9/12/2020 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED OLUME 605

G.R. No. 183198. No embe 25, 2009.*

LUZ PALANCA TAN, pe i ione , . JAM TRANSIT, INC.,
e ponden .

C La ; N c ;R I aL ;R I aL
a a a ac cc c a
a d c c a c a a
c a a c a a
a a ac
ca a d a ac
d da a a a . R a i a
La in ph a e ha li e all mean he hing o he an ac ion
peak fo i elf. I i a ma im fo he le ha he fac of he
occ ence of an inj , aken ih he o nding
ci c m ance , ma pe mi an infe ence o ai e a p e mp ion of
negligence, o make o a plain iff a ac ca e, and p e en
a q e ion of fac fo defendan o mee i h an e plana ion.
Whe e he hing ha ca ed he inj complained of i ho n o
be nde he managemen of he defendan o hi e an ; and
he acciden , in he o dina co e of hing , o ld no happen if
ho e ho had managemen o con ol ed p ope ca e, i affo d
ea onable e idence in he ab ence of a fficien , ea onable
and logical e plana ion b defendan ha he acciden a o e
f om o a ca ed b he defendan an of ca e. Thi le i
g o nded on he pe io logic of o dina h man e pe ience, and
i i on he ba i of ch e pe ience o common kno ledge ha
negligence ma be ded ced f om he me e occ ence of he
acciden i elf. Hence, he le i applied in conj nc ion i h he
doc ine of common kno ledge.
Sa ; Sa ; Sa ; R a a
b a a a d d c a d d
a a d ab ; M ca a d a ca
d c d d
c ; R B D c a b A d. R
a i no a le of b an i e la and doe no
con i e an independen o epa a e g o nd fo liabili .
In ead, i i con ide ed a me el e iden ia , a mode of p oof, o
a me e p oced al con enience, ince i f ni he a b i e fo ,
and elie e a plain iff of, he b den of p od cing a

_______________

* THIRD DIVISION.

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9/12/2020 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED OLUME 605

660

pecific p oof of negligence. In o he o d , me e in oca ion and

applica ion of he doc ine do no di pen e i h he eq i emen
of p oof of negligence. I i impl a ep in he p oce of ch
p oof, pe mi ing plain iff o p e en , along i h he p oof of he
acciden , eno gh of he a ending ci c m ance o in oke he
doc ine, c ea ing an infe ence o p e mp ion of negligence, and
he eb placing on defendan he b den of going fo a d i h
he p oof. S ill, befo e e o o he doc ine ma be allo ed, he
follo ing eq i i e m be a i fac o il ho n: 1. The acciden
i of a kind hich o dina il doe no occ in he ab ence of
omeone negligence; 2. I i ca ed b an in men ali i hin
he e cl i e con ol of he defendan o defendan ; and 3. The
po ibili of con ib ing cond c hich o ld make he plain iff
e pon ible i elimina ed.
Sa ; Sa ; Q a -D c ; T a d ab a a -d c
c d b , a c
b c c a c d
ca a d d c a d a a a c a d
. Whene e an emplo ee negligence
ca e damage o inj o ano he , he e in an l a i e a
p e mp ion a ha he emplo e failed o e e ci e
d a a in he ec ion (c a d )o
pe i ion (c a a d ) of i emplo ee . To a oid liabili
fo a q a i-delic commi ed b i emplo ee, an emplo e m
o e come he p e mp ion, b p e en ing con incing p oof ha he
e e ci ed he ca e and diligence of a good fa he of a famil in he
elec ion and pe i ion of hi emplo ee.

PETITION fo e ie on ce io a i of a deci ion of he

Co of Appeal .
The fac a e a ed in he opinion of he Co .
E d G. R a fo pe i ione .
A J. Ta fo e ponden .

661

NACHURA, J.:
Thi i a pe i ion fo e ie on c a 1 nde R le 45
of he R le of Co , eeking he e e al of he Deci ion2
da ed J ne 2, 2008 of he Co of Appeal (CA) in CA-G.R.
CV No. 89046 and he ein a emen of he Deci ion3 da ed
Decembe 20, 2006 of he Regional T ial Co (RTC),
B anch 27, San a C , Lag na in Ci il Ca e No. SC-3838.
The an eceden a e a follo
In he Complain , pe i ione L Palanca Tan (Tan)
alleged ha he a he o ne of a pa enge - pe ji ne
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i h pla e n mbe DKF-168. On Ma ch 14, 1997, a a o nd

5:00 a.m., he aid ji ne fig ed in an acciden a an
in e ec ion along Maha lika High a , Ba a a Bang a ,
Cala an, Lag na, a i collided i h a JAM T an i
pa enge b bo nd fo Manila, bea ing pla e n mbe
DVG-557 and bod n mbe 8030. The b a d i en b
Eddie Dima ga (Dima ga).
A he ime of he colli ion, Tan ji ne a loaded i h
q ail egg and d ck egg (ba and al ed egg ). I a
d i en b Ale ande M. Rami e (Rami e ). Tan alleged
ha Dima ga a eckle , negligen , imp den , and no
ob e ing affic le and eg la ion , ca ing he b o
collide i h he ji ne hich a hen, i h ca e and
p ope ligh di ec ion ignal , abo o nego ia e a lef n
o a d he feede o ba a a oad of Ba a a Bang a ,
Cala an, Lag na going o he Poblacion. The ji ne ned
le along he ho lde of he oad and he ca go of egg
a de o ed. Rami e and hi helpe e e inj ed and
ho pi ali ed, inc ing e pen e fo medical ea men a
he Pa a a Pa a a in Ba , Lag na. Tan p a ed
fo damage in he

