9/12/2020 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED OLUME 656

G.R. No. 173180. A g 24, 2011.*

ALBERT TISON and CLAUDIO L. JABON, e i ione , .

SPS. GREGORIO POMASIN and CONSORCIA PONCE
POMASIN, DIANNE POMASIN PAGUNSAN, CYNTHIA
POMASIN, SONIA PEROL, ANTONIO SESISTA, GINA
SESISTA, and REYNALDO SESISTA, e onden .

Q a -De c ; T a a ca ba ed a -de c , e
f e e c c : (a) da a e ffe ed b e
a ff; (b) fa e e ce f defe da ; a d (c) c ec f
ca e a d effec be ee e fa e e ce f defe da a d
e da a e c ed b e a ff. To ain a claim ba ed on
a -de c , he follo ing e i i e m conc : (a) damage
ffe ed b he lain iff; (b) fa l o negligence of defendan ; and
(c) connec ion of ca e and effec be een he fa l o negligence
of defendan and he damage inc ed b he lain iff. The e
e i ie m be o ed b a e onde ance of e idence.
Sa e; Ne e ce, c e a , f a
f a , e a e e e ce, e a c e e ce
e ac b ca e f e . In Sa a S ea
La d , I c. . C f A ea , 300 SCRA 20 (1998), e held
ha a ca al connec ion m e i be een he inj ecei ed
and he iola ion of he affic eg la ion. I m be o en ha
he iola ion of he affic eg la ion a he o ima e o legal
ca e of he inj o ha i b an iall con ib ed he e o.
Negligence, con i ing in hole o in a , of iola ion of la , like
an o he negligence, i i ho legal con e ence nle i i a
con ib ing ca e of he inj .

_______________
* SECOND DIVISION.

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176 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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

e ol ion of he Co of A eal .

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 9/12/2020 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED OLUME 656

The fac a e a ed in he o inion of he Co .

Ga L. Ba fo e i ione .
V a e a, V a e a, C ad a a , L de , La da a d
A c a e La Off ce fo e onden .

PEREZ, J.: jeepney

T o ehicle , a ac o - aile and a ji ne ,1 fig ed in a
ehic la mi ha along Maha lika High a in Ba a a
Ago , Polang i, Alba la 12 A g 1994. Laa ni Poma in
(Laa ni) a d i ing he ji ne o a d he di ec ion of
Lega i Ci hile he ac o - aile , d i en b Cla dio
Jabon (Jabon), a a e ing he o o i e lane going
2
o a d Naga Ci .
The o o ing a ie ga e o diffe en e ion of he
inciden .
G ego io Poma in (G ego io), Laa ni fa he , a on
boa d he ji ne and ea ed on he a enge ide. He

Accordi ng
jeepney
e ified ha hile he ji ne a a ing h o gh a c
going do n a d, he a a ac o - aile coming f om he
e

o o i e di ec ion and enc oaching on he ji ne lane. The

to
ji ne a hi b he ac o - aile and i a d agged
f he ca ing dea h and inj ie o i a enge .3

_______________
1 The o d ji ne ha been ed in e changeabl i h he o d ee e
Tractor
correct
d ing he lo e co oceeding . Me iam-Web e online define
ji ne a a mall b ha ca ie a enge o e a eg la o e on a
fle ible ched le. In he Phili ine , i i commonl kno n a ee e .
( :// . e a - eb e .c /d c a /
e ).
2 Reco d , . 142.
3 TSN, 24 J l 1996, . 6-7.
to
177
According

¥÷¥
"
VOL. 656, AUGUST 24, 2011 177 ""
T .P a

On he o he hand, Jabon eco n ed ha hile he a

d i ing he ac o - aile , he no iced a ji ne on he
o o i e lane falling off he ho lde of he oad.
The eaf e , i began nning in a ig ag manne and
heading o a d he di ec ion of he ck. To a oid
colli ion, Jabon immedia el e ed he ac o - aile o
he igh he e i hi a ee and ack of a a . .

