
diligence required of common carriers with regard to the jeepney, a violation of §32(a) of the same law. It
the safety of passengers as well as the presumption provides:
of negligence in cases of death or injury to
passengers. It provides: Exceeding registered capacity. — No person
operating any motor vehicle shall allow more
Art. 1733. Common carriers, from the nature of their passengers or more freight or cargo in his vehicle
business and for reasons of public policy, are bound than its registered capacity.
to observe extraordinary diligence in the vigilance
over the goods and for the safety of the passengers The fact that Sunga was seated in an "extension
transported by them, according to all the seat" placed her in a peril greater than that to which
circumstances of each case. the other passengers were exposed. Therefore, not
only was petitioner unable to overcome the
Such extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over the presumption of negligence imposed on him for the
goods is further expressed in articles 1734, 1735, and injury sustained by Sunga, but also, the evidence
1746, Nos. 5, 6, and 7, while the extraordinary shows he was actually negligent in transporting
diligence for the safety of the passengers is further passengers.
set forth in articles 1755 and 1756.
We find it hard to give serious thought to petitioner's
Art. 1755. A common carrier is bound to carry the contention that Sunga's taking an "extension seat"
passengers safely as far as human care and foresight amounted to an implied assumption of risk. It is akin
can provide, using the utmost diligence of very to arguing that the injuries to the many victims of the
tragedies in our seas should not be compensated
merely because those passengers assumed a greater
risk of drowning by boarding an overloaded ferry. This appellate court that petitioner acted in bad faith in the
is also true of petitioner's contention that the jeepney performance of the contract of carriage. Sunga's
being bumped while it was improperly parked contention that petitioner's admission in open court
constitutes caso fortuito. A caso fortuito is an event that the driver of the jeepney failed to assist her in
which could not be foreseen, or which, though going to a nearby hospital cannot be construed as an
foreseen, was inevitable. This requires that the
3
admission of bad faith. The fact that it was the driver
following requirements be present: (a) the cause of of the Isuzu truck who took her to the hospital does
the breach is independent of the debtor's will; (b) the not imply that petitioner was utterly indifferent to the
event is unforeseeable or unavoidable; (c) the event plight of his injured passenger. If at all, it is merely
is such as to render it impossible for the debtor to implied recognition by Verena that he was the one at
fulfill his obligation in a normal manner, and (d) the fault for the accident.
debtor did not take part in causing the injury to the
creditor. Petitioner should have foreseen the danger
4
WHEREFORE, the decision of the Court of Appeals,
of parking his jeepney with its body protruding two dated March 31, 1995, and its resolution, dated
meters into the highway. September 11, 1995, are AFFIRMED, with the
MODIFICATION that the award of moral damages is
Finally, petitioner challenges the award of moral DELETED.
damages alleging that it is excessive and without
basis in law. We find this contention well taken. SO ORDERED.
Plaintiff-appellant at the time of the accident was a G.R. No. 164349 January 31, 2006
first-year college student in that school year 1989-
1990 at the Silliman University, majoring in Physical RADIO COMMUNICATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES,
Education. Because of the injury, she was not able to INC. (RCPI),Petitioner,
enroll in the second semester of that school year. She vs.
testified that she had no more intention of continuing ALFONSO VERCHEZ, GRACE VERCHEZ-
with her schooling, because she could not walk and INFANTE, MARDONIO INFANTE, ZENAIDA
decided not to pursue her degree, major in Physical VERCHEZ-CATIBOG, AND FORTUNATO
Education "because of my leg which has a defect CATIBOG, Respondents.
already."
DECISION
Plaintiff-appellant likewise testified that even while
she was under confinement, she cried in pain
CARPIO MORALES, J.:
because of her injured left foot. As a result of her
injury, the Orthopedic Surgeon also certified that she
has "residual bowing of the fracture side." She On January 21, 1991, Editha Hebron Verchez
likewise decided not to further pursue Physical (Editha) was confined at the Sorsogon Provincial
Education as her major subject, because "my left leg . Hospital due to an ailment. On even date, her
. . has a defect already." daughter Grace Verchez-Infante (Grace) immediately
hied to the Sorsogon Branch of the Radio
Communications of the Philippines, Inc. (RCPI)
Those are her physical pains and moral sufferings,
whose services she engaged to send a telegram to
the inevitable bedfellows of the injuries that she
her sister Zenaida Verchez-Catibog (Zenaida) who
suffered. Under Article 2219 of the Civil Code, she is
was residing at 18 Legal St., GSIS Village, Quezon
entitled to recover moral damages in the sum of
City1 reading: "Send check money Mommy hospital."
P50,000.00, which is fair, just and reasonable.
For RCPI’s services, Grace paid P10.502 for which
she was issued a receipt.3
As a general rule, moral damages are not
recoverable in actions for damages predicated on a
As three days after RCPI was engaged to send the
breach of contract for it is not one of the items
telegram to Zenaida no response was received from
enumerated under Art. 2219 of the Civil Code. As an
5
Our internal message monitoring led to the discovery Article 1173 defines the fault of (sic) negligence of the
of the above. Thus, a repeat transmission was made obligor as the "omission of the diligence which is
and subsequent delivery was effected. (Underscoring required by the nature of the obligation and
supplied) corresponds with the circumstances of the person, of
the time, or the place."
Verchez’s lawyer thereupon wrote RCPI’s manager
Fabian, by letter of July 23, 1991, 7 requesting for a In the instant case, the obligation of the defendant to
conference on a specified date and time, but no deliver the telegram to the addressee is of an urgent
representative of RCPI showed up at said date and nature. Its essence is the early delivery of the
time. telegram to the concerned person. Yet, due to the
negligence of its employees, the defendant failed to
On April 17, 1992, Editha died. discharge of its obligation on time making it liable for
damages under Article 2176.
On September 8, 1993, Verchez, along with his
daughters Grace and Zenaida and their respective The negligence on the part of the employees gives
spouses, filed a complaint against RCPI before the rise to the presumption of negligence on the part of
Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Sorsogon for damages. the employer.17 (Underscoring supplied),
In their complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that, inter alia,
the delay in delivering the telegram contributed to the rendered judgment against RCPI. Accordingly, it
early demise of the late Editha to their damage and disposed:
prejudice,8 for which they prayed for the award of
moral and exemplary damages9 and attorney’s fees.10 WHEREFORE, in the light of the foregoing premises,
judgment is hereby rendered in favor of the plaintiffs
After its motion to dismiss the complaint for improper and against the defendant, to wit:
venue11 was denied12 by Branch 5 of the RTC of
Sorsogon, RCPI filed its answer, alleging that except Ordering the defendant to pay the plaintiffs the
with respect to Grace,13 the other plaintiffs had no following amount:
1. The amount of One Hundred Thousand agreements can accomplish little, either for their
(P100,000.00) Pesos as moral damages; makers or for society, unless they are made the basis
for action. The effect of every infraction is to create a
2. The amount of Twenty Thousand (P20,000.00) new duty, that is, to make recompense to the one who
Pesos as attorney’s fees; and has been injured by the failure of another to observe
his contractual obligation unless he can show
3. To pay the costs. extenuating circumstances, like proof of his
exercise of due diligence x x x or of the attendance
of fortuitous event, to excuse him from his ensuing
SO ORDERED.18
liability.23 (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
On appeal, the Court of Appeals, by Decision of
In the case at bar, RCPI bound itself to deliver the
February 27, 2004,19 affirmed the trial court’s decision.
telegram within the shortest possible time. It took 25
days, however, for RCPI to deliver it.
Hence, RCPI’s present petition for review on
certiorari, it raising the following questions: (1) "Is the
RCPI invokes force majeure, specifically, the alleged
award of moral damages proper even if the trial court
radio noise and interferences which adversely
found that there was no direct connection between
affected the transmission and/or reception of the
the injury and the alleged negligent acts?" 20 and (2)
telegraphic message. Additionally, its messenger
"Are the stipulations in the ‘Telegram Transmission
claimed he could not locate the address of Zenaida
Form,’ in the nature "contracts of adhesion" (sic)?21
and it was only on the third attempt that he was able
to deliver the telegram.
RCPI insists that respondents failed to prove any
causal connection between its delay in transmitting
For the defense of force majeure to prosper,
the telegram and Editha’s death. 22
x x x it is necessary that one has
RCPI’s stand fails. It bears noting that its liability is
committed no negligence or misconduct that may
anchored on culpa contractual or breach of contract
have occasioned the loss. An act of God cannot be
with regard to Grace, and on tort with regard to her
invoked to protect a person who has failed to take
co-plaintiffs-herein-co-respondents.
steps to forestall the possible adverse consequences
of such a loss. One’s negligence may have concurred
Article 1170 of the Civil Code provides: with an act of God in producing damage and injury to
another; nonetheless, showing that the immediate or
Those who in the performance of their obligations are proximate cause of the damage or injury was a
guilty of fraud, negligence, or delay, and those who in fortuitous event would not exempt one from
any manner contravene the tenor thereof, are liable liability. When the effect is found to be partly the
for damages. (Underscoring supplied) result of a person’s participation – whether by
active intervention, neglect or failure to act – the
Passing on this codal provision, this Court explained: whole occurrence is humanized and removed
from the rules applicable to acts of God.