_______________

1R , pp. 8-14.
2 Penned b A ocia e J ice Celia C. Lib ea-Leagogo, i h A ocia e
J ice Regalado E. Maambong and Ag in S. Di on, conc ing.
3R , pp. 17-24.

662

amo n of P400,000.00 fo he damaged ji ne , P142,210.00

fo he de o ed hipmen , P20,000.00 fo mo al damage ,
a o ne fee of P20,000.00 pl P1,000.00 pe co
appea ance of co n el, and o he elief a an ed nde
he p emi e .
In i An e i h Co n e claim, e ponden JAM
T an i , Inc. (JAM) admi ed o ne hip of he bjec
pa enge b and ha Dima ga a nde i emplo .
Ho e e , i denied he allega ion in he Complain , and
claimed ha he acciden occ ed d e o he g o
negligence of Rami e . A co n e claim, JAM o gh
pa men of P100,000.00 fo he damage ained b he
b , P100,000.00 fo lo of income, and P50,000.00 a
a o ne fee pl P3,000.00 pe co appea ance of
co n el.
Af e p e ial, ial on he me i en ed.

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Tan p offe ed e imonial e idence, mma i ed b he

RTC, and q o ed b he CA, a follo :

LUZ PALANCA TAN, 47 ea old, ma ied, a e iden of S a.

C , Lag na and a b ine oman, e ified o he fac a ed in he
complain ha : She i engaged in he b ine of ne and ope , and egg
deale hip ba ed [in] San a C , Lag na. She pplie he p od c o
he c ome [in] San Pablo and L cena. On Ma ch 14, 1997, hile a
home, he a info med b he h band ha one of hei , hich
a loaded i h egg , a b mped b a JAM T an i b hen he la e
o e ook he . The ehicle a d i en b one Ale ande Rami e ,
ho ha one Monching a a companion. A a e l of he acciden , he
inc ed damage in he amo n of P650,000.00 ba ed on he follo ing
comp a ion: P400,000.00 a ac al damage ained b he ,
f om an e ima e (E hibi D) f ni hed b Plan illa Mo o ;
P142,000.00 fo he lo al e of he egg hipmen , ba ed on a
ce ifica ion i ed b he Cala an Police S a ion; and P15,000.00, fo
he ho pi ali a ion and ea men of he d i e and hi companion. The
i d l egi e ed a e idenced b i egi a ion eceip (E hibi
G ). On c o e amina ion, he e ified ha Rami e , he d i e
hen he acciden occ ed, a nde he emplo ince 1993 and i ill
o king fo he .

663

On edi ec , he plain iff e ified ha p io o Ma ch 13, 1997, he

da he acciden happened, Rami e ha no me an ehic la acciden
and ha i a onl in he afo e a ed da e hen he fig ed in one. On
e-c o , he e ified ha he ha no kno ledge of Rami e p io
e pe ience a a d i e . She did no a k Rami e fo hi NBI o police
clea ance p io o he hi ing he aid d i e . On addi ional edi ec , he
plain iff e ified ha he i a i fied i h he pe fo mance of Rami e a
a d i e a he i kind.
ALEXANDER RAMIREZ, 35 ea old, ma ied, e iden of S a.
C , Lag na, and a d i e e ified ha : He kno he plain iff L
Palanca Tan beca e he i hi manage . He o ked fo he a a d i e
ome ime in 1993. He ome ime d o e a o a ck.
On Ma ch 13, 1997, a a o nd 4:00 o clock in he mo ning, he
epo ed fo o k a hi emplo e a eho e loca ed [in] Pag a i an,
S a. C . He go he pa enge jeep loaded i h al ed egg , ba and
q ail egg fo deli e o L cena Ci pon in c ion of Tan. In going o
L cena Ci , he cho e o d i e on he Maha lika Road a San I id o,
B g . Bang a , Cala an, Lag na beca e i i be e han he oad along
B g . Da ap of he ame m nicipali . Ho e e , hile a he Maha lika
Road, he me an acciden a a o nd 5:00 a.m. The ji ne ned le.
PO3 DANIEL C. ESCARES, 37 ea old, ma ied, e iden of
Cala an, Lag na, and a membe of PNP-Cala an, Lag na, e ified ha :
He a on police d a of Ma ch 14, 1997. On ha da , he i ed a
ce ifica ion (E hibi B ) pe aining o a ehic la acciden hich

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occ ed ea lie . He came o kno of he acciden a ela ed o hei

office b a conce ned ci i en. He p oceeded o he place of he acciden ,
hich a a Maha lika High a , in an in e ec ion a B g . Bang a ,
Cala an, Lag na fo an in e iga ion. Upon eaching he place, a a le
follo ed b police office , he inq i ed f om ome of he e iden abo
he inciden . A ela ed o him, he i h Pla e No. 168 a going
o a d he di ec ion of San I id o, follo ed b ano he ,a ck
and hen b a JAM T an i b . The b o e ook he i a
follo ing hen ide ep he ( hich fig ed in he acciden )
d agging i along ( a a ad ad ) o a d he ampag i a ga den .
[NOTE: T e e f e e e a d e f a
a e ed a de ed b e C be de e ed.] Then, he en
pe onall o he place he e he inciden happened.