Unfo na el , he ji ne ill hi he lef fende of he

ac o - aile befo e i a h o n a fe me e a a . The
ac o - aile a like i e damaged.4
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M l i le dea h and inj ie o ho e in he ji ne

e l ed.
G ego io a inj ed and b o gh o he Alba
P o incial Ho i al in Lega i Ci . Hi da gh e , And ea
Poma in Pag n an, i e Na ci a Poma in Roncale and
Ab aham Dioni io Pe ol died on he o . Hi o he
da gh e Laa ni, he ji ne d i e , and g andda gh e
Annie Jane Poma in Pag n an e i ed a he ho i al. Hi
ife, Con o cia Poma in, ano he g andda gh e Dianne
Poma in Pag n an, Rick Ponce, Vicen e Poma in, Gina
Se i a, Re naldo Se i a, An onio Se i a and Sonia Pe ol
ained inj ie .5 On he o he hand, Jabon and one of
he a enge in he ac o - aile e e inj ed.6

]
Albe Ti on (Ti on), he o ne of he ck, e ended
financial a i ance o e onden b gi ing hem
P1,000.00 each immedia el af e he acciden and
P200,000.00 o C n hia Poma in (C n hia), one of
G ego io da gh e . C n hia, in n, e ec ed an
Affida i of De i ance.
On 14 No embe 1994, e onden filed a com lain fo
damage again e i ione befo e he Regional T ial
Co (RTC) of An i olo. The alleged ha he o ima e
ca e of he acciden a he negligence, im dence and
ca ele ne of e i ione . Re onden a ed fo
indemnifica ion fo he hei of ho e ho e i hed in he
acciden a P50,000.00

_______________
4 Id., a . 5-7.
5 TSN, 13 No embe 1995, . 9-10.
6 TSN, 24 J l 1997, . 9.

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178 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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each; P500,000.00 fo ho i ali a ion, medical and b ial

e en e ; P350,000.00 fo con in o ho i ali a ion and
medical e en e of S o e Poma in; P1,000,000.00 a
mo al damage ; P250,000.00 a e em la damage ;
P30,000.00 fo lo of income of C n hia; P100,000.00 a
a o ne fee l P1,000.00 e co a ea ance;
P50,000.00 fo li iga ion e en e ; and co of i .7
In hei An e , e i ione co n e ed ha i a
Laa ni negligence hich o ima el ca ed he acciden .
The f he claimed ha C n hia a a ho i ed b

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S o e Poma in o en e in o an amicable e lemen b

e ec ing an Affida i of De i ance. No i h anding he
affida i , e i ione com lained ha e onden filed he
in an com lain o ha a hem and ofi f om he
eckle ne of Laa ni. Pe i ione co n e claimed fo
damage .
Pe i ione b e en l filed a mo ion o di mi he
com lain in ie of he Affida i of De i ance e ec ed b
C n hia. The mo ion a denied fo lack of me i .8
On 7 Feb a 2000, he Regional T ial Co ende ed
j dgmen in fa o of e i ione di mi ing he com lain
fo damage , he di o i i e o ion of hich ead :

WHEREFORE, j dgmen i he eb ende ed in fa o of he

defendan and again lain iff he eb DISMISSING he
in an com lain con ide ing ha lain iff ha e a ho i ed
C n hia Poma in o e le he ca e amicabl fo P200,000.00; and
ha he o ima e ca e of he acciden did no a i e f om he
fa l o negligence of defendan d i e /em lo ee b f om
lain iff d i e . 9

The ial co con ide ed he e imon of Jabon

ega ding he inciden mo e con incing and eliable han
ha of G ego io , a me e a enge , ho e ob e a ion
and a en ion o he oad i no a foc ed a ha of he
d i e . The

_______________
7 Reco d , . 5-6.
8 Id., a . 69.
9R , . 74.

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ial co concl ded ha Laa ni ca ed he colli ion of he

ji ne and he ac o - aile . The ial co like i e
held he Affida i of De i ance a ha ing been e ec ed
i h he aci con en of e onden .
The Co of A eal di ag eed i h he ial co and
led ha he eckle d i ing of Jabon ca ed he
ehic la colli ion. In o of ch finding, he Co of
A eal elied hea il on G ego io e imon ha Jabon
a d i ing he ac o - aile do n a d oo fa and i
enc oached he lane of he ji ne . Ba ed on he g a i of
he im ac and he damage ca ed o he ji ne e l ing in
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he dea h of ome a enge , he Co of A eal

infe ed ha Jabon m be eeding. The a ella e co
no ed ha he e ic ion in Jabon d i e licen e a
iola ed, h , gi ing i e o he e m ion ha he a
negligen a he ime of he acciden . Ti on a like i e
held liable fo damage fo hi fail e o o e d e
diligence in e i ing Jabon af e he a hi ed a d i e
of he ck. Finall , he a ella e co di ega ded he
Affida i of De i ance e ec ed b C n hia beca e he
la e had no i en o e of a o ne f om e onden
and ha he a o conf ed a he ime hen he igned
he affida i ha he did no ead i con en .
The di o i i e o ion of he a ailed Deci ion a e :

WHEREFORE, he e en a eal i g an ed, and he ial

co Deci ion da ed Feb a 7, 2003 i e a ide. Defendan -
a ellee a e o de ed o a lain iff -a ellan o hei hei
he follo ing:
a) Ac al damage of P136,000.00 a abo e com ed, o be
off e i h he P200,000.00 ecei ed b lain iff-a ellan
C n hia Poma in;
b) Ci il indemni of P50,000.00 fo he dea h of each ic im,
o be off e i h he balance of P64,000.00 f om he
afo emen ioned P200,000.00 of ci il indemni ecei ed b
lain iff-a ellan C n hia Poma in. Hence, he ne amo n i
com ed a P37,200.00 each, a follo :

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Na ci a Poma in P37,200.00
Laa ni Poma in P37,200.00
And ea P. Pag n an P37,200.00
Dioni io Pe ol P37,200.00
Annie Jane P. Pag n an P37,200.00

c) Mo al damage of P50,000.00 o each of he ic im ; and

d) A o ne fee of 10% of he o al a a d. 10

Pe i ione filed a Mo ion fo Recon ide a ion, hich

a , ho e e , denied b he Co of A eal in a
11
Re ol ion da ed 19 J l 2006.
The e i ion fo e ie ai e mi ed e ion of fac
and la hich lead back o he e i e li iga ed b he
ial co : Who i he negligen a o he a a fa l ?
12
The i e of negligence i fac al in na e. And he
le, and he e ce ion , i ha fac al finding of he
Co of A eal a e gene all concl i e b ma be

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e ie ed hen: (1) he fac al finding of he Co of

A eal and he ial co a e con adic o ; (2) he
finding a e g o nded en i el on ec la ion, mi e o
conjec e ; (3) he infe ence made b he Co of A eal
f om i finding of fac i manife l mi aken, ab do
im o ible; (4) he e i g a e ab e of di c e ion in he
a ecia ion of fac ; (5) he a ella e co , in making i
finding , goe be ond he i e of he ca e and ch
finding a e con a o he admi ion of bo h a ellan
and a ellee; (6) he j dgmen of he Co of A eal i
emi ed on a mi a ehen ion of fac ; (7) he Co of
A eal fail o no ice ce ain ele an fac hich, if
o e l con ide ed, ill j if a diffe en concl ion; and
(8) he finding of fac of he Co of A eal a e con a
o ho e of he ial co o a e me e concl ion i ho
ci a ion of

_______________
10 Id., a . 57-58.
11 Id., a . 59-60.
12 Safe a d Sec A e c , I c. . Ta c , G.R. No. 165732, 14
Decembe 2006, 511 SCRA 67, 82.

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ecific e idence, o he e he fac e fo h b he

e i ione a e no di ed b e onden , o he e he
finding of fac of he Co of A eal a e emi ed on he
ab ence of e idence b a e con adic ed b he e idence on
eco d.13
The e ce ion o he le nde co e he b ance and
eigh of he finding of he ial co . The ende
inconcl i e con a finding b he a ella e co . The
ea on i no a f ndamen al inci le:

[A] ella e co do no di b he finding of he ial co

i h ega d o he a e men of he c edibili of i ne e . The
ea on fo hi i ha ial co ha e he ni e o o ni o
ob e e he i ne e fi hand and no e hei demeano , cond c
and a i de nde g illing e amina ion.
The e ce ion o hi le a e hen he ial co finding of
fac and concl ion a e no o ed b he e idence on eco d,
o hen ce ain fac of b ance and al e, likel o change he
o come of he ca e, ha e been o e looked b he ial co , o

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hen he a ailed deci ion i ba ed on a mi a ehen ion of

fac . 14

Thi in e la of le and e ce ion i mo e

ono nced in hi ca e of a -de c in hich, acco ding
o A icle 2176 of he Ci il Code, hoe e b ac o
omi ion ca e damage o ano he , he e being fa l o
negligence, i obliged o a fo he damage done. To
ain a claim ba ed on a -de c , he follo ing
e i ie m conc : (a) damage ffe ed b he
lain iff; (b) fa l o negligence of

_______________
13 Va aca T a . Ca b , G.R. No. 175512, 30 Ma 2011, 649
SCRA 281; La d Ba f e P e . M e E a d
Ma fac C a , G.R. No. 161865, 10 Ma ch 2005, 453 SCRA
173, 184-185.
14 Pe e . C a , G.R. No. 194379, 1 J ne 2011, 650 SCRA 326, ci ing
Pe e . Ma a a, G.R. No. 185716, 29 Se embe 2010, 631 SCRA 676,
686; Pe e . Ma a e, G.R. No. 185724, 5 J ne 2009, 588 SCRA 817, 825-
826; Pe e . B , G.R. No. 117451, 29 Se embe 1997, 279 SCRA
697, 705-707.

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defendan ; and (c) connec ion of ca e and effec be een

he fa l o negligence of defendan and he damage
inc ed b he lain iff.15 The e e i i e m be o ed
16
b a e onde ance of e idence. The claiman ,
e onden in hi ca e, m , he efo e, e abli h hei
claim o ca e of ac ion b e onde ance of e idence,
e idence hich i of g ea e eigh , o mo e con incing
han ha hich i offe ed in o o i ion o i .17
The ial co fo nd ha he ji ne d i e a
negligen . We gi e eigh o hi finding g ea e han he
o o i e concl ion eached b he a ella e co ha he
d i e of he ac o - aile ca ed he ehic la colli ion.
One ea on h he ial co fo nd c edible he
e ion of Jabon a beca e hi concen a ion a d i e i
mo e foc ed han ha of a me e a enge . The ial co
e o nded, h :

In he a ecia ion of he e imon of e e- i ne e , one

o e iding con ide a ion i hei o o ni fo ob e a ion in
ge ing o kno o ac all eeing o ob e ing he ma e he
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e if o. Thi mo a ic la l hold e in ehic la colli ion

o acciden ca e hich of en ime ha en me el momen a il o
in he li of a econd. In he ca e of a nning o a elling
ehicle, e eciall in high a a el hich do b le in ol e
fa e eed han in o dina oad , he d i e i concen a ed on
hi d i ing con in o l f om momen o momen e en in long
i . While in he ca e of a me e a enge , he doe no ha e o
di ec hi a en ion o he afe cond c of he a elling ehicle, a
in fac he ma con e e i h o he a enge and a no
a en ion o he d i ing o afe cond c of he a elling ehicle,
a he ma e en do e off o lee if he an o, ende ing hi
o o ni fo ob e a ion on he eci e ca e of he acciden o
colli ion o immedia el eceding he e o no a

_______________
15 G a . Beda a, G.R. No. 162987, 21 Ma 2009, 588 SCRA 73, 84 ci ing
D Teba T ad , I c. . C , G.R. No. 161803, 4 Feb a 2008, 543 SCRA
560, 571.
16 B e . Macaba da , G.R. No. 150666, 3 A g 2010, 626 SCRA 300, 309;
G e .C fA ea , G.R. No. 179799, 11 Se embe 2009, 599 SCRA 594,
606.
17 Ge a Vda. De S c . S c Vda. De Ba b , G.R. No. 188484, 6 Decembe
2010, 636 SCRA 553, 559.

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m ch a ha of he d i e ho e a en ion i con in o l foc ed

on hi d i ing. So ha a be een he e ec i e e ion of he
lain iff h hei a enge and ha of he defendan h
hei d i e a o he ca e o an eceden ca e ha led o he
ehic la colli ion in hi ca e, he e ion of he d i e of
defendan ho ld o dina il be mo e eliable han he e ion of a
me e a enge of Plain iff ehicle, im l beca e he a en ion
of he a enge i no a m ch concen a ed on he d i ing a
ha of he d i e , con e en l he ca aci fo ob e a ion of he
la e of he la e on he ma e e ified o hich i he eci e
oin of in i he o ima e ca e of he acciden i mo e
ea onabl eliable. Mo eo e , he a enge i ion i no a
good a ha of he d i e f om he an age oin of he d i e
ea e eciall in nigh ime, h ende ing a a enge
o o ni fo ob e a ion on he an eceden ca e of he
colli ion le e han ha of he d i e . Thi being o, hi Co i
mo e inclined o belie e he o of defendan d i e Cla dio
Jabon ha he ji ne d i en b Laa ni Poma in fell off he
ho lde of he c ed oad ca ing i o n he eaf e in a

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ig ag manne and in he oce he o ehicle a oaching

each o he f om o o
con ac i h each o he
of he ck all he
e l ing in he ligh e
o he di a a e i e of
i e di ec ion a high a eed came in
, he ig agging jee hi ing he lef fende
a o he f el ank, he iolen im ac
ehicle, he ji ne , being h o n a a d e
he ck. 18

The a ella e co labelled he ial co

19
a ionali a ion a a ee ing conjec e and co n e ed
ha G ego io a ac all occ ing he f on ea of he
ji ne and had ac all a clea ie of he inciden de i e
he fac ha he a no d i ing.
While i i logical ha a d i e a en ion o he oad
a elled i keene han ha of a me e a enge , i ho ld
al o be con ide ed ha he logic ill hold onl if he o
a e imila l ci c m anced, and onl a a gene al le, o
ha , i doe no nece a il follo ha be een he
o o ing e imonie of a d i e and a a enge , he
fo me i mo e c edi-

_______________
18 R , . 70.
19 Id., a . 45.

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184 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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ble. The fac al e ing of he e en e ified on m

ce ainl be con ide ed.
The ial co did j ha in he in an ca e.
Con a o he ob e a ion of he Co of A eal , he
ela i e o i ion of a d i e and a a enge in a ehicle
a no he onl ba i of anal i of he ial co .
No abl , a ide f om Jabon alleged an age oin o clea l
ob e e he inciden , he ial co al o ook in o
con ide a ion G ego io admi ion ha io o he
acciden , he ji ne a nning on he c ing and
do n a d o ion of he high a . The a ella e co ,
ho e e , ook in o acco n he o he and o o i e
e imon of G ego io ha i a hei ji ne ha a
going hill and hen i a abo o each a c e, he
a he incoming ck nning e fa and enc oaching
he ji ne lane.
We e ed he an c i of enog a hic no e and
fo nd ha he ck a ac all a cending he high a
hen i collided i h he de cending ji ne .
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D ing he di ec e amina ion, Jabon na a ed ha he

ac o - aile a a cending a a eed of 35 o 40
kilome e e ho hen he a he ji ne on he o o i e
lane nning in a ig ag manne , h :
Q: No , hen o a ed b he m nici ali of Polang i, Alba a
abo 5:00 of A g 12, 1994, co ld o ell he Co if he e a
an n o a d inciden ha ha ened?
A: The e a i .
Q: Co ld o lea e ell he Co ?
A: While on m a o Libo o coming f om So ogon, I me on m a
a ehicle going on a ig ag di ec ion and i e en fell on he ho lde
and oceeded going on i a on a ig ag di ec ion.
Q: Co ld o de c ibe o he Co ha a he kind of ehicle o
a nning in ig ag di ec ion?
A: A To o a-ji ne loaded i h a enge i h o -load.
Q: Yo aid ha he o [-]load of he jee i loaded?
A: Ye , i .

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VOL. 656, AUGUST 24, 2011 185

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Q: Co ld o lea e ell he Co ha a o eed a he ime

hen o a ha jee ne i h o [-]load nning on a ig ag
manne ?
A: I a nning 35 o 40 kilome e e ho beca e I a
a ce d a . (Em ha i lied).20

In ha ame di ec e amina ion, Jabon confi med ha

he a a cending, .:
Q: Co ld o lea e de c ibe he condi ion in he a ea a he ime of
he inciden , a i da k o da ime?
A: I a ill b igh .
COURT: B i a no a oaching n e?
A: Ye , i .
Q: Wa he e an ain a ha ime?
A: None i .
Q: So he oad a d ?
A: Ye i .
Q: Y ad e e a ce d a d e d ec f
Lb , Ca a e S , a c ec a e e e
c de a e ed?
A: Ye .21 (Em ha i lied).

U on he o he hand, G ego io, d ing hi di ec

e amina ion de c ibed he oad condi ion he e he
colli ion ook lace a c ing and do n a d, h :

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Q: Co ld o lea e de c ibe he lace he e he inciden ha ened in

o fa a he oad condi ion i conce ned?
A: T e ad a c a dd a d.
Q: And he oad a of co e clea f om affic, i ha co ec ?
A: Ye i .

_______________

20 TSN, 24 J l 1997, . 4-5.

21 Id., a . 14.

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186 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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Q: And ac icall , o ji ne a he onl ca nning a ha ime?

22
A: Ye i . (Em ha i lied).

Significan l , hi i a confi ma ion of he e imon of

Jabon.
Ho e e , on eb al, G ego io ned a o nd and
a ed ha he ji ne a going hill hen he a he
ac o - aile nning do n e fac and enc oaching on
hei lane, o i :
Q: M . Cla dio Jabon, he d i e of he aile ck ha collided ih
o o ne jee ne ha o e e iding e ified in o en Co on
J l 24, 1997 hich I o e, hile on m a o Libo o coming o
So ogon I me a ehicle going on a ig- ag di ec ion and i e en fell
on he ho lde and oceeded going on i a on ig- ag
di ec ion , ha can o a abo hi a emen of hi i ne ?
A: We e e no[ ] ig agging b beca e e e e and
abo o each a c ed ( ic) e a he on-coming ehicle going
do n e fa and enc oaching on o lane o o d i e e ed
o ehicle o he igh b ill e e e hi b he on-coming
23
ehicle. (Em ha i lied).

The decla a ion of Jabon i h e ec o he oad

condi ion a aigh fo a d and con i en . The
ecollec ion of G ego io ee ed f om c ing and
do n a d o hill.24 On hi oin , Jabon and hi
e imon i mo e c edible.
The fac ha he ji ne ea il fell in o he oad ho lde ,
an ndeba ed fac , o he ial co concl ion ha
he ji ne a indeed going do nhill hich, i ma be
e ea ed, a he o iginal e imon of G ego io ha he
oad

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22 TSN, 24 J l 1996, . 6.

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23 TSN, 4 No embe 1998, . 4-5.

24 TSN, 24 J l 1996, . 7.

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a c ing and do n a d. 25 I i hi concl ion,

odded b he incon i enc of G ego io e imon , ha
gi e c edence o he f he e imon of Jabon ha he
he ein e onden ji ne , loaded i h a enge ih
26
o -load a nning in a ig ag manne .
Going do n a d, he ji ne had he endenc o
accele a e. The fall in o he ho lde of he oad can e l
in he lo of con ol of he ji ne , hich e lain h i
a nning in a ig ag manne befo e i hi he ac o -
aile .
The e a no ho ing ha he ac o - aile a
eeding. The e i a e onde ance of e idence ha he
ac o - aile a in fac a cending. Con ide ing i i e
and he eigh of he ac o - aile , i eed co ld no be
mo e han ha of a f ll loaded ji ne hich a nning
do nhill in a ig agging manne .
Nei he can i be infe ed ha Jabon a negligen . In
hind igh , i can be a g ed ha Jabon ho ld ha e e ed
o he igh on eeing he ji ne ig agging befo e i
collided i h he ac o - aile . Acciden , ho gh, ha en
in an in an , and, nde andabl in hi ca e, lea ing he
d i e i ho fficien ime and ace o mane e a
ehicle he i e of a ac o - aile hill and a a f om
colli ion i h he ji ne oncoming do nhill.
Clea l , he negligence of G ego io da gh e , Laa ni
a he o ima e ca e of he acciden .
We did no lo e igh of he fac ha a he ime of he
inciden , Jabon a ohibi ed f om d i ing he ck d e
o he e ic ion im o ed on hi d i e licen e, .e.,
e ic ion code 2 and 3. A a ma e of fac , Jabon e en
a ked he Land T an o a ion Office o ein a e hi
a ic la ed licen e con aining e ic ion code 8 hich
o ld allo him o d i e a ac o - aile . The Co of
A eal concl ded he ef om ha

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25 Id., a . 6.
26 TSN, 24 J l 1997, . 4-6.

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Jabon a iola ing a affic eg la ion a he ime of he

colli ion.
D i ing i ho a o e licen e i a iola ion of affic
eg la ion. Unde A icle 2185 of he Ci il Code, he legal
e m ion of negligence a i e if a he ime of he
mi ha , a e on a iola ing an affic eg la ion.
Ho e e , in Sa a S ea La d , I c. . C f
27
A ea , e held ha a ca al connec ion m e i
be een he inj ecei ed and he iola ion of he affic
eg la ion. I m be o en ha he iola ion of he
affic eg la ion a he o ima e o legal ca e of he
inj o ha i b an iall con ib ed he e o.
Negligence, con i ing in hole o in a , of iola ion of
la , like an o he negligence, i i ho legal con e ence
nle i i a con ib ing ca e of he inj .28 Like i e
con olling i o ling in A e .C f A ea 29
he e e ei e a ed ha negligence e e, a i ing f om he
me e iola ion of a affic a e, need no be fficien in
i elf in e abli hing liabili fo damage . In aid ca e,
A e , ho a d i ing a ca , did no a em o
e abli h a ca al connec ion be een he afe iola ion
im ed o he inj ed c cli , and he acciden i elf.
In ead, he elied on a ai e e m ion ha he e
iola ion in hem el e fficien l e abli hed negligence
a eciable again he c cli . Since he on A e
i o concl i el o e he link be een he iola ion and
he acciden , e can deem him a ha ing failed o
di cha ge hi nece a b den of o ing he c cli o n
liabili . 30 We ook he occa ion o a e ha :

The le on negligence e e m admi alifica ion ha

ma a i e f om he logical con e ence of he fac leading o he

_______________
27 G.R. No. 119092, 10 Decembe 1998, 300 SCRA 20, 28 ci ing SANGCO,
PHILIPPINE LAW ON TORTS AND DAMAGES 20 (1993).
28 Sa a S ea La d , I c. . C fA ea , d., a . 28.
29 G.R. No. 130003, 20 Oc obe 2004, 441 SCRA 24.
30 Id., a . 44.

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mi ha . The doc ine (and A icle 2185, fo ha ma e ) i

ndeniabl ef l a a j dicial g ide in adj dging liabili , fo i
eek o im e c l abili a i ing f om he fail e of he ac o o
e fo m o a anda d e abli hed b a legal fia . B he
doc ine ho ld no be ende ed infle ible o a o den elief
hen in fac he e i no ca al ela ion be een he a o
iola ion and he inj ained. P e m ion in la , hile
con enien , a e no in ac able o a o fo bid eb al oo ed in
fac . Af e all, o la i em ne a i e in i i , aiming o o ide
com en a ion fo he ha m ffe ed b ho e ho e in e e ha e
been in aded o ing o he cond c of o he . 31

In he in an ca e, no ca al connec ion a
e abli hed be een he ac o - aile d i e e ic ion
on hi licen e o he ehic la colli ion. F he mo e,
Jabon a able o fficien l e lain ha he Land
T an o a ion Office me el e ed in no incl ding
e ic ion code 8 in hi licen e.
Pe i ione e en ed he Affida i of De i ance
e ec ed b C n hia o e one a e hem f om an liabili .
An affida i of de i ance i all f o ned on b
co . Li le o no e a i e al e i of en a ached o a
de i ance.32 The bjec affida i doe no de e e a
econd look mo e o ha i a ea ha C n hia a no
a med i h a ecial o e of a o ne o en e in o a
e lemen i h e i ione . A an a e, i i an e e ci e of
f ili o del e in o he effec of he affida i of de i ance
e ec ed b one of he e onden ince i ha al ead
been e abli hed ha e i ione a e no negligen .
WHEREFORE, he e i ion i GRANTED. The
challenged Deci ion and Re ol ion of he Co of A eal
a e REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Ci il Ca e No. 94-3418
lodged befo e he Regional T ial Co of An i olo Ci ,
B anch 74, i DISMISSED fo lack of me i .

_______________
31 Id., a . 41.
32 A e . Sa e a , J ., G.R. No. 131652, 9 Ma ch 1998, 287 SCRA
245, 295.

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SO ORDERED.

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Ca (C a e ), Ve a c , J .,** B and
***
Me d a, JJ., conc .

Pe a ed, d e a d e e e ed a d
e a de.

N e. The e fo de e mining he he a e on i
negligen in doing an ac he eb inj o damage e l
o he e on o o e of ano he i hi : co ld a den
man, in he o i ion of he e on o hom negligence i
a ib ed, fo e ee ha m o he e on inj ed a a
ea onable con e ence of he co e ac all ed? If
o, he la im o e a d on he ac o o ef ain f om ha
co e o o ake eca ion o g a d again i
mi chie o e l , and he fail e o do o con i e
negligence. (P e Na a C c C a
.C f A ea , 467 SCRA 569 [2005])

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Ca (C a e ), Ve a c , J .,** B and
***
Me d a, JJ., conc .

Pe a ed, d e a d e e e ed a d
e a de.

N e. The e fo de e mining he he a e on i
negligen in doing an ac he eb inj o damage e l
o he e on o o e of ano he i hi : co ld a den
man, in he o i ion of he e on o hom negligence i
a ib ed, fo e ee ha m o he e on inj ed a a
ea onable con e ence of he co e ac all ed? If
o, he la im o e a d on he ac o o ef ain f om ha
co e o o ake eca ion o g a d again i
mi chie o e l , and he fail e o do o con i e
negligence. (P e Na a C c C a
.C f A ea , 467 SCRA 569 [2005])

o0o

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