In culpa contractual x x x the mere proof of the
existence of the contract and the failure of its xxxx
compliance justify, prima facie, a corresponding right
of relief. The law, recognizing the obligatory force of Article 1174 of the Civil Code states that no person
contracts, will not permit a party to be set free from shall be responsible for a fortuitous event that could
liability for any kind of misperformance of the not be foreseen or, though foreseen, was
contractual undertaking or a contravention of the inevitable. In other words, there must be an
tenor thereof. A breach upon the contract confers exclusion of human intervention from the cause
upon the injured party a valid cause for recovering of injury or loss.24 (Emphasis and underscoring
that which may have been lost or suffered. The supplied)
remedy serves to preserve the interests of the
promissee that may include his "expectation Assuming arguendo that fortuitous circumstances
interest," which is his interest in having the benefit of prevented RCPI from delivering the telegram at the
his bargain by being put in as good a position as he soonest possible time, it should have at least
would have been in had the contract been informed Grace of the non-transmission and the non-
performed, or his "reliance interest," which is his delivery so that she could have taken steps to remedy
interest in being reimbursed for loss caused by the situation. But it did not. There lies the fault or
reliance on the contract by being put in as good a negligence.
position as he would have been in had the contract
not been made; or his "restitution interest," which is
In an earlier case also involving RCPI, this Court held:
his interest in having restored to him any benefit that
he has conferred on the other party. Indeed,
Considering the public utility of RCPI’s business and When pressed on cross-examination, private
its contractual obligation to transmit messages, it respondent Alfonso Verchez could not give any
should exercise due diligence to ascertain that plausible reason as to the reason why he did not
messages are delivered to the persons at the given accompany his ailing wife to Manila. 31
address and should provide a system whereby in
cases of undelivered messages the sender is given xxxx
notice of non-delivery. Messages sent
by cable or wireless means are usually more It is also important to consider in resolving private
important and urgent than those which can wait for respondents’ claim for moral damages that
the mail.25 private respondent Grace Verchez did not accompany
her ailing mother to Manila.32
xxxx
xxxx
People depend on telecommunications companies
in times of deep emotional stress or pressing It is the common reaction of a husband to be at his
financial needs. Knowing that messages about the ailing wife’s side as much as possible. The fact that
illnesses or deaths of loved ones, births or marriages private respondent Alfonso Verchez stayed behind in
in a family, important business transactions, and Sorsogon for almost 1 week convincingly
notices of conferences or meetings as in this case, demonstrates that he himself knew that his wife was
are coursed through the petitioner and similar not in critical condition.33
corporations, it is incumbent upon them to exercise a
greater amount of care and concern than that shown
(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
in this case. Every reasonable effort to inform senders
of the non-delivery of messages should be
undertaken.26 RCPI’s arguments fail. For it is its breach of contract
upon which its liability is, it bears repeating,
anchored. Since RCPI breached its contract, the
(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
presumption is that it was at fault or negligent. It,
however, failed to rebut this presumption.
RCPI argues, however, against the presence of
urgency in the delivery of the telegram, as well as the
For breach of contract then, RCPI is liable to Grace
basis for the award of moral damages, thus:27
for damages.
The request to send check as written in the
And for quasi-delict, RCPI is liable to Grace’s co-
telegraphic text negates the existence of urgency that
respondents following Article 2176 of the Civil Code
private respondents’ allegations that ‘time was of the
which provides:
essence’ imports. A check drawn against a Manila
Bank and transmitted to Sorsogon, Sorsogon will
have to be deposited in a bank in Sorsogon and pass Whoever by act or omission causes damage to
thru a minimum clearing period of 5 days before it another, there being fault or negligence, is obliged to
may be encashed or withdrawn. If the transmittal of pay for the damage done. Such fault or negligence, if
the requested check to Sorsogon took 1 day – private there is no pre-existing contractual relation between
respondents could therefore still wait for 6 days the parties, is called a quasi-delict and is governed by
before the same may be withdrawn. Requesting a the provisions of this Chapter. (Underscoring
check that would take 6 days before it could be supplied)
withdrawn therefore contradicts plaintiff’s claim of
urgency or need.28 RCPI’s liability as an employer could of course be
avoided if it could prove that it observed the diligence
At any rate, any sense of urgency of the situation was of a good father of a family to prevent damage. Article
met when Grace Verchez was able to communicate to 2180 of the Civil Code so provides:
Manila via a letter that she sent to the same
addressee in Manila thru JRS.29 The obligation imposed by Article 2176 is
demandable not only for one’s own acts or omissions,
xxxx but also for those of persons for whom one is
responsible.
As far as the respondent court’s award for moral
damages is concerned, the same has no xxxx
basis whatsoever since private respondent Alfonso
Verchez did not accompany his late wife when the The owners and managers of an establishment or
latter went to Manila by bus. He stayed behind in enterprise are likewise responsible for damages
Sorsogon for almost 1 week before he proceeded to caused by their employees in the service of the
Manila. 30 branches in which the latter are employed or on the
occasion of their functions.
Employers shall be liable for the damages caused by again failed, it, again, waited for another 12 days
their employees and household helpers acting within before making a third attempt. Such nonchalance in
the scope of their assigned tasks, even though the performing its urgent obligation indicates gross
former are not engaged in any business or industry. negligence amounting to bad faith. The fourth
requisite is thus also present.
xxxx
In applying the above-quoted Article 2220, this Court
The responsibility treated of in this article shall cease has awarded moral damages in cases of breach of
when the persons herein mentioned prove that they contract where the defendant was guilty of gross
observed all the diligence of a good father of a family negligence amounting to bad faith, or in wanton
to prevent damage. (Underscoring supplied) disregard of his contractual obligation.36
RCPI failed, however, to prove that it observed all the As for RCPI’s tort-based liability, Article 2219 of the
diligence of a good father of a family to prevent Civil Code provides:
damage.
Moral damages may be recovered in the following
Respecting the assailed award of moral damages, a and analogous cases:
determination of the presence of the following
requisites to justify the award is in order: xxxx
x x x firstly, evidence of besmirched reputation or (10) Acts and actions referred to in Articles 21, 26, 27,
physical, mental or psychological suffering sustained 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, and 35. (Emphasis supplied)
by the claimant; secondly, a culpable act or omission
factually established; thirdly, proof that the wrongful Article 26 of the Civil Code, in turn, provides:
act or omission of the defendant is the proximate
cause of damages sustained by the claimant; Every person shall respect the dignity, personality,
and fourthly, that the case is predicated on any of the privacy and peace of mind of his neighbors and
instances expressed or envisioned by Article 2219 other persons. The following and similar acts, though
and Article 2220 of the Civil Code.34 they may not constitute a criminal offense, shall
produce a cause of action for damages, prevention,
Respecting the first requisite, evidence of suffering by and other relief:
the plaintiffs-herein respondents was correctly
appreciated by the CA in this wise: xxxx
The failure of RCPI to deliver the telegram containing (2) Meddling with or disturbing the private life
the message of appellees on time, disturbed their filial or family relations of another. (Emphasis supplied)
tranquillity. Family members blamed each other for
failing to respond swiftly to an emergency that
RCPI’s negligence in not promptly performing its
involved the life of the late Mrs. Verchez, who
obligation undoubtedly disturbed the peace of mind
suffered from diabetes.35
not only of Grace but also her co-respondents. As
observed by the appellate court, it disrupted the "filial
As reflected in the foregoing discussions, the second tranquillity" among them as they blamed each other
and third requisites are present. "for failing to respond swiftly to an emergency." The
tortious acts and/or omissions complained of in this
On the fourth requisite, Article 2220 of the Civil Code case are, therefore, analogous to acts mentioned
provides: under Article 26 of the Civil Code, which are among
the instances of quasi-delict when courts may award
Willful injury to property may be a legal ground for moral damages under Article 2219 of the Civil Code.
awarding moral damages if the court should find that,
under the circumstances, such damages are justly In fine, the award to the plaintiffs-herein respondents
due. The same rule applies to breaches of of moral damages is in order, as is the award of
contract where the defendant acted fraudulently attorney’s fees, respondents having been compelled
or in bad faith. (Emphasis and underscoring to litigate to protect their rights.
supplied)
Clutching at straws, RCPI insists that the limited
After RCPI’s first attempt to deliver the telegram liability clause in the "Telegram Transmission Form" is
failed, it did not inform Grace of the non-delivery not a contract of adhesion. Thus it argues:
thereof and waited for 12 days before trying to deliver
it again, knowing – as it should know – that time is of Neither can the Telegram Transmission Form be
the essence in the delivery of telegrams. When its considered a contract of adhesion as held by the
second long-delayed attempt to deliver the telegram respondent court. The said stipulations were
all written in bold letters right in front of the Telegram CHICO-NAZARIO, J.:
Transmission Form. As a matter of fact they were
beside the space where the telegram senders write Assailed before Us is the decision 1 of the Court of
their telegraphic messages. It would have been Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 55909 which affirmed in
different if the stipulations were written at the back for toto the decision2 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of
surely there is no way the sender will easily notice Dagupan City, Branch 42, in Civil Case No. D-10086,
them. The fact that the stipulations were located in a finding petitioners Mauricio Manliclic and Philippine
particular space where they can easily be seen, is Rabbit Bus Lines, Inc. (PRBLI) solidarily liable to pay
sufficient notice to any sender (like Grace Verchez- damages and attorney’s fees to respondent Modesto
Infante) where she could manifest her disapproval, Calaunan.
leave the RCPI station and avail of the services of the
other telegram operators.37 (Underscoring supplied) The factual antecedents are as follows:
RCPI misunderstands the nature of a contract of The vehicles involved in this case are: (1) Philippine
adhesion. Neither the readability of the stipulations Rabbit Bus No. 353 with plate number CVD-478,
nor their physical location in the contract determines owned by petitioner PRBLI and driven by petitioner
whether it is one of adhesion. Mauricio Manliclic; and (2) owner-type jeep with plate
number PER-290, owned by respondent Modesto
A contract of adhesion is defined as one in which one Calaunan and driven by Marcelo Mendoza.
of the parties imposes a ready-made form of contract,
which the other party may accept or reject, but which At around 6:00 to 7:00 o’clock in the morning of 12
the latter cannot modify. One party prepares the July 1988, respondent Calaunan, together with
stipulation in the contract, while the other party Marcelo Mendoza, was on his way to Manila from
merely affixes his signature or his "adhesion" Pangasinan on board his owner-type jeep. The
thereto, giving no room for negotiation and Philippine Rabbit Bus was likewise bound for Manila
depriving the latter of the opportunity to bargain from Concepcion, Tarlac. At approximately Kilometer
on equal footing.38 (Emphasis and underscoring 40 of the North Luzon Expressway in Barangay
supplied) Lalangan, Plaridel, Bulacan, the two vehicles collided.