664

He a ed i a clo d ha da . He de c ibed he high a he e he

inciden happened a ha ing a do ble aigh ello line hich
p ohibi o e aking on bo h ide of he oad. The aid place i nea he
in e ec ion of Maha lika High a and he ba a a oad leading o
B g . San I id o.
On c o e amina ion, he a ed he canno emembe if he a ih
o he police office d ing he in e iga ion of he inciden b he can
ecall ha ing in e ie ed a ce ain Me c Pon ei o and one Rodel, ho
a e bo h e iden of he place.
On edi ec , he a ed ha he i ne Me c Pon ei o i ill
e iding a B g . Bang a [.]
On addi ional di ec e amina ion, he a ed ha he acciden iei
ill f e h in hi mind and he d e a ke ch (E hibi F o F-7 ) of he
aid place. He iden ified in he ke ch he di ec ion of he high a hich
lead o Manila and o S a. C , Lag na. The oad, pe hi
app o ima ion, a abo 10 me e ide, i h he ho lde abo 5
me e e cep ha i a dimini hed o abo 2 me e on acco n of
ome enc oachmen . The high a ha a pain ed c o alk. I al o ha a
ello line i ho an c hich mean no ehicle co ld o e ake f om
bo h ide of he oad. He ho ed in he ke ch he po he e he ji ne
and he b e e a he ime of he inciden . Sho n he pho og aph
(E hibi E o E-6 ), he a ed ha he a e l eflec i e of he
cene of he inciden , he damage in bo h he and he b , a of
Ma ch 13, 1997.
On c o , he a ed ha ha he a a he i a ion af e he
inciden . He came o lea n of he acciden a a o nd 5:10 in he mo ning
f om a epo ecei ed b hei office, a ela ed b a conce ned ci i en.
He emembe ha SPO4 Rogelio Medina, no e i ed, a one of hi
companion a he acciden i e. The i e i abo a kilome e a a f om
hei police a ion. He can ecall he cene of he inciden beca e of he
pho og aph . The pe on he in e iga ed e e he ji ne d i e , hi
a a (helpe ) and ome people in he icini . He co ld no

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emembe he name of ho e pe on b he e e li ed in he police

blo e .
RODRIGO CONDINO, 38 ea old, ma ied, e iden of Vic o ia,
Lag na and a mechanic, e ified ha : He i a mechanic of Plan illa
Mo o a B b cal, S a. C , Lag na. He kno he plain iff L Tan a
he and hi chief (mechanic) epai ed he o ned b he la e af e
i fig ed in an acciden on Ma ch 13, 1997. He came o kno of he
acciden hen he aid ehicle a b o gh

665

o hei mo o hop. The made an e ima e (E hibi D ) of he damage

4
ained b he aid ehicle, hich amo n ed o P450,000.00.
Tan al o fo mall offe ed a e hibi he follo ing doc men :
E hibi A A icle of Inco po a ion of JAM T an i , Inc.;
E hibi B Ce ifica ion i ed b he Cala an M nicipal
Police S a ion ega ding he ehic la
acciden ;
E hibi C PNP-Cala an Police Repo ega ding he

ji ne hipmen ;
E hibi D E ima e of damage ained b he ji ne ,
f om A. Plan illa Mo o Repai Shop;
E hibi E Si (6) pho og aph depic ing he i e of he
ehic la acciden ;
E hibi F Fo (4) page of eceip ep e en ing ho pi al
and medical e pen e paid b he plain iff fo
inj ie ained b he d i e and helpe
in he acciden ;
E hibi G Ce ifica e of Regi a ion of plain iff ji ne ;
E hibi H D i e licen e of Eddie Dima ga,
defendan b d i e ;
E hibi I Ske ch of he i e he e he ehic la acciden
5
occ ed.

On he o he hand, JAM offe ed he follo ing

e imonial e idence

EDGARDO DIMAYUGA, 49 ea old, ma ied, e iden of

S a. C , Lag na and b d i e of JAM T an i Inc., e ified
ha : He ha been a pa enge b d i e ince 1983. He a
p e io l emplo ed i h he Ba anga Lag na Ta aba B
Compan (BLTB). He a emplo ed i h JAM T an i ince
1992. He ha a p ofe ional d i e licen e, D-12-78-008462562.
On Ma ch 14, 1997, he epo ed fo o k. He me an acciden
hile d i ing a b . The o he ehicle in ol ed, a ji ne , belong
o

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_______________

4 Id., a pp. 19-21.

5 Id., a pp. 18-19.

666

L Palanca Tan and d i en b Ale ande Rami e . The acciden

happened along he in e ec ion of Maha lika High a , B g .
Bang a a a o nd 5:00 o clock in he mo ning. He a d i ing
he b i h a peed of 40 km/h hen ddenl , a ehicle
o e ook he b f om he igh ide going o Cala an. He a no
able o e ade he ehicle a he e a no a fo him o do o. The
f on po ion of he b and he mi o e e de o ed.
On c o e amina ion, he a ed ha hi o e a of Ma ch 14,
1997 a S a. C -La on. He canno ecall he b cond c o
ho a on Bang a , Cala an. He a ed he a no able o e ade
he ji ne a he e a no a fo him o a oid he i a ion,
ca ing he ji ne o be d agged o he ide. No hing el e
happened af e he b hi he . He and o he pe on ook
he d i e f om he and b o gh him o a ho pi al.
On edi ec , he a ed ha b cond c o change d ie e e
o o h ee da . 6

JAM did no offe an doc men a co n e -e idence.

Appl ing he doc ine of a , he RTC fo nd
he JAM pa enge b d i e a fa l a he a hen
iola ing a affic eg la ion hen he colli ion ook place.
Th , he RTC led in fa o of Tan and di po ed a
follo

WHEREFORE, j dgmen i he eb ende ed again he

defendan ho a e he eb adj dged o pa he plain iff join l
and olida il , he follo ing:
1. ac al damage of P142,210.00 fo he lo and damaged
ca goe ; P400,000.00 fo he de o ed ji ne ; P1,327.00 medical
e pen e of he ji ne d i e and hi companion, fo a o al
amo n of [P543,537.00];
2. P10,000.00 a mo al damage ;
3. P10,000.00 a a o ne fee [;]
4. Co of i [.]
SO ORDERED. 7

_______________

6 Id., a p. 21.
7 Id., a p. 24.

667

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Agg ie ed, JAM appealed o he CA. The CA g an ed he

appeal and di mi ed he complain on he g o nd ha
he e a no hing on eco d ha ppo ed he RTC
finding ha he JAM pa enge b a o e aking Tan
ji ne . The CA no ed ha Rami e onl e ified ha , on
Ma ch 14, 1997, he me an acciden a a o nd 5:00 a.m.,
hile an po ing egg along Maha lika Road in San
I id o, Ba a a Bang a , Cala an, Lag na, ca ing he
ji ne he a d i ing o n le. The CA al o ob e ed
ha he Ce ifica ion (E hibi B ) made no men ion ha
he JAM pa enge b a o e peeding o ha i a
o e aking he ji ne ; and, h , he e a no e idence a
o ho be een Rami e and Dima ga a negligen in
connec ion i h he ehic la acciden . The CA held ha
he doc ine of a can onl be in oked hen
di ec e idence i none i en o no acce ible. I f he
aid ha Tan had acce o di ec e idence a o he p eci e
ca e of he mi hap, ch ha he ci c m ance of he
ehic la acciden o he pecific ac con i ing he
ppo ed negligence of Dima ga co ld ha e been e ified
o b Rami e o b he la e companion. The CA
concl ded ha a co ld no appl in hi ca e
beca e he doc ine doe no di pen e i h he
eq i emen of e abli hing p oof of negligence.
Hence, hi pe i ion, i h pe i ione po i ing ha he
doc ine of a i applicable gi en he
ci c m ance of he ca e.
R a i a La in ph a e ha li e all mean
he hing o he an ac ion peak fo i elf. I i a
ma im fo he le ha he fac of he occ ence of an
inj , aken i h he o nding ci c m ance , ma
pe mi an infe ence o ai e a p e mp ion of negligence, o
make o a plain iff a ac ca e, and p e en a
q e ion of fac fo defendan o mee i h an e plana ion.
Whe e he hing ha ca ed he inj complained of i
ho n o be nde he managemen of he defendan o hi
e an ; and he acciden , in he o dina co e of hing ,
o ld no happen if ho e ho had managemen o con ol
ed p ope ca e, i affo d ea onable
66

e idence in he ab ence of a fficien , ea onable and

logical e plana ion b defendan ha he acciden a o e
f om o a ca ed b he defendan an of ca e. Thi
le i g o nded on he pe io logic of o dina h man
e pe ience, and i i on he ba i of ch e pe ience o
common kno ledge ha negligence ma be ded ced f om

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he me e occ ence of he acciden i elf. Hence, he le i

applied in conj nc ion i h he doc ine of common
kno ledge.8
Ho e e , a i no a le of b an i e
la and doe no con i e an independen o epa a e
g o nd fo liabili . In ead, i i con ide ed a me el
e iden ia , a mode of p oof, o a me e p oced al
con enience, ince i f ni he a b i e fo , and elie e
a plain iff of, he b den of p od cing a pecific p oof of
negligence. In o he o d , me e in oca ion and applica ion
of he doc ine do no di pen e i h he eq i emen of
p oof of negligence. I i impl a ep in he p oce of ch
p oof, pe mi ing plain iff o p e en , along i h he p oof
of he acciden , eno gh of he a ending ci c m ance o
in oke he doc ine, c ea ing an infe ence o p e mp ion
of negligence, and he eb placing on defendan he b den
of going fo a d i h he p oof.9 S ill, befo e e o o he
doc ine ma be allo ed, he follo ing eq i i e m be
a i fac o il ho n:

1. The acciden i of a kind hich o dina il doe no occ in he

ab ence of omeone negligence;
2. I i ca ed b an in men ali i hin he e cl i e con ol of
he defendan o defendan ; and
3. The po ibili of con ib ing cond c hich o ld make he
10
plain iff e pon ible i elimina ed.

_______________

8 Ra .C A a , G.R. No. 124354, Decembe 29, 1999, 321

SCRA 584.
9 Id.
10 Maca a .O , G.R. No. 146635, Decembe 14, 2005, 477 SCRA
740, 755.

66

Wa pe i ione able o e abli h he abo e eq i i e ? We

an e in he affi ma i e. We do no b c ibe o he
finding of he CA ha pe i ione had di ec acce o he
e idence o nding he acciden , b ince he failed o
p e en i , he doc ine o ld no ope a e o appl . While
Rami e ook he i ne and, he a onl able o e if
ha he d o e along Maha lika High a in San I id o,
Ba a a Bang a , Cala an, Lag na, Tan pa enge
ji ne loaded i h al ed egg , ba and q ail egg fo
deli e a a o nd 5:00 a.m. hen he me an acciden ,
ca ing he ehicle o n le. Ob io l , Rami e had

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no i id ecollec ion of ho he pa enge ji ne a

ac all hi b he JAM pa enge b . F he , fo ome
nkno n ea on , he o he po ible e e i ne e o he
mi hap e e no a ailable o e if . Wi h he dea h of
e imonial o di ec e idence, ho ld pe i ione no be lef
i ho emed ? The an e i NO.
We canno ag ee i h he CA hen i aid ha ho he
inciden happened co ld no be e abli hed, nei he f om
he pho og aph offe ed in e idence in fa o of pe i ione ,
no f om he Ce ifica ion11 ha q o ed an e ce p f om
he eco d on he Police Blo e of he Cala an M nicipal
Police S a ion. The CA, like i e, di co n ed he p oba i e
al e of he Police Blo e beca e, al ho gh p epa ed in
he eg la pe fo mance of official d , i a no
concl i e p oof of he h of i en ie , ince police
blo e a e all incomple e and inacc a e; and
ome ime ba ed on pa ial gge ion, inacc a e
12
epo ing and hea a .
I i o h no ing, ho e e , ha pho og aph a e in he
na e of ph ical e idence13 a m e b eloq en
manife a ion of h anking high in he hie a ch of
o h e idence.14 When d l e ified and ho n b
e in ic e i-

_______________

11 E hibi B.
12 CA Deci ion, pp. 15-16.
13 J .C A a , 379 Phil. 30; 322 SCRA 25 (2000).
14 See A ad . C A a , G.R. No. 135619, Jan a 15,
2004, 419 SCRA 514; P .B ac , 426 Phil. 511; 376

670

dence o be fai hf l ep e en a ion of he bjec a of he

ime in q e ion, he a e, in he di c e ion of he ial
co , admi ible in e idence a aid in a i ing a an
nde anding of he e idence, he i a ion o condi ion of
objec o p emi e , o he ci c m ance of an acciden .15
The pho og aph 16 p offe ed b pe i ione indeed
depic ed he ela i e po i ion of he ji ne and of he JAM
pa enge b immedia el af e he acciden ook place.
An e amina ion of he pho og aph o ld eadil ho
ha he high a he e he acciden occ ed a ma ked
b o ello con in o pa allel line a he cen e ,
epa a ing he igh lane f om he lef . Ba ed on e idence,
he JAM pa enge b a mo ing along he high a
o a d Manila, and he ji ne a going along he ame

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o e, n il i a abo o n lef o he ba a a oad

o a d he Poblacion. Af e he inciden , he pho og aph
o ld ho ha bo h ehicle e e fo nd on he oppo i e
lane of he high a . The f on igh po ion of he b a
ho n o ha e collided i h o hi he lef po ion of he
ji ne i h ch an impac , ca ing he la e o n le
i h e en i e damage, inj ing i d i e and hi
companion, and comple el de o ing i ca go.17
Al ho gh he pe on ho ook he pic e a no able
o e if beca e he p edecea ed he ial, Senio Police
Office II Daniel E ca e (E ca e ) a ecalled o he
i ne and o a hen ica e he aid pic e . He
e ified ha he pic-

_______________

SCRA 134 (2002); P . Ma a, 426 Phil. 46; 375 SCRA 378

(2002); Ta a .C A a , 424 Phil. 139; 373 SCRA 119 (2002);
P . W , 420 Phil. 677; 368 SCRA 586 (2001); P .
Uba d , 419 Phil. 718; 367 SCRA 432 (2001); P . Pa , 397 Phil.
545; 343 SCRA 486 (2000); P . Ca , 388 Phil. 1010; 333 SCRA
338 (2000); P .R c , 386 Phil. 287; 330 SCRA 91 (2000); Id.
15 Vicen e J. F anci co, The Re i ed R le of Co in he Philippine ,
Vol. VII, ci ing A da . Sa , 47 Phil 548 (1925).
16 E hibi E, and E-1 o E-6.
17 E hibi E-2, E-3, E-5, and E-6.

671

e e e fai hf l ep e en a ion of he ci c m ance

immedia el af e he acciden .18 E ca e al o made an
app op ia el labeled ke ch19 of he i a ion af e he
colli ion, and e ified a o he ph ical ci c m ance
he eof, incl ding he id h of he oad and he oad
ho lde , e peciall he do ble ello line a he cen e of
he high a .20
A ega d police blo e , i ho ld be emembe ed ha
al ho gh he a e of li le p oba i e al e, he a e
ne e hele admi ed and con ide ed in he ab ence of
compe en e idence o ef e he fac a ed he ein.
En ie in police eco d made b a police office in he
pe fo mance of a d e peciall enjoined b la a e a
ac e idence of he fac he ein a ed, and hei
p oba i e al e ma be ei he b an ia ed o n llified b
o he compe en e idence.21 In hi ca e, he
22
Ce ifica ion, ho e en ie e e adop ed f om he police
blo e of he Cala an M nicipal Police S a ion, he
ke ch23 p epa ed b E ca e , and he pho og aph , aken
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oge he o ld p o e ha he ji ne and he b e e
going along he ame a ; ha he ji ne a abo o
nego ia e he in e ec ion going o he lef o a d he
feede oad in he di ec ion of he Poblacion; and ha he
b hi he lef - ning ji ne ca ing he malle ehicle o
n le.
Indeed, no o mo o ehicle a e ing he ame lane
of a high a i h do ble ello cen e line ill collide a
a ma e of co e, bo h ending p on he oppo i e lane,
nle omeone i negligen . Dima ga a d i ing he
JAM pa enge b hich, f om he e idence add ced,
appea o ha e p ecipi a ed he colli ion i h pe i ione
ji ne . D i ing he b ga e Dima ga e cl i e
managemen and con ol o e i . De pi e he claim of JAM
o he con a , no con ib o

_______________

18 TSN, Ap il 2, 2004; R , pp. 167-168.

19 E hibi F ; Id., a p. 53.
20 Id., a pp. 161-166.
21 Maca a .O , a no e 10.
22 E hibi B.
23 E hibi F.

672

negligence co ld be a ib ed o Rami e ela i e o he

inciden on he ba i of he a ailable e idence. Ine i abl ,
he eq i i e being p e en , he doc ine of a
applie .
We, h , q o e i h conc ence he finding of he
RTC Pet :

A bo h pa ie a e a e ing claim fo he damage each ha jeep

w/ eggs
e pec i el ained f om he bjec colli ion, he negligence of
ei he d i e of he b o of he ji ne m be ho n, and he
b den o p o e he negligence, b p eponde ance of e idence, lie

d
pon bo h ho a e alleging he o he negligence. P eponde ance
of e idence i
da
d c a a
[Pac c Ba
c
E
a
O a a
ootz
. CA, 286 SCRA 495].
To p o e negligence of he b d i e , plain iff elie hea il
:
pon he e imon of PO3 DANIEL C. ESCARES, ho iden ified Resp Bus
he police epo of he inciden [E hibi B ] a ell a he ke ch
of he i e [E hibi I ] and he pic e aken a eflec i e of he
cene of he inciden [E hibi E i h b-ma king ], in oking
[in plain iff memo and m] he applica ion of he doc ine of e
, z
ip a loq i o .
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 9/12/2020

F om he aid e hibi , he plain iff po la e ha he ji ne

hen being d i en b Ale ande Rami e , a ell a he b
trains
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED OLUME 605

!
tie
I
d i en b defendan Dima ga e e heading he ame di ec ion
o a d Manila, b hen he ji ne a abo o nego ia e he
#

It I
-

lef ide oad in e ec ion o a d he feede /Ba anga oad of

B g . Bang a , Cala an, Lag na, i a b mped b he
oncoming/o e aking b d i en b Dima ga, ha ca ed he
to ji ne o n le a he oad ho lde ca ing damage on he
Acc .

ji ne , he ca goe and inj ie

companion. I
o he ji ne d i e and hi
a allegedl imp ope fo he b o o e ake a
if
Resp
.

he oad bea a do ble ello line a he middle hich p ohibi

o e aking.
On he o he hand, he b d i e ho i he lone i ne /

iii.
e idence fo he defendan e ified he a d i ing a he
Maha lika High a a 40 km/h hen he ji ne o e ook f om
he igh and ha he e a no a fo him o e ade he la e o
i a d agged o he ide [TSN, Ma 18, 2006, p. 13]. In i
memo and m, defendan po la e ha i a he ji ne d i e
ho a negligen a i o e ook he b f om he igh hich i
no p ope . Plain iff allegedl co ld no claim damage fo i
fail e o p o e he b d i e

673

④ pet is
b
negligence, and i a he ji ne o n negligence ha i he

correct !
p o ima e ca e of hi inj .
No di ec e idence a p e en ed i h e pec o he e ac oad
po i ion of he b and he ji ne a he ime of he colli ion ch

p ha he ame can onl be infe ed f om he pic e of he

colliding ehicle aken immedia el af e he inciden [E hibi
E ].
A hi j nc e, i a e abli hed f om E hibi E-5 and E-
6 ha he ji ne lef ide po ion a di ec l hi b he f on -
igh po ion of he b . Thi i con i en i h he plain iff
heo ha he ji ne
oad hen i
a hen nego ia ing he lef po ion of he
a hi b he oncoming b ca ing he ji ne o
The fact
ha e a 90-deg ee n a o nd. The b and he ji ne e e almo
pe pendic la o each o he hen he colli ion ook place, i h
he b di ec l hi ing he ji ne head on.
that
The a emen of he b d i e ha he ji ne o e ook f om is
he igh onl p e me ha a he poin of colli ion, he b a bus
a he lef lane of he oad o e aking he ehicle/ a he igh .
Thi cena io, in fac , a affi med b he police epo of he
inciden [E hibi B ]. I i no q i e logical ha he ji ne , in
allegedl o e aking he b f om he igh came f om he igh
ho lde of he oad, a o gh oad me el 5 me e in id h
[E hibi F ] and e en dimini hed b o (2) me e beca e of
he enc oachmen a he ide [TSN, 11-6-02]. No e idence a
ho n ha he ji ne came f om he igh ho lde . The ji ne
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9/12/2020 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED OLUME 605

hen loaded i h egg fo deli e , a abo o nego ia e he lef

lane o a d he feede /ba anga oad in e ec ion, and i o ld
be illogical in ch a i a ion ha he ji ne d i e o ld ake
he igh ho lde . The fo egoing gge he fac ha he b
o e ook he pa ing ehicle a he igh lane and in he co e
he eof, he ji ne in f on ha a abo o nego ia e he lef
lane, a hi . 24

Ve il , al ho gh he e a no di ec e idence ha he
JAM pa enge b a o e aking he ehicle nning
along he igh lane of he high a f om he lef lane, he
a ailable e idence eadil poin o ch fac . The e e e
o con in o ello line a he cen e of he high a ,
hich mean ha no ehicle in he aid a ea ho ld
o e ake ano he on

_______________

24 R , pp. 22-23.

674

ei he ide of he oad. The do ble ello cen e line

eg la ion, hich hi Co ake j dicial no ice of a an
in e na ionall ecogni ed pa emen eg la ion, a
p eci el in ended o a oid acciden along high a , ch
a ha happened in hi ca e. Thi p ohibi ion find
ppo in Rep blic Ac (R.A.) No. 4136 (Land
T an po a ion and T affic Code), Sec ion 41(e).25
F he mo e, i i ob e ed ha he a ea of colli ion a
an in e ec ion. Sec ion 41(c)26 of R.A. No. 4136, like i e,
p ohibi o e aking o pa ing an o he ehicle
p oceeding in he ame di ec ion a an in e ec ion of
high a , among o he . Th , b o e aking on he lef
lane, Dima ga a no onl iola ing he do ble ello
cen e line eg la ion, b al o he p ohibi ion on
o e aking a high a in e ec ion . Con eq en l ,
negligence can be a ib ed onl o him, hich negligence
a he p o ima e ca e of he inj ained b
pe i ione . Thi a ac finding of negligence a no
fficien l eb ed o con adic ed b Dima ga.
The efo e, a finding ha he i liable fo damage o
pe i ione i a an ed.

_______________

25 Sec ion 41. R c a a d a .

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(e) The d i e of a ehicle hall no o e ake o pa , o a emp o

o e ake o pa , an o he ehicle p oceeding in he ame di ec ion in
an no pa ing o o e aking one. .
26 (c) The d i e of a ehicle hall no o e ake o pa an o he
ehicle p oceeding in he ame di ec ion, a an ail a g ade c o ing,
a a e ec f a e c e ec
c c ed b aff c a, e e ed d
b a a c a a eace ff ce , e cep on a high a ha ing o
o mo e lane fo mo emen of affic in one di ec ion he e he d i e of a
ehicle ma o e ake o pa ano he ehicle on he igh . No hing in hi
ec ion hall be con ained o p ohibi a d i e o e aking o pa ing
pon he igh ano he ehicle hich i making o abo o make a lef
n. (Empha i and nde co ing pplied.)

675

The liabili of Dima ga i olida i h JAM,

p an o A icle 2176, in ela ion o A icle 2180 of he
Ci il Code of he Philippine , hich p o ide

A . 2176. W e e b ac ca e da a e
a e , e e be fa e e ce b ed
a f e da a e d e. S ch fa l o negligence, if he e i
no p e-e i ing con ac al ela ion be een he pa ie , i called
a q a i-delic and i go e ned b he p o i ion of hi Chap e .
A . 2180. The obliga ion impo ed b A icle 2176 i
demandable no onl fo one o n ac o omi ion , b al o fo
ho e of pe on fo hom one i e pon ible.

Emplo e hall be liable fo he damage ca ed b hei

emplo ee and ho ehold helpe ac ing i hin he cope of hei
a igned a k , e en ho gh he fo me a e no engaged in an
b ine o ind .

The e pon ibili ea ed of in hi a icle hall cea e hen

he pe on he ein men ioned p o e ha he ob e ed all he
diligence of a good fa he of a famil o p e en damage.

Whene e an emplo ee negligence ca e damage o

inj o ano he , he e in an l a i e a p e mp ion
a ha he emplo e failed o e e ci e
d a a in he ec ion (c a
d ) o pe i ion (c a a d ) of i
27
emplo ee . To a oid liabili fo a q a i-delic commi ed
b i emplo ee, an emplo e m o e come he
p e mp ion, b p e en ing con incing p oof ha he
e e ci ed he ca e and diligence of a good fa he of a famil
in he elec ion and pe i ion of hi emplo ee.28

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_______________

27 D a T a L , I c. . C & A C c , I c., G.R. No.

156034, Oc obe 1, 2003, 412 SCRA 524.
28 L Ra T a A . Na dad, 445 Phil. 31; 397 SCRA 75
(2003); M Ma aT a C . .C A a , 435 Phil. 129; 386
SCRA 126 (2002).

676

In hi ca e, a ide f om he e imon of Dima ga, JAM

did no p e en an o he e idence, he he doc men a
o e imonial, in i fa o . Ine i abl , he p e mp ion of
i negligence a Dima ga emplo e and and i i ,
h , olida il liable fo he damage ained b
pe i ione .
A ega d he a a d fo ac al damage , e, ho e e ,
conc i h e ponden ha he a a d of P400,000.00 fo
he damage o he ji ne i no a an ed, con ide ing ha
he e idence bmi ed o ppo hi claim a me el an
e ima e made b A. Plan illa Mo o . The ame ea on
hold e i h e pec o he amo n of damage fo he
de o ed ca go of egg , con ide ing ha he doc men
bmi ed b pe i ione o ppo he claim of P142,210.00
a me el a Ce ifica ion,29 a he info ma ion fo nd
he eon a pplied b pe i ione he elf pe he n mbe
of piece of he diffe en egg and he co e ponding p ice
pe piece.
To a an an a a d of ac al o compen a o
damage fo epai o damage ained, he be e idence
ho ld be he eceip o o he doc men a p oof of he
ac al amo n e pended.30 Ho e e , con ide ing ha i
a d l p o en ha he ji ne a damaged and had o be
epai ed, a i a epai ed, and ha he ca go of egg a
indeed de o ed, b he ac al amo n e pended o lo
e e no p o en, e deem i app op ia e o a a d
P250,000.00 b a of empe a e damage . Unde A icle
2224 of he Ci il Code, empe a e damage ma be
eco e ed hen pec nia lo ha been ffe ed b i
31
amo n canno be p o ed i h ce ain . We, ho e e ,
ain he ial co a a d of P1,327.00 a e-

_______________

29 E hibi C.
30 G.Q. Ga , I c. . M a da, G.R. No. 161722, J l 20, 2006, 495
SCRA 741.
31 P P .A B d ,J . Pa , G.R. No.
177827, Ma ch 30, 2009, 582 SCRA 547; R b c . T a, G.R. No.
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148246, Feb a 16, 2007, 516 SCRA 113.

677

ga d he medical e pen e inc ed b pe i ione , he

ame being d l ppo ed b eceip .32
The a a d of P10,000.00 a mo al damage , P10,000.00
a a o ne fee , and he co of i a e ained, he
ame being in o de and a ho i ed b la . Al ho gh he
ba i fo he a a d of a o ne fee a no indica ed in
he ial co Deci ion, e deem i j ified a pe i ione
a compelled o li iga e befo e he co and inc
e pen e in o de o indica e he igh nde he
33
p emi e .
WHEREFORE, he pe i ion i GRANTED. The Deci ion
da ed J ne 2, 2008 of he Co of Appeal in CA-G.R. CV
No. 89046 i REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The Deci ion
da ed Decembe 20, 2006 of he Regional T ial Co ,
B anch 27, S a. C , Lag na in Ci il Ca e No. SC-3838 i
REINSTATED i h he MODIFICATION ha he a a d
of ac al damage i ed ced o P1,327.00, and, in lie of
ac al damage i h e pec o he damage o lo
ained i h e pec o he pa enge ji ne and he
ca go of egg , he amo n of P250,000.00 i a a ded b
a of empe a e damage .
SO ORDERED.

C a (C a ), C c -Na a , V a c , J . and
P a a, JJ., conc .

P a d, d da d a d .

N e. In an ac ion ba ed on q a i-delic , he liabili of

he emplo e i di ec and p ima bjec o he defen e of
d e diligence in he elec ion and pe i ion of he
emplo ee. (A a . Ba d , 517 SCRA 91 [2007])
o0o

_______________

32 E hibi F.
33 Ci il Code, A . 2208(2).

C 2020 C B S ,I .A .

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