Definition Common Carrier
First Philippine Industrial
Corporation vs. Court of
Appeals
FPIC is a grantee of a
pipeline concession under
RA 387 to contract, install
and operate all pipelines.
De Guzman vs. Court of
Appeals, Ernesto Cendaña
(1988)
*truck was held up by
armed men
Art. 1732 of the Civil Code defines a "common carrier" as "any person, corporation, firm or association engaged in the business of carrying or transporting
passengers or goods or both, by land, water, or air, for compensation, offering their services to the public."
A common carrier is one who holds himself out to the public as engaged in the business of transporting persons or property from place to place, for
compensation, offering his services to the public generally.
The test for determining whether a party is a common carrier of goods is:
1. He must be engaged in the business of carrying goods for others as a public employment, and must hold himself out as ready to engage in the
transportation of goods for person generally as a business and not as a casual occupation;
2. He must undertake to carry goods of the kind to which his business is confined;
3. He must undertake to carry by the method by which his business is conducted and over his established roads; and
4. The transportation must be for hire (offers services to the public)
Carrying of Petroleum Through Pipeline Network—An entity that transports petroleum products over its pipeline network as a public employment
is a common carrier, since it undertakes to carry the goods by land and for compensations for all persons indifferently, i.e., to all persons who choose to
employ its services. The fact that it has limited clientele does not exclude it from the definition of common carrier.
In De Guzman v CA, Art. 1732 makes NO DISTINCTION between one whose principal business activity is the carrying of persons or goods or both, and
one who does such carrying only as an ancillary (“sideline”) activity.
Petitioner correctly pointed out that the definition of "common carriers" in the Civil Code makes no distinction as to the means of transporting, as long
as it is by land, water or air. It does not provide that the transportation of the passengers or goods should be by motor vehicle.
There is no doubt that petitioner is a "common carrier" and, therefore, exempt from the business tax as provided for in Section 133 (j), of the Local
Government Code.
Article 1732 makes no distinction between one whose principal business activity is the carrying of persons or goods or both, and one who does such
carrying only as an ancillary activity or as a mere “sideline”.
It makes no distinction between a person or enterprise offering transportation service on a regular or scheduled basis and one offering such
service on an occasional, episodic or unscheduled basis.
If the goods are lost, destroyed or deteriorated, and the cause was not one of those enumerated in Article 1734, the respondent is presumed to have
been at fault or to have acted negligently but this presumption may be overthrown by proof of extraordinary diligence [Art. 1735] on the part of
private respondent as required by the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy.
 Article 1734. Common carriers may be exempted from liability under the following causes only:

(1) Flood, storm, earthquake, lightning or other natural disaster or calamity;

(2) Act of the public enemy in war, whether international or civil;
(3) Act or omission of the shipper or owner of the goods;
(4) The character-of the goods or defects in the packing or-in the containers; and
(5) Order or act of competent public authority.

Causes falling outside the foregoing list (Art. 1735) , even if they appear to constitute a species of force majeure, fall within the scope of Article
1735.

Art. 1745. Any of the following or similar stipulations shall be considered unreasonable, unjust and contrary to public policy:
(1) That the goods are transported at the risk of the owner or shipper;
(2) That the common carrier will not be liable for any loss, destruction, or deterioration of the goods;
(3) That the common carrier need not observe any diligence in the custody of the goods;
(4) That the common carrier shall exercise a degree of diligence less than that of a good father of a family, or of a man of ordinary prudence in the vigilance
over the movables transported;
(5) That the common carrier shall not be responsible for the acts or omission of his or its employees;
(6) That the common carrier's liability for acts committed by thieves, or of robbers who do not act with grave or irresistible threat, violence or
force, is dispensed with or diminished;
(7) That the common carrier is not responsible for the loss, destruction, or deterioration of goods on account of the defective condition of the car, vehicle,
ship, airplane or other equipment used in the contract of carriage.

Under Art. 1745(6), a common carrier is held responsible even for acts of strangers like thieves or robbers except where such thieves or robbers
acted with grave or irresistible threat, violence or force.

In the case at bar, the Court held that the occurrence of the lost must reasonably be regarded as quite BEYOND THE CONTROL of the common carrier
and properly regarded as FORTUITOUS EVENT.

It is necessary to recall that even common carriers are not made absolute insurers against all risks of travel and of transport of goods, and are NOT HELD
LIABLE for acts or events which cannot be foreseen or inevitable, PROVIDED that they shall have complied with the rigorous standard of extraordinary
diligence.

The SC, therefore , agree with the CA decision that Cendana is not liable for the value of the undelivered merchandise which was lost because of an
EVENT ENTIRELY BEYOND Cendana’s control.

Cebu Salvage Based on the agreement signed by the parties and the testimony of petitioner’s operations manager, it is clear that it was a contract of carriage
Corporation v Phillipiine petitioner signed with MCCII. It actively negotiated and solicited MCCII’s account, offered its services to ship the silica quartz and proposed to utilize the
Home Assurance
Corporation
Petitioner and MCCII entered
into a "voyage charter," also
known as a contract of
affreightment wherein the
ship was leased for a single
voyage for the conveyance of
goods, in consideration of the
payment of freight. Under a
voyage charter, the ship owner
retains the possession,
command and navigation of
the ship, the charterer or
freighter merely having use of
the space in the vessel in
return for his payment of
freight. An owner who retains
possession of the ship remains
liable as carrier and must
answer for loss or non-delivery
of the goods received for
transportation.
A.F. SANCHEZ
BROKERAGE INC v. CA,
FGU Insurance Corporation
M/T Espiritu Santo in lieu of the M/T Seebees or the M/T Shirley (as previously agreed upon in the voyage charter) since these vessels had broken down .
There is no dispute that petitioner was a common carrier. At the time of the loss of the cargo, it was engaged in the business of carrying and
transporting goods by water, for compensation, and offered its services to the public.
From the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy, common carriers are bound to observe extraordinary diligence over the goods
they transport according to the circumstances of each case. In the event of loss of the goods, common carriers are responsible, unless they can
prove that this was brought about by the causes specified in Article 1734 of the Civil Code. In all other cases, common carriers are presumed to be at
fault or to have acted negligently, unless they prove that they observed extraordinary diligence.
The fact that petitioner did not own the vessel it decided to use to consummate the contract of carriage did not negate its character and duties
as a common carrier. The MCCII (respondent’s subrogor) could not be reasonably expected to inquire about the ownership of the vessels which petitioner
carrier offered to utilize. As a practical matter, it is very difficult and often impossible for the general public to enforce its rights of action under a contract of
carriage if it should be required to know who the actual owner of the vessel is. In fact, in this case, the voyage charter itself denominated petitioner as the
"owner/operator" of the vessel.
The fact that it did not own the vessel it decided to use to consummate the contract of carriage did not negate its character and duties as a
common carrier. The MCCII (respondent’s subrogor) could not be reasonably expected to inquire about the ownership of the vessels which petitioner
carrier offered to utilize. As a practical matter, it is very difficult and often impossible for the general public to enforce its rights of action under a contract of
carriage if it should be required to know who the actual owner of the vessel is. In fact, in this case, the voyage charter itself denominated petitioner as the
"owner/operator" of the vessel.
The bill of lading was merely a receipt issued by ALS to evidence the fact that the goods had been received for transportation. It was not signed by MCCII,
as in fact it was simply signed by the supercargo of ALS. While it is true that a bill of lading may serve as the contract of carriage between the parties, it
cannot prevail over the express provision of the voyage charter that MCCII and petitioner executed.
The appellate court did not err in finding petitioner, a customs broker, to be also a common carrier, as defined under Article 1732 of the Civil Code.
Anacleto F. Sanchez, Jr., the Manager and Principal Broker of Sanchez Brokerage himself testified that the services the firm offers include the delivery
of goods to the warehouse of the consignee or importer.
Article 1732 does not distinguish between one whose principal business activity is the carrying of goods and one who does such carrying only as an
ancillary activity.
Petitioner as a common carrier is mandated to observe, under Article 1733 of the Civil Code, extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over the
goods it transports according to all the circumstances of each case. In the event that the goods are