The front right side of the Philippine Rabbit Bus hit
While a contract of adhesion is not necessarily void the rear left side of the jeep causing the latter to move
and unenforceable, since it is construed strictly to the shoulder on the right and then fall on a ditch
against the party who drafted it or gave rise to any with water resulting to further extensive damage. The
ambiguity therein, it is stricken down as void and bus veered to the left and stopped 7 to 8 meters from
unenforceable or subversive of public policy when the point of collision.
weaker party is imposed upon in dealing with the
dominant bargaining party and is reduced to the Respondent suffered minor injuries while his driver
alternative of taking it or leaving it, completely was unhurt. He was first brought for treatment to the
deprived of the opportunity to bargain on equal Manila Central University Hospital in Kalookan City by
footing.39 Oscar Buan, the conductor of the Philippine Rabbit
Bus, and was later transferred to the Veterans
This Court holds that the Court of Appeals’ finding Memorial Medical Center.
that the parties’ contract is one of adhesion which is
void is, given the facts and circumstances of the case, By reason of such collision, a criminal case was filed
thus well-taken. before the RTC of Malolos, Bulacan, charging
petitioner Manliclic with Reckless Imprudence
WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED, and the Resulting in Damage to Property with Physical
challenged decision of the Court of Appeals Injuries, docketed as Crim. Case No. 684-M-89.
is AFFIRMED. Subsequently on 2 December 1991, respondent filed
a complaint for damages against petitioners Manliclic
Costs against petitioner. and PRBLI before the RTC of Dagupan City,
docketed as Civil Case No. D-10086. The criminal
SO ORDERED. case was tried ahead of the civil case. Among those
who testified in the criminal case were respondent
G.R. No. 150157 January 25, 2007 Calaunan, Marcelo Mendoza and Fernando Ramos.
MAURICIO MANLICLIC and PHILIPPINE RABBIT In the civil case (now before this Court), the parties
BUS LINES, INC., Petitioners, admitted the following:
vs.
MODESTO CALAUNAN, Respondent. 1. The parties agreed on the capacity of the parties to
sue and be sued as well as the venue and the
DECISION identities of the vehicles involved;
2. The identity of the drivers and the fact that they are Respondent further marked, among other documents,
duly licensed; as rebuttal evidence, the TSNs10 of the testimonies of
Donato Ganiban, Oscar Buan and petitioner Manliclic
3. The date and place of the vehicular collision; in Criminal Case No. 684-M-89.
4. The extent of the injuries suffered by plaintiff The disagreement arises from the question: Who is to
Modesto Calaunan and the existence of the medical be held liable for the collision?
certificate;
Respondent insists it was petitioner Manliclic who
5. That both vehicles were going towards the south; should be liable while the latter is resolute in saying it
the private jeep being ahead of the bus; was the former who caused the smash up.
6. That the weather was fair and the road was well The versions of the parties are summarized by the
paved and straight, although there was a ditch on the trial court as follows:
right side where the jeep fell into. 3
The parties differed only on the manner the collision
When the civil case was heard, counsel for between the two (2) vehicles took place. According to
respondent prayed that the transcripts of the plaintiff and his driver, the jeep was cruising at the
stenographic notes (TSNs)4 of the testimonies of speed of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour on the slow
respondent Calaunan, Marcelo Mendoza and lane of the expressway when the Philippine Rabbit
Fernando Ramos in the criminal case be received in Bus overtook the jeep and in the process of
evidence in the civil case in as much as these overtaking the jeep, the Philippine Rabbit Bus hit the
witnesses are not available to testify in the civil case. rear of the jeep on the left side. At the time the
Philippine Rabbit Bus hit the jeep, it was about to
Francisco Tuliao testified that his brother-in-law, overtake the jeep. In other words, the Philippine
respondent Calaunan, left for abroad sometime in Rabbit Bus was still at the back of the jeep when the
November, 1989 and has not returned since then. jeep was hit. Fernando Ramos corroborated the
Rogelio Ramos took the stand and said that his testimony of the plaintiff and Marcelo Mendoza. He
brother, Fernando Ramos, left for Amman, Jordan, to said that he was on another jeep following the
work. Rosalia Mendoza testified that her husband, Philippine Rabbit Bus and the jeep of plaintiff when
Marcelo Mendoza, left their residence to look for a the incident took place. He said, the jeep of the
job. She narrated that she thought her husband went plaintiff overtook them and the said jeep of the plaintiff
to his hometown in Panique, Tarlac, when he did not was followed by the Philippine Rabbit Bus which was
return after one month. She went to her husband’s running very fast. The bus also overtook the jeep in
hometown to look for him but she was informed that which he was riding. After that, he heard a loud
he did not go there. sound. He saw the jeep of the plaintiff swerved to the
right on a grassy portion of the road. The Philippine
1awphil.net
They assign as errors the following: of respondent to comply with the requisites of Section
47, Rule 130 of the Rules of Court.
I
For Section 47, Rule 13021 to apply, the following
THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED requisites must be satisfied: (a) the witness is dead or
ON A QUESTION OF LAW IN unable to testify; (b) his testimony or deposition was
AFFIRMING THE TRIAL COURT’S given in a former case or proceeding, judicial or
QUESTIONABLE ADMISSION IN administrative, between the same parties or those
EVIDENCE OF THE TSN’s AND representing the same interests; (c) the former case
OTHER DOCUMENTS PRESENTED involved the same subject as that in the present case,
IN THE CRIMINAL CASE. although on different causes of action; (d) the issue
testified to by the witness in the former trial is the
same issue involved in the present case; and (e) the
II
adverse party had an opportunity to cross-examine
the witness in the former case.22
THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED
ON A QUESTION OF LAW IN
Admittedly, respondent failed to show the
AFFIRMING THE TRIAL COURT’S
concurrence of all the requisites set forth by the Rules
RELIANCE ON THE VERSION OF
for a testimony given in a former case or proceeding
THE RESPONDENT ON HOW THE
to be admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule.
ACCIDENT SUPPOSEDLY
Petitioner PRBLI, not being a party in Criminal Case
OCCURRED.
No. 684-M-89, had no opportunity to cross-examine
the three witnesses in said case. The criminal case
III was filed exclusively against petitioner Manliclic,
petitioner PRBLI’s employee. The cases dealing with
THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED the subsidiary liability of employers uniformly declare
ON A QUESTION OF LAW IN that, strictly speaking, they are not parties to the
AFFIRMING THE TRIAL COURT’S criminal cases instituted against their employees.23
UNFAIR DISREGARD OF HEREIN
PETITIONER PRBL’s DEFENSE OF Notwithstanding the fact that petitioner PRBLI was
EXERCISE OF DUE DILIGENCE IN not a party in said criminal case, the testimonies of
THE SELECTION AND the three witnesses are still admissible on the ground
SUPERVISION OF ITS EMPLOYEES. that petitioner PRBLI failed to object on their
admissibility.
IV
It is elementary that an objection shall be made at the
time when an alleged inadmissible document is
offered in evidence; otherwise, the objection shall be Petitioners contend that the documents in the criminal
treated as waived, since the right to object is merely a case should not have been admitted in the instant
privilege which the party may waive. Thus, a failure to civil case because Section 47 of Rule 130 refers only
except to the evidence because it does not conform to "testimony or deposition." We find such contention
to the statute is a waiver of the provisions of the law. to be untenable. Though said section speaks only of
Even assuming ex gratia argumenti that these testimony and deposition, it does not mean that
documents are inadmissible for being hearsay, but on documents from a former case or proceeding cannot
account of failure to object thereto, the same may be be admitted. Said documents can be admitted they
admitted and considered as sufficient to prove the being part of the testimonies of witnesses that have
facts therein asserted.24 Hearsay evidence alone may been admitted. Accordingly, they shall be given the
be insufficient to establish a fact in a suit but, when no same weight as that to which the testimony may be
objection is made thereto, it is, like any other entitled.29
evidence, to be considered and given the importance
it deserves.25 On the second assigned error, petitioners contend
that the version of petitioner Manliclic as to how the
In the case at bar, petitioner PRBLI did not object to accident occurred is more credible than respondent’s
the TSNs containing the testimonies of respondent version. They anchor their contention on the fact that
Calaunan, Marcelo Mendoza and Fernando Ramos in petitioner Manliclic was acquitted by the Court of
the criminal case when the same were offered in Appeals of the charge of Reckless Imprudence
evidence in the trial court. In fact, the TSNs of the Resulting in Damage to Property with Physical
testimonies of Calaunan and Mendoza were admitted Injuries.
by both petitioners.26 Moreover, petitioner PRBLI even
offered in evidence the TSN containing the testimony To be resolved by the Court is the effect of petitioner
of Donato Ganiban in the criminal case. If petitioner Manliclic’s acquittal in the civil case.
PRBLI argues that the TSNs of the testimonies of
plaintiff’s witnesses in the criminal case should not be From the complaint, it can be gathered that the civil
admitted in the instant case, why then did it offer the case for damages was one arising from, or based on,
TSN of the testimony of Ganiban which was given in quasi-delict.30 Petitioner Manliclic was sued for his
the criminal case? It appears that petitioner PRBLI negligence or reckless imprudence in causing the
wants to have its cake and eat it too. It cannot argue collision, while petitioner PRBLI was sued for its
that the TSNs of the testimonies of the witnesses of failure to exercise the diligence of a good father in the
the adverse party in the criminal case should not be selection and supervision of its employees,
admitted and at the same time insist that the TSN of particularly petitioner Manliclic. The allegations read:
the testimony of the witness for the accused be
admitted in its favor. To disallow admission in
"4. That sometime on July 12, 1988 at around 6:20
evidence of the TSNs of the testimonies of Calaunan,
A.M. plaintiff was on board the above-described
Marcelo Mendoza and Fernando Ramos in the
motor vehicle travelling at a moderate speed along
criminal case and to admit the TSN of the testimony
the North Luzon Expressway heading South towards
of Ganiban would be unfair.
Manila together with MARCELO MENDOZA, who was
then driving the same;
We do not subscribe to petitioner PRBLI’s argument
that it will be denied due process when the TSNs of
"5. That approximately at kilometer 40 of the North
the testimonies of Calaunan, Marcelo Mendoza and
Luzon Express Way, the above-described motor
Fernando Ramos in the criminal case are to be
vehicle was suddenly bumped from behind by a
admitted in the civil case. It is too late for petitioner
Philippine Rabbit Bus with Body No. 353 and with
PRBLI to raise denial of due process in relation to
plate No. CVD 478 then being driven by one Mauricio
Section 47, Rule 130 of the Rules of Court, as a
Manliclic of San Jose, Concepcion, Tarlac, who was
ground for objecting to the admissibility of the TSNs.
then travelling recklessly at a very fast speed and had
For failure to object at the proper time, it waived its
apparently lost control of his vehicle;
right to object that the TSNs did not comply with
Section 47.
"6. That as a result of the impact of the collision the
above-described motor vehicle was forced off the
In Mangio v. Court of Appeals,27 this Court, through
North Luzon Express Way towards the rightside
Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno, 28 admitted in
where it fell on its driver’s side on a ditch, and that as
evidence a TSN of the testimony of a witness in
a consequence, the above-described motor vehicle
another case despite therein petitioner’s assertion
which maybe valued at EIGHTY THOUSAND PESOS
that he would be denied due process. In admitting the
(P80,000) was rendered a total wreck as shown by
TSN, the Court ruled that the raising of denial of due
pictures to be presented during the pre-trial and trial
process in relation to Section 47, Rule 130 of the
of this case;
Rules of Court, as a ground for objecting to the
admissibility of the TSN was belatedly done. In so
doing, therein petitioner waived his right to object "7. That also as a result of said incident, plaintiff
based on said ground. sustained bodily injuries which compounded plaintiff’s
frail physical condition and required his hospitalization In spite of said ruling, petitioner Manliclic can still be
from July 12, 1988 up to and until July 22, 1988, copy held liable for the mishap. The afore-quoted section
of the medical certificate is hereto attached as Annex applies only to a civil action arising from crime or ex
"A" and made an integral part hereof; delicto and not to a civil action arising from quasi-
delict or culpa aquiliana. The extinction of civil liability
"8. That the vehicular collision resulting in the total referred to in Par. (e) of Section 3, Rule 111 [now
wreckage of the above-described motor vehicle as Section 2 (b) of Rule 111], refers exclusively to civil
well as bodily (sic) sustained by plaintiff, was solely liability founded on Article 100 of the Revised Penal
due to the reckless imprudence of the defendant Code, whereas the civil liability for the same act
driver Mauricio Manliclic who drove his Philippine considered as a quasi-delict only and not as a crime
Rabbit Bus No. 353 at a fast speed without due is not extinguished even by a declaration in the
regard or observance of existing traffic rules and criminal case that the criminal act charged has not
regulations; happened or has not been committed by the
accused.33
"9. That defendant Philippine Rabbit Bus Line
Corporation failed to exercise the diligence of a good A quasi-delict or culpa aquiliana is a separate legal
father of (sic) family in the selection and supervision institution under the Civil Code with a substantivity all
of its drivers; x x x"31 its own, and individuality that is entirely apart and
independent from a delict or crime – a distinction
Can Manliclic still be held liable for the collision and exists between the civil liability arising from a crime
be found negligent notwithstanding the declaration of and the responsibility for quasi-delicts or culpa extra-
the Court of Appeals that there was an absence of contractual. The same negligence causing damages
negligence on his part? may produce civil liability arising from a crime under
the Penal Code, or create an action for quasi-delicts
or culpa extra-contractual under the Civil Code. 34 It is
In exonerating petitioner Manliclic in the criminal
now settled that acquittal of the accused, even if
case, the Court of Appeals said:
based on a finding that he is not guilty, does not carry
with it the extinction of the civil liability based on quasi
To the following findings of the court a quo, to wit: that delict.35
accused-appellant was negligent "when the bus he
was driving bumped the jeep from behind"; that "the
In other words, if an accused is acquitted based on
proximate cause of the accident was his having
reasonable doubt on his guilt, his civil liability arising
driven the bus at a great speed while closely following
from the crime may be proved by preponderance of
the jeep"; x x x
evidence only. However, if an accused is acquitted on
the basis that he was not the author of the act or
We do not agree. omission complained of (or that there is declaration in
a final judgment that the fact from which the civil
The swerving of Calaunan’s jeep when it tried to might arise did not exist), said acquittal closes the
overtake the vehicle in front of it was beyond the door to civil liability based on the crime or ex delicto.
control of accused-appellant. In this second instance, there being no crime or delict
to speak of, civil liability based thereon or ex delicto is
xxxx not possible. In this case, a civil action, if any, may be
instituted on grounds other than the delict complained
Absent evidence of negligence, therefore, accused- of.
appellant cannot be held liable for Reckless
Imprudence Resulting in Damage to Property with As regards civil liability arising from quasi-delict or
Physical Injuries as defined in Article 365 of the culpa aquiliana, same will not be extinguished by an
Revised Penal Code.32 acquittal, whether it be on ground of reasonable
doubt or that accused was not the author of the act or
From the foregoing declaration of the Court of omission complained of (or that there is declaration in
Appeals, it appears that petitioner Manliclic was a final judgment that the fact from which the civil
acquitted not on reasonable doubt, but on the ground liability might arise did not exist). The responsibility
that he is not the author of the act complained of arising from fault or negligence in a quasi-delict is
which is based on Section 2(b) of Rule 111 of the entirely separate and distinct from the civil liability
Rules of Criminal Procedure which reads: arising from negligence under the Penal Code. 36 An
acquittal or conviction in the criminal case is entirely
(b) Extinction of the penal action does not carry with it irrelevant in the civil case 37 based on quasi-delict or
extinction of the civil, unless the extinction proceeds culpa aquiliana.
from a declaration in a final judgment that the fact
from which the civil might arise did not exist. Petitioners ask us to give credence to their version of
how the collision occurred and to disregard that of
respondent’s. Petitioners insist that while the PRBLI
bus was in the process of overtaking respondent’s
jeep, the latter, without warning, suddenly swerved to Regional Trial Court in Malolos, Bulacan as well as in
the left (fast) lane in order to overtake another jeep this Court, he alleged that the Philippine Rabbit Bus
ahead of it, thus causing the collision. was already on the left side of the jeep when the
collision took place. For this inconsistency between
As a general rule, questions of fact may not be raised his statement and testimony, his explanation
in a petition for review. The factual findings of the trial regarding the manner of how the collision between
court, especially when affirmed by the appellate court, the jeep and the bus took place should be taken with
are binding and conclusive on the Supreme caution. It might be true that in the statement of Oscar
Court.38 Not being a trier of facts, this Court will not Buan given to the Philippine Rabbit Investigator CV
allow a review thereof unless: Cabading, it was mentioned by the former that the
jeep of plaintiff was in the act of overtaking another
(1) the conclusion is a finding grounded entirely on jeep when the collision between the latter jeep and
speculation, surmise and conjecture; (2) the inference the Philippine Rabbit Bus took place. But the fact,
made is manifestly mistaken; (3) there is grave abuse however, that his statement was given on July 15,
of discretion; (4) the judgment is based on a 1988, one day after Mauricio Manliclic gave his
misapprehension of facts; (5) the findings of fact are statement should not escape attention. The one-day
conflicting; (6) the Court of Appeals went beyond the difference between the giving of the two statements
issues of the case and its findings are contrary to the would be significant enough to entertain the
admissions of both appellant and appellees; (7) the possibility of Oscar Buan having received legal advise
findings of fact of the Court of Appeals are contrary to before giving his statement. Apart from that, as
those of the trial court; (8) said findings of fact are between his statement and the statement of Manliclic
conclusions without citation of specific evidence on himself, the statement of the latter should prevail.
which they are based; (9) the facts set forth in the Besides, in his Affidavit of March 10, 1989, (Exh. 14),
petition as well as in the petitioner's main and reply the unreliability of the statement of Oscar Buan (Exh.
briefs are not disputed by the respondents; and (10) 13) given to CV Cabading rear its "ugly head" when
the findings of fact of the Court of Appeals are he did not mention in said affidavit that the jeep of
premised on the supposed absence of evidence and Calaunan was trying to overtake another jeep when
contradicted by the evidence on record.39 the collision between the jeep in question and the
Philippine Rabbit bus took place.
After going over the evidence on record, we do not
find any of the exceptions that would warrant our xxxx
departure from the general rule. We fully agree in the
finding of the trial court, as affirmed by the Court of If one would believe the testimony of the defendant,
Appeals, that it was petitioner Manliclic who was Mauricio Manliclic, and his conductor, Oscar Buan,
negligent in driving the PRBLI bus which was the that the Philippine Rabbit Bus was already somewhat
cause of the collision. In giving credence to the parallel to the jeep when the collision took place, the
version of the respondent, the trial court has this say: point of collision on the jeep should have been
somewhat on the left side thereof rather than on its
x x x Thus, which of the two versions of the manner rear. Furthermore, the jeep should have fallen on the
how the collision took place was correct, would be road itself rather than having been forced off the road.
determinative of who between the two drivers was Useless, likewise to emphasize that the Philippine
negligent in the operation of their respective vehicle. Rabbit was running very fast as testified to by Ramos
which was not controverted by the defendants.40
In this regard, it should be noted that in the statement
of Mauricio Manliclic (Exh. 15) given to the Philippine Having ruled that it was petitioner Manliclic’s
Rabbit Investigator CV Cabading no mention was negligence that caused the smash up, there arises
made by him about the fact that the driver of the jeep the juris tantum presumption that the employer is
was overtaking another jeep when the collision took negligent, rebuttable only by proof of observance of
place. The allegation that another jeep was being the diligence of a good father of a family. 41 Under
overtaken by the jeep of Calaunan was testified to by Article 218042 of the New Civil Code, when an injury is
him only in Crim. Case No. 684-M-89 before the caused by the negligence of the employee, there
Regional Trial Court in Malolos, Bulacan and before instantly arises a presumption of law that there was
this Court. Evidently, it was a product of an negligence on the part of the master or employer
afterthought on the part of Mauricio Manliclic so that either in the selection of the servant or employee, or
he could explain why he should not be held in supervision over him after selection or both. The
responsible for the incident. His attempt to veer away liability of the employer under Article 2180 is direct
from the truth was also apparent when it would be and immediate; it is not conditioned upon prior
considered that in his statement given to the recourse against the negligent employee and a prior
Philippine Rabbit Investigator CV Cabading (Exh. 15), showing of the insolvency of such employee.
he alleged that the Philippine Rabbit Bus bumped the Therefore, it is incumbent upon the private
jeep of Calaunan while the Philippine Rabbit Bus was respondents to prove that they exercised the
behind the said jeep. In his testimony before the diligence of a good father of a family in the selection
and supervision of their employee. 43
In the case at bar, petitioner PRBLI maintains that it were being complied with is not sufficient to exempt
had shown that it exercised the required diligence in petitioner from liability arising from negligence of its
the selection and supervision of its employees, employees. It is incumbent upon petitioner to show
particularly petitioner Manliclic. In the matter of that in recruiting and employing the erring driver the
selection, it showed the screening process that recruitment procedures and company policies on
petitioner Manliclic underwent before he became a efficiency and safety were followed." x x x.
regular driver. As to the exercise of due diligence in
the supervision of its employees, it argues that The trial court found that petitioner PRBLI exercised
presence of ready investigators (Ganiban and the diligence of a good father of a family in the
Cabading) is sufficient proof that it exercised the selection but not in the supervision of its employees.
required due diligence in the supervision of its It expounded as follows:
employees.
From the evidence of the defendants, it seems that
In the selection of prospective employees, employers the Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines has a very good
are required to examine them as to their procedure of recruiting its driver as well as in the
qualifications, experience and service records. In the maintenance of its vehicles. There is no evidence
supervision of employees, the employer must though that it is as good in the supervision of its
formulate standard operating procedures, monitor personnel. There has been no iota of evidence
their implementation and impose disciplinary introduced by it that there are rules promulgated by
measures for the breach thereof. To fend off vicarious the bus company regarding the safe operation of its
liability, employers must submit concrete proof, vehicle and in the way its driver should manage and
including documentary evidence, that they complied operate the vehicles assigned to them. There is no
with everything that was incumbent on them. 44 showing that somebody in the bus company has been
employed to oversee how its driver should behave
In Metro Manila Transit Corporation v. Court of while operating their vehicles without courting
Appeals,45 it was explained that: incidents similar to the herein case. In regard to
supervision, it is not difficult to observe that the
Due diligence in the supervision of employees on the Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines, Inc. has been negligent
other hand, includes the formulation of suitable rules as an employer and it should be made responsible for
and regulations for the guidance of employees and the acts of its employees, particularly the driver
the issuance of proper instructions intended for the involved in this case.
protection of the public and persons with whom the
employer has relations through his or its employees We agree. The presence of ready investigators after
and the imposition of necessary disciplinary the occurrence of the accident is not enough to
measures upon employees in case of breach or as exempt petitioner PRBLI from liability arising from the
may be warranted to ensure the performance of acts negligence of petitioner Manliclic. Same does not
indispensable to the business of and beneficial to comply with the guidelines set forth in the cases
their employer. To this, we add that actual above-mentioned. The presence of the investigators
implementation and monitoring of consistent after the accident is not enough supervision. Regular
compliance with said rules should be the constant supervision of employees, that is, prior to any
concern of the employer, acting through dependable accident, should have been shown and established.
supervisors who should regularly report on their This, petitioner failed to do. The lack of supervision
supervisory functions. can further be seen by the fact that there is only one
set of manual containing the rules and regulations for
In order that the defense of due diligence in the all the drivers of PRBLI. 46 How then can all the
selection and supervision of employees may be drivers of petitioner PRBLI know and be continually
deemed sufficient and plausible, it is not enough to informed of the rules and regulations when only one
emptily invoke the existence of said company manual is being lent to all the drivers?
guidelines and policies on hiring and supervision. As
the negligence of the employee gives rise to the For failure to adduce proof that it exercised the
presumption of negligence on the part of the diligence of a good father of a family in the selection
employer, the latter has the burden of proving that it and supervision of its employees, petitioner PRBLI is
has been diligent not only in the selection of held solidarily responsible for the damages caused by
employees but also in the actual supervision of their petitioner Manliclic’s negligence.
work. The mere allegation of the existence of hiring
procedures and supervisory policies, without anything We now go to the award of damages. The trial court
more, is decidedly not sufficient to overcome such correctly awarded the amount of P40,838.00 as
presumption. actual damages representing the amount paid by
respondent for the towing and repair of his jeep. 47 As
We emphatically reiterate our holding, as a warning to regards the awards for moral and exemplary
all employers, that "the formulation of various damages, same, under the circumstances, must be
company policies on safety without showing that they modified. The P100,000.00 awarded by the trial court
as moral damages must be reduced
to P50,000.00.48 Exemplary damages are imposed by
way of example or correction for the public
good.49 The amount awarded by the trial court must, REYES, R.T., J.:
likewise, be lowered to P50,000.00.50 The award
of P15,000.00 for attorney’s fees and expenses of
litigation is in order and authorized by law.51
MAY a municipal mayor be held solidarily
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant liable for the negligent acts of the driver
petition for review is DENIED. The decision of the
Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 55909 is assigned to him, which resulted in the death
AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATION that (1) the of a minor pedestrian?
award of moral damages shall be reduced
to P50,000.00; and (2) the award of exemplary
damages shall be lowered to P50,000.00. Costs
against petitioners.
SO ORDERED.
Challenged in this petition for review
SPS. BUENAVENTURA JAYME G.R.
on certiorari is the Decision[1] of the Court
No. 163609
AND ROSARIO JAYME, of Appeals (CA) which reversed and set
Petitioners, aside the decision of the Regional Trial
Present: Court (RTC), Polomolok, Cotabato City,
- versus - YNARES-SANTIAGO, J., Branch 39, insofar as defendant Mayor
Fernando Q. Miguel is concerned. The CA
hairpe
absolved Mayor Miguel from any liability
rson,since it was not he, but
AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ,
the Municipality of Koronadal, that was the
RODRIGO APOSTOL, FIDEL CHICO-
NAZARIO, employer of the negligent driver.
LOZANO, ERNESTO
SIMBULAN, NACHURA, and The Facts
MAYOR FERNANDO Q.
MIGUEL, REYES, JJ. On February 5, 1989, Mayor Miguel of
MUNICIPALITY OF KORONADAL Koronadal, South Cotabato was on board
(NOW CITY OF KORONADAL), the Isuzu pick-up truck driven by Fidel
PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO, Lozano, an employee of
represented by the MUNICIPAL [2]
the Municipalityof Koronadal. The pick-
TREASURER and/or MUNICIPAL
MAYOR FERNANDO Q. MIGUEL, up truck was registered under the name of
and THE FIRST Rodrigo Apostol, but it was then in the
INTEGRATED Promulgated: possession of Ernesto Simbulan.[3] Lozano
BONDING AND INSURANCE borrowed the pick-up truck from Simbulan
COMPANY, INC. , to bring Miguel
Respondents. November to Buayan Airport at General Santos City to
27, 2008 catch his Manila flight.[4]
x-----------------------------
---------------------x The pick-up truck accidentally hit Marvin C.
Jayme, a minor, who was then crossing
DECISION the National Highway in Poblacion,
Polomolok, South Cotabato.[5] The intensity Company, Inc., the vehicle insurer, it
of the collision sent Marvin some fifty (50) insisted that its liability is contributory and
meters away from the point of impact, a is only conditioned on the right of the
clear indication that Lozano was driving at a insured. Since the insured did not file a
very high speed at the time of the accident.[6] claim within the prescribed period, any
cause of action against it had prescribed.
Marvin sustained severe head injuries
with subdural hematoma and diffused RTC Disposition
cerebral contusion.[7] He was initially treated
at the Howard Hubbard MemorialHospital. On January 25, 1999,
[8]
Due to the seriousness of his injuries, he the RTC rendered judgment in favor of
was airlifted to spouses Jayme, the dispositive portion of
the Ricardo Limso Medical Center in Davao which reads:
City for more intensive treatment.[9] Despite
medical attention, Marvin expired six (6) WHEREFORE, in view of the
days after the accident.[10] foregoing,
the defendant Municipality of
Koronadal cannot be held liable
Petitioners spouses Buenaventura and for the damages incurred by
Rosario Jayme, the parents of Marvin, filed other defendant (sic) being an
a complaint for damages with agency of the State performing a
[11]
the RTC against respondents. In their (sic) governmental
complaint, they prayed that all functions. The same with
respondents be held solidarily liable for defendant Hermogenes
Simbulan, not being the owner
their loss. They pointed out that that of the subject vehicle, he is
proximate cause of Marvins death was absolved of any liability.
Lozanos negligent and reckless operation of The complaint against defendant
the vehicle. They prayed for actual, moral, First Integrated Bonding
and exemplary damages, attorneys fees, and Insurance Company, Inc. is
litigation expenses. hereby ordered dismissed there
being no cause of action against
said insurance company.
In their respective Answers, all
respondents denied liability for Marvins However, defendants
death. Apostol and Simbulan averred that Fidel Lozano, Rodrigo Apostol,
Lozano took the pick-up truck without their and Mayor Fernando Miguel of
consent. Likewise, Miguel and Lozano Koronadal, South Cotabato, are
hereby ordered jointly and
pointed out that Marvins sudden sprint
severally to pay the plaintiff
across the highway made it impossible to (sic) the following sums:
avoid the accident. Yet, Miguel denied being
on board the vehicle when it hit
Marvin. The Municipality of Koronadal ado 1. One
pted the answer of Lozano and Miguel. As Hundred Seven
for First Integrated Bonding and Insurance ty Three Thous
and One
Hundred One In his appeal, Mayor Miguel
and Forty contended that the RTC erred in ruling that
Centavos
he was Lozanos employer and, hence,
(P173,101.40)
Pesos as actual solidarily liable for the latters negligent
damages with act.Records showed that
legal interest of the Municipality of Koronadal was the
12% per drivers true and lawful employer. Mayor
annum Miguel also denied that he did not exercise
computed due care and diligence in the supervision of
from February
11, 1989 until Lozano. The incident, although unfortunate,
fully paid; was unexpected and cannot be attributed to
2. Fifty Thousand him.
(P50,000.00)
Pesos as moral On October 22, 2003, the CA granted
damages; the appeal, disposing as follows:
3. Twenty
Thousand
(P20,000.00)
Pesos as
exemplary WHEREFORE, the
damages; Decision appealed from is
4. Twenty REVERSED and SET ASIDE,
Thousand insofar as defendant-appellant
(P20,000.00) Mayor Fernando Q. Miguel is
Pesos as concerned, and the complaint
Attorneys fees; against him is DISMISSED.
5. Fifty Thousand
(P50,000.00) IT IS SO ORDERED.[13]
Pesos for the
death of The CA held that Mayor Miguel
Marvin Jayme; should not be held liable for damages for the
6. Three Thousand
death of Marvin Jayme. Said the appellate
(P3,000.00) as
litigation court:
expenses; and
7. To pay the cost Moreover, plaintiffs-
of this suit. appellees admitted that Mayor
Miguel was not the employer of
SO ORDERED.[12] Lozano. Thus, paragraph 9 of
the complaint alleged that
the Municipality of Koronadal
Dissatisfied with the RTC ruling,
was the employer of both
Mayor Miguel interposed an appeal to the Mayor Miguel and
CA. Lozano. Not being the employer
of Lozano, Mayor Miguel could
CA Disposition not thus be held liable for the
damages caused by the
former. Mayor Miguel was a APPEALS ARE ALL BASED
mere passenger in the Isuzu ON
pick-up at the time of the CONJECTURES AND SURMI
accident.[14] (Emphasis supplied) SES AND AGAINST
ACCEPTED COURSE OF
The CA also reiterated the settled rule that it JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
WHICH URGENTLY CALL
is the registered owner of a vehicle who is
FOR AN EXERCISE OF THIS
jointly and severally liable with the driver HONORABLE COURTS
for damages incurred by passengers or third SUPERVISION. [15]
from the State Insurance Fund. what he merely learned from others either because
he was told or read or heard the same. Such
After trial, the RTC rendered a decision in favor of the testimony is considered hearsay and may not be
widow Maria Juego. The dispositive portion of the received as proof of the truth of what he has
RTC decision reads: learned.5 This is known as the hearsay rule.
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered ordering Hearsay is not limited to oral testimony or statements;
defendant to pay plaintiff, as follows: the general rule that excludes hearsay as evidence
applies to written, as well as oral statements.6
1. P50,000.00 for the death of Jose A. Juego.
The theory of the hearsay rule is that the many
possible deficiencies, suppressions, sources of error
2. P10,000.00 as actual and compensatory damages.
and untrustworthiness, which lie underneath the bare
untested assertion of a witness, may be best brought
3. P464,000.00 for the loss of Jose A. Juego’s to light and exposed by the test of cross-
earning capacity. examiantion.7 The hearsay rule, therefore, excludes
evidence that cannot be tested by cross-examination. 8
4. P100,000.00 as moral damages.
The Rules of Court allow several exceptions to the
5. P20,000.00 as attorney’s fees, plus the costs of rule,9 among which are entries in official records.
suit. Section 44, Rule 130 provides:
Entries in official records made in the performance of circumstantially relevant as to the existence of such a
his duty made in the performance of his duty by a fact."
public officer of the Philippines, or by a person in the
performance of a duty specially enjoined by law When Major Enriquez took the witness stand, testified
are prima facieevidence of the facts therein stated. for petitioners on his Report and made himself
available for cross-examination by the adverse party,
In Africa, et al. vs. Caltex (Phil.), Inc., et al., this
10
the Report, insofar as it proved that certain utterances
Court, citing the work of Chief Justice Moran, were made (but not their truth), was effectively
enumerated the requisites for admissibility under the removed from the ambit of the aforementioned
above rule: Section 44 of Rule 130. Properly understood, this
section does away with the testimony in open court of
(a) that the entry was made by a public officer or by the officer who made the official record, considers the
another person specially enjoined by law to do so; matter as an exception to the hearsay rule and makes
the entries in said official record admissible in
(b) that it was made by the public officer in the evidence as prima facie evidence of the facts therein
performance of his duties, or by such other person in stated. The underlying reasons for this exceptionary
the performance of a duty specially enjoined by law; rule are necessity and trustworthiness, as explained
and in Antillon v. Barcelon.
(c) that the public officer or other person had sufficient The litigation is unlimited in which testimony by
knowledge of the facts by him stated, which must officials is daily needed; the occasions in which the
have been acquired by him personally or through officials would be summoned from his ordinary duties
official information. to declare as a witness are numberless. The public
officers are few in whose daily work something is not
done in which testimony is not needed from official
The CA held that the police report meets all these
sources. Were there no exception for official
requisites. Petitioner contends that the last requisite
statements, hosts of officials would be found devoting
is not present.
the greater part of their time to attending as witnesses
in court or delivering deposition before an officer. The
The Court notes that PO3 Villanueva, who signed the work of administration of government and the interest
report in question, also testified before the trial court. of the public having business with officials would alike
In Rodriguez vs. Court of Appeals, which involved a
11
suffer in consequence. For these reasons, and for
Fire Investigation Report, the officer who signed the many others, a certain verity is accorded such
fire report also testified before the trial court. This documents, which is not extended to private
Court held that the report was inadmissible for the documents. (3 Wigmore on Evidence, Sec. 1631).
purpose of proving the truth of the statements
contained in the report but admissible insofar as it
The law reposes a particular confidence in public
constitutes part of the testimony of the officer who
officers that it presumes they will discharge their
executed the report.
several trusts with accuracy and fidelity; and,
therefore, whatever acts they do in discharge of their
x x x. Since Major Enriquez himself took the witness duty may be given in evidence and shall be taken to
stand and was available for cross-examination, the be true under such a degree of caution as to the
portions of the report which were of his personal nature and circumstances of each case may appear
knowledge or which consisted of his perceptions and to require.
conclusions were not hearsay. The rest of the report,
such as the summary of the statements of the parties
It would have been an entirely different matter if Major
based on their sworn statements (which were
Enriquez was not presented to testify on his report. In
annexed to the Report) as well as the latter, having
that case the applicability of Section 44 of Rule 143
been included in the first purpose of the offer [as part
would have been ripe for determination, and this
of the testimony of Major Enriquez], may then be
Court would have agreed with the Court of Appeals
considered as independently relevant
that said report was inadmissible since the
statements which were gathered in the course of the
aforementioned third requisite was not satisfied. The
investigation and may thus be admitted as such, but
statements given by the sources of information of
not necessarily to prove the truth thereof. It has been
Major Enriquez failed to qualify as "official
said that:
information," there being no showing that, at the very
least, they were under a duty to give the statements
"Where regardless of the truth or falsity of a for record.
statement, the fact that it has been made is relevant,
the hearsay rule does not apply, but the statement
Similarly, the police report in this case is inadmissible
may be shown. Evidence as to the making of such
for the purpose of proving the truth of the statements
statement is not secondary but primary, for the
contained therein but is admissible insofar as it
statement itself may constitute a fact in issue, or be
constitutes part of the testimony of PO3 Villanueva.
In any case, the Court holds that portions of PO3 One of the theoretical based for the doctrine is its
Villanueva’s testimony which were of his personal necessity, i.e., that necessary evidence is absent or
knowledge suffice to prove that Jose Juego indeed not available.22
died as a result of the elevator crash. PO3 Villanueva
had seen Juego’s remains at the morgue, making the
12
The res ipsa loquitur doctrine is based in part upon
latter’s death beyond dispute. PO3 Villanueva also the theory that the defendant in charge of the
conducted an ocular inspection of the premises of the instrumentality which causes the injury either knows
building the day after the incident and saw the
13
the cause of the accident or has the best opportunity
platform for himself. He observed that the platform
14
of ascertaining it and that the plaintiff has no such
was crushed and that it was totally damaged. PO3
15 16
knowledge, and therefore is compelled to allege
Villanueva also required Garcia and Fabro to bring negligence in general terms and to rely upon the
the chain block to the police headquarters. Upon proof of the happening of the accident in order to
inspection, he noticed that the chain was detached establish negligence. The inference which the
from the lifting machine, without any pin or bolt.17 doctrine permits is grounded upon the fact that the
chief evidence of the true cause, whether culpable or
What petitioner takes particular exception to is PO3 innocent, is practically accessible to the defendant
Villanueva’s testimony that the cause of the fall of the but inaccessible to the injured person.
platform was the loosening of the bolt from the chain
block. It is claimed that such portion of the testimony It has been said that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur
is mere opinion. Subject to certain exceptions, the 18
furnishes a bridge by which a plaintiff, without
opinion of a witness is generally not admissible. 19 knowledge of the cause, reaches over to defendant
who knows or should know the cause, for any
Petitioner’s contention, however, loses relevance in explanation of care exercised by the defendant in
the face of the application of res ipsa loquitur by the respect of the matter of which the plaintiff complains.
CA. The effect of the doctrine is to warrant a The res ipsa loquitur doctrine, another court has said,
presumption or inference that the mere fall of the is a rule of necessity, in that it proceeds on the theory
elevator was a result of the person having charge of that under the peculiar circumstances in which the
the instrumentality was negligent. As a rule of doctrine is applicable, it is within the power of the
evidence, the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is peculiar defendant to show that there was no negligence on
to the law of negligence which recognizes that prima his part, and direct proof of defendant’s negligence is
facie negligence may be established without direct beyond plaintiff’s power. Accordingly, some court add
proof and furnishes a substitute for specific proof of to the three prerequisites for the application of the res
negligence.20 ipsa loquitur doctrine the further requirement that for
the res ipsa loquitur doctrine to apply, it must appear
The concept of res ipsa loquitur has been explained that the injured party had no knowledge or means of
in this wise: knowledge as to the cause of the accident, or that the
party to be charged with negligence has superior
While negligence is not ordinarily inferred or knowledge or opportunity for explanation of the
presumed, and while the mere happening of an accident.23
accident or injury will not generally give rise to an
inference or presumption that it was due to The CA held that all the requisites of res ipsa
negligence on defendant’s part, under the doctrine of loquitur are present in the case at bar:
res ipsa loquitur, which means, literally, the thing or
transaction speaks for itself, or in one jurisdiction, that There is no dispute that appellee’s husband fell down
the thing or instrumentality speaks for itself, the facts from the 14th floor of a building to the basement while
or circumstances accompanying an injury may be he was working with appellant’s construction project,
such as to raise a presumption, or at least permit an resulting to his death. The construction site is within
inference of negligence on the part of the defendant, the exclusive control and management of appellant. It
or some other person who is charged with has a safety engineer, a project superintendent, a
negligence. carpenter leadman and others who are in complete
control of the situation therein. The circumstances of
x x x where it is shown that the thing or any accident that would occur therein are peculiarly
instrumentality which caused the injury complained of within the knowledge of the appellant or its
was under the control or management of the employees. On the other hand, the appellee is not in
defendant, and that the occurrence resulting in the a position to know what caused the accident. Res
injury was such as in the ordinary course of things ipsa loquitur is a rule of necessity and it applies
would not happen if those who had its control or where evidence is absent or not readily available,
management used proper care, there is sufficient provided the following requisites are present: (1) the
evidence, or, as sometimes stated, reasonable accident was of a kind which does not ordinarily occur
evidence, in the absence of explanation by the unless someone is negligent; (2) the instrumentality
defendant, that the injury arose from or was caused or agency which caused the injury was under the
by the defendant’s want of care.21 exclusive control of the person charged with
negligence; and (3) the injury suffered must not have
been due to any voluntary action or contribution on is placed on the witness stand to testify thereon. The 28
the part of the person injured. x x x. inadmissibility of this sort of evidence is based not
only on the lack of opportunity on the part of the
No worker is going to fall from the 14 th floor of a adverse party to cross-examine the affiant, but also
building to the basement while performing work in a on the commonly known fact that, generally, an
construction site unless someone is negligent[;] thus, affidavit is not prepared by the affiant himself but by
the first requisite for the application of the rule of res another who uses his own language in writing the
ipsa loquitur is present. As explained earlier, the affiant’s statements which may either be omitted or
construction site with all its paraphernalia and human misunderstood by the one writing them. Petitioner,
29
resources that likely caused the injury is under the therefore, cannot use said statement as proof of its
exclusive control and management of appellant[;] due care any more than private respondent can use it
thus[,] the second requisite is also present. No to prove the cause of her husband’s death.
contributory negligence was attributed to the Regrettably, petitioner does not cite any other
appellee’s deceased husband[;] thus[,] the last evidence to rebut the inference or presumption of
requisite is also present. All the requisites for the negligence arising from the application of res ipsa
application of the rule of res ipsa loquitur are present, loquitur, or to establish any defense relating to the
thus a reasonable presumption or inference of incident.
appellant’s negligence arises. x x x.24
Next, petitioner argues that private respondent had
Petitioner does not dispute the existence of the previously availed of the death benefits provided
requisites for the application of res ipsa loquitur, but under the Labor Code and is, therefore, precluded
argues that the presumption or inference that it was from claiming from the deceased’s employer
negligent did not arise since it "proved that it damages under the Civil Code.
exercised due care to avoid the accident which befell
respondent’s husband." Article 173 of the Labor Code states:
Petitioner apparently misapprehends the procedural Article 173. Extent of liability. – Unless otherwise
effect of the doctrine. As stated earlier, the provided, the liability of the State Insurance Fund
defendant’s negligence is presumed or inferred when
25
under this Title shall be exclusive and in place of all
the plaintiff establishes the requisites for the other liabilities of the employer to the employee, his
application of res ipsa loquitur. Once the plaintiff dependents or anyone otherwise entitled to receive
makes out a prima facie case of all the elements, the damages on behalf of the employee or his
burden then shifts to defendant to explain. The 26
dependents. The payment of compensation under this
presumption or inference may be rebutted or Title shall not bar the recovery of benefits as provided
overcome by other evidence and, under appropriate for in Section 699 of the Revised Administrative
circumstances disputable presumption, such as that Code, Republic Act Numbered Eleven hundred sixty-
of due care or innocence, may outweigh the one, as amended, Republic Act Numbered Six
inference. It is not for the defendant to explain or
27
hundred ten, as amended, Republic Act Numbered
prove its defense to prevent the presumption or Forty-eight hundred sixty-four as amended, and other
inference from arising. Evidence by the defendant of laws whose benefits are administered by the System
say, due care, comes into play only after the or by other agencies of the government.
circumstances for the application of the doctrine has
been established. 1âwphi1.nêt
hearsay and inadmissible. Affidavits are inadmissible involved a cave-in resulting in the death of the
as evidence under the hearsay rule, unless the affiant employees of the Philex Mining Corporation. Alleging
that the mining corporation, in violation of government WE hold that although the other petitioners had
rules and regulations, failed to take the required received the benefits under the Workmen’s
precautions for the protection of the employees, the Compensation Act, such my not preclude them from
heirs of the deceased employees filed a complaint bringing an action before the regular court because
against Philex Mining in the Court of First Instance they became cognizant of the fact that Philex has
(CFI). Upon motion of Philex Mining, the CFI been remiss in its contractual obligations with the
dismissed the complaint for lack of jurisdiction. The deceased miners only after receiving compensation
heirs sought relief from this Court. under the Act. Had petitioners been aware of said
violation of government rules and regulations by
Addressing the issue of whether the heirs had a Philex, and of its negligence, they would not have
choice of remedies, majority of the Court En Banc, 31 sought redress under the Workmen’s Compensation
following the rule in Pacaña vs. Cebu Autobus Commission which awarded a lesser amount for
Company, held in the affirmative. compensation. The choice of the first remedy was
based on ignorance or a mistake of fact, which
WE now come to the query as to whether or not the nullifies the choice as it was not an intelligent choice.
injured employee or his heirs in case of death have a The case should therefore be remanded to the lower
right of selection or choice of action between availing court for further proceedings. However, should the
themselves of the worker’s right under the Workmen’s petitioners be successful in their bid before the lower
Compensation Act and suing in the regular courts court, the payments made under the Workmen’s
under the Civil Code for higher damages (actual, Compensation Act should be deducted from the
moral and exemplary) from the employers by virtue of damages that may be decreed in their favor.
the negligence or fault of the employers or whether [Underscoring supplied.]
they may avail themselves cumulatively of both
actions, i.e., collect the limited compensation under The ruling in Floresca providing the claimant a choice
the Workmen’s Compensation Act and sue in addition of remedies was reiterated in Ysmael Maritime
for damages in the regular courts. Corporation vs. Avelino, Vda. De Severo vs.
32
In disposing of a similar issue, this Court in Pacaña Abeleda. In the last case, the Court again recognized
34
vs. Cebu Autobus Company, 32 SCRA 442, ruled that a claimant who had been paid under the Act
that an injured worker has a choice of either to could still sue under the Civil Code. The Court said:
recover from the employer the fixed amounts set by
the Workmen’s Compensation Act or to prosecute an In the Robles case, it was held that claims for
ordinary civil action against the tortfeasor for higher damages sustained by workers in the course of their
damages but he cannot pursue both courses of action employment could be filed only under the Workmen’s
simultaneously. [Underscoring supplied.] Compensation Law, to the exclusion of all further
claims under other laws. In Floresca, this doctrine
Nevertheless, the Court allowed some of the was abrogated in favor of the new rule that the
petitioners in said case to proceed with their suit claimants may invoke either the Workmen’s
under the Civil Code despite having availed of the Compensation Act or the provisions of the Civil Code,
benefits provided under the Workmen’s subject to the consequence that the choice of one
Compensation Act. The Court reasoned: remedy will exclude the other and that the
acceptance of compensation under the remedy
chosen will preclude a claim for additional benefits
With regard to the other petitioners, it was alleged by
under the other remedy. The exception is where a
Philex in its motion to dismiss dated May 14, 1968
claimant who has already been paid under the
before the court a quo, that the heirs of the deceased
Workmen’s Compensation Act may still sue for
employees, namely Emerito Obra, Larry Villar, Jr.,
damages under the Civil Code on the basis of
Aurelio Lanuza, Lorenzo Isla and Saturnino submitted
supervening facts or developments occurring after he
notices and claims for compensation to the Regional
opted for the first remedy. (Underscoring supplied.)
Office No. 1 of the then Department of Labor and all
of them have been paid in full as of August 25, 1967,
except Saturnino Martinez whose heirs decided that Here, the CA held that private respondent’s case
they be paid in installments x x x. Such allegation was came under the exception because private
admitted by herein petitioners in their opposition to respondent was unaware of petitioner’s negligence
the motion to dismiss dated may 27, 1968 x x x in the when she filed her claim for death benefits from the
lower court, but they set up the defense that the State Insurance Fund. Private respondent filed the
claims were filed under the Workmen’s Compensation civil complaint for damages after she received a copy
Act before they learned of the official report of the of the police investigation report and the Prosecutor’s
committee created to investigate the accident which Memorandum dismissing the criminal complaint
established the criminal negligence and violation of against petitioner’s personnel. While stating that there
law by Philex, and which report was forwarded by the was no negligence attributable to the respondents in
Director of Mines to then Executive Secretary Rafael the complaint, the prosecutor nevertheless noted in
Salas in a letter dated October 19, 1967 only x x x. the Memorandum that, "if at all," the "case is civil in
nature." The CA thus applied the exception from the ECC were attended by ignorance or mistake
in Floresca: of fact. Not being an issue submitted during the trial,
the trial court had no authority to hear or adjudicate
x x x We do not agree that appellee has knowledge of that issue."
the alleged negligence of appellant as early as
November 25, 1990, the date of the police Petitioner also claims that private respondent could
investigator’s report. The appellee merely executed not have been ignorant of the facts because as early
her sworn statement before the police investigator as November 28, 1990, private respondent was the
concerning her personal circumstances, her relation complainant in a criminal complaint for "Simple
to the victim, and her knowledge of the accident. She Negligence Resulting to Homicide" against
did not file the complaint for "Simple Negligence petitioner’s employees. On February 6, 1991, two
Resulting to Homicide" against appellant’s months before the filing of the action in the lower
employees. It was the investigator who recommended court, Prosecutor Lorna Lee issued a resolution
the filing of said case and his supervisor referred the finding that, although there was insufficient evidence
same to the prosecutor’s office. This is a standard against petitioner’s employees, the case was "civil in
operating procedure for police investigators which nature." These purportedly show that prior to her
appellee may not have even known. This may explain receipt of death benefits from the ECC on January 2,
why no complainant is mentioned in the preliminary 1991 and every month thereafter, private respondent
statement of the public prosecutor in her also knew of the two choices of remedies available to
memorandum dated February 6, 1991, to wit: her and yet she chose to claim and receive the
"Respondent Ferdinand Fabro x x x are being benefits from the ECC.
charged by complainant of "Simple Negligence
Resulting to Homicide." It is also possible that the When a party having knowledge of the facts makes
appellee did not have a chance to appear before the an election between inconsistent remedies, the
public prosecutor as can be inferred from the election is final and bars any action, suit, or
following statement in said memorandum: proceeding inconsistent with the elected remedy, in
"Respondents who were notified pursuant to Law the absence of fraud by the other party. The first act
waived their rights to present controverting evidence," of election acts as a bar. Equitable in nature, the
37
thus there was no reason for the public prosecutor to doctrine of election of remedies is designed to
summon the appellee. Hence, notice of appellant’s mitigate possible unfairness to both parties. It rests
negligence cannot be imputed on appellee before she on the moral premise that it is fair to hold people
applied for death benefits under ECC or before she responsible for their choices. The purpose of the
received the first payment therefrom. Her using the doctrine is not to prevent any recourse to any remedy,
police investigation report to support her complaint but to prevent a double redress for a single wrong. 38
filed on May 9, 1991 may just be an afterthought after
receiving a copy of the February 6, 1991 The choice of a party between inconsistent remedies
Memorandum of the Prosecutor’s Office dismissing results in a waiver by election. Hence, the rule
the criminal complaint for insufficiency of evidence, in Floresca that a claimant cannot simultaneously
stating therein that: "The death of the victim is not pursue recovery under the Labor Code and prosecute
attributable to any negligence on the part of the an ordinary course of action under the Civil Code.
respondents. If at all and as shown by the records this The claimant, by his choice of one remedy, is deemed
case is civil in nature." (Underscoring supplied.) to have waived the other.
Considering the foregoing, We are more inclined to
believe appellee’s allegation that she learned about
Waiver is the intentional relinquishment of
appellant’s negligence only after she applied for and
a known right.39
received the benefits under ECC. This is a mistake of
fact that will make this case fall under the exception
held in the Floresca ruling. 35 [It] is an act of understanding that presupposes that a
party has knowledge of its rights, but chooses not to
assert them. It must be generally shown by the party
The CA further held that not only was private
claiming a waiver that the person against whom the
respondent ignorant of the facts, but of her rights as
waiver is asserted had at the time knowledge, actual
well:
or constructive, of the existence of the party’s rights
or of all material facts upon which they depended.
x x x. Appellee [Maria Juego] testified that she has Where one lacks knowledge of a right, there is no
reached only elementary school for her educational basis upon which waiver of it can rest. Ignorance of a
attainment; that she did not know what damages material fact negates waiver, and waiver cannot be
could be recovered from the death of her husband; established by a consent given under a mistake or
and that she did not know that she may also recover misapprehension of fact.
more from the Civil Code than from the ECC. x x x.36
A person makes a knowing and intelligent waiver
Petitioner impugns the foregoing rulings. It contends when that person knows that a right exists and has
that private respondent "failed to allege in her
complaint that her application and receipt of benefits
adequate knowledge upon which to make an respondent testified that she was not aware of her
intelligent decision. rights.
Waiver requires a knowledge of the facts basic to the Petitioner, though, argues that under Article 3 of the
exercise of the right waived, with an awareness of its Civil Code, ignorance of the law excuses no one from
consequences. That a waiver is made knowingly and compliance therewith. As judicial decisions applying
intelligently must be illustrated on the record or by the or interpreting the laws or the Constitution form part
evidence.40 of the Philippine legal system (Article 8, Civil Code),
private respondent cannot claim ignorance of this
That lack of knowledge of a fact that nullifies the Court’s ruling in Floresca allowing a choice of
election of a remedy is the basis for the exception remedies.
in Floresca.
The argument has no merit. The application of Article
It is in light of the foregoing principles that we address 3 is limited to mandatory and prohibitory laws. This
42
when petitioner itself pleaded waiver in the received P3,581.85 as initial payment representing
proceedings before the trial court. the accrued pension from November 1990 to March
1991. Her initial monthly pension, according to the
Does the evidence show that private respondent same Exhibit "K," was P596.97 and present total
knew of the facts that led to her husband’s death and monthly pension was P716.40. Whether the total
the rights pertaining to a choice of remedies? amount she will eventually receive from the ECC is
less than the sum of P644,000.00 in total damages
awarded by the trial court is subject to speculation,
It bears stressing that what negates waiver is lack of
and the case is remanded to the trial court for such
knowledge or a mistake of fact. In this case, the "fact"
determination. Should the trial court find that its
that served as a basis for nullifying the waiver is
award is greater than that of the ECC, payments
the negligence of petitioner’s employees, of which
already received by private respondent under the
private respondent purportedly learned only after the
Labor Code shall be deducted from the trial court'’
prosecutor issued a resolution stating that there may
award of damages. Consistent with our ruling
be civil liability. In Floresca, it was the negligence of
in Floresca, this adjudication aims to prevent double
the mining corporation and its violation of government
compensation.
rules and regulations. Negligence, or violation of
government rules and regulations, for that matter,
however, is not a fact, but a conclusion of law, over WHEREFORE, the case is REMANDED to the
which only the courts have the final say. Such a Regional Trial Court of Pasig City to determine
conclusion binds no one until the courts have decreed whether the award decreed in its decision is more
so. It appears, therefore, that the principle that than that of the ECC. Should the award decreed by
ignorance or mistake of fact nullifies a waiver has the trial court be greater than that awarded by the
been misapplied in Floresca and in the case at bar. ECC, payments already made to private respondent
pursuant to the Labor Code shall be deducted
therefrom. In all other respects, the Decision of the
In any event, there is no proof that private respondent
Court of Appeals is AFFIRMED.
knew that her husband died in the elevator crash
when on November 15, 1990 she accomplished her
application for benefits from the ECC. The police SO ORDERED.
investigation report is dated November 25, 1990, 10
days after the accomplishment of the form. Petitioner G.R. No. 113003 October 17, 1997
filed the application in her behalf on November 27,
1990. ALBERTA YOBIDO and CRESENCIO
YOBIDO, petitioners,
There is also no showing that private respondent vs.
knew of the remedies available to her when the claim COURT OF APPEALS, LENY TUMBOY, ARDEE
before the ECC was filed. On the contrary, private TUMBOY and JASMIN TUMBOY, respondents.
that the left front tire that exploded was a "brand new
tire" that he mounted on the bus on April 21, 1988 or
ROMERO, J.: only five (5) days before the incident. The Yobido
Liner secretary, Minerva Fernando, bought the new
In this petition for review on certiorari of the decision Goodyear tire from Davao Toyo Parts on April 20,
of the Court of Appeals, the issue is whether or not 1988 and she was present when it was mounted on
the explosion of a newly installed tire of a passenger the bus by Salce. She stated that all driver applicants
vehicle is a fortuitous event that exempts the carrier in Yobido Liner underwent actual driving tests before
from liability for the death of a passenger. they were employed. Defendant Cresencio Yobido
underwent such test and submitted his professional
driver's license and clearances from the barangay,
On April 26, 1988, spouses Tito and Leny Tumboy
the fiscal and the police.
and their minor children named Ardee and Jasmin,
bearded at Mangagoy, Surigao del Sur, a Yobido
Liner bus bound for Davao City. Along Picop Road in On August 29, 1991, the lower court rendered a
Km. 17, Sta. Maria, Agusan del Sur, the left front tire decision dismissing the action for lack of merit. On
2
of the bus exploded. The bus fell into a ravine around the issue of whether or not the tire blowout was
three (3) feet from the road and struck a tree. The a caso fortuito, it found that "the falling of the bus to
incident resulted in the death of 28-year-old Tito the cliff was a result of no other outside factor than
Tumboy and physical injuries to other passengers. the tire blow-out." It held that the ruling in the La
Mallorca and Pampanga Bus Co. v. De Jesus that a 3
burden of the defendants to prove that the cause of passenger is injured or dies while travelling, the law
the blow-out was a fortuitous event. It is not presumes that the common carrier is negligent. Thus,
incumbent upon the plaintiff to prove that the cause of the Civil Code provides:
the blow-out is not caso-fortuito.
Art. 1756. In case of death or injuries to passengers,
Proving that the tire that exploded is a new Goodyear common carriers are presumed to have been at fault
tire is not sufficient to discharge defendants' burden. or to have acted negligently, unless they prove that
As enunciated in Necesito vs. Paras, the passenger they observed extraordinary diligence as prescribed
has neither choice nor control over the carrier in the in articles 1733 and 1755.
selection and use of its equipment, and the good
repute of the manufacturer will not necessarily relieve Article 1755 provides that "(a) common carrier is
the carrier from liability. bound to carry the passengers safely as far as human
care and foresight can provide, using the utmost
Moreover, there is evidence that the bus was moving diligence of very cautious persons, with a due regard
fast, and the road was wet and rough. The driver for all the circumstances." Accordingly, in culpa
could have explained that the blow-out that contractual, once a passenger dies or is injured, the
precipitated the accident that caused the death of carrier is presumed to have been at fault or to have
Toto Tumboy could not have been prevented even if acted negligently. This disputable presumption may
he had exercised due care to avoid the same, but he only be overcome by evidence that the carrier had
was not presented as witness. observed extraordinary diligence as prescribed by
Articles 1733, 1755 and 1756 of the Civil Code or
10
The Court of Appeals thus disposed of the appeal as that the death or injury of the passenger was due to a
follows: fortuitous event. Consequently, the court need not
11
event alone. The common carrier must still prove that Exemplary damages, awarded by way of example or
it was not negligent in causing the death or injury correction for the public good when moral damages
resulting from an accident. This Court has had
16 are awarded, may likewise be recovered in
23
good because the grooves of the tire were still visible, exercise the extraordinary diligence required of a
this fact alone does not make the explosion of the tire common carrier, which resulted in the death of Tito
a fortuitous event. No evidence was presented to Tumboy, it is deemed to have acted recklessly. As25
show that the accident was due to adverse road such, private respondents shall be entitled to
conditions or that precautions were taken by the exemplary damages.
jeepney driver to compensate for any conditions liable
to cause accidents. The sudden blowing-up, WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Court of Appeals
therefore, could have been caused by too much air is hereby AFFIRMED subject to the modification that
pressure injected into the tire coupled by the fact that petitioners shall, in addition to the monetary awards
the jeepney was overloaded and speeding at the time therein, be liable for the award of exemplary damages
of the accident.17 in the amount of P20,000.00. Costs against
petitioners.
It is interesting to note that petitioners proved through
the bus conductor, Salce, that the bus was running at SO ORDERED.
"60-50" kilometers per hour only or within the
prescribed lawful speed limit. However, they failed to
rebut the testimony of Leny Tumboy that the bus was
running so fast that she cautioned the driver to slow
down. These contradictory facts must, therefore, be
resolved in favor of liability in view of the presumption
of negligence of the carrier in the law. Coupled with
this is the established condition of the road — rough,
winding and wet due to the rain. It was incumbent
upon the defense to establish that it took
precautionary measures considering partially
dangerous condition of the road. As stated above,
proof that the tire was new and of good quality is not
sufficient proof that it was not negligent. Petitioners
should have shown that it undertook extraordinary
diligence in the care of its carrier, such as conducting
daily routinary check-ups of the vehicle's parts. As the
late Justice J.B.L. Reyes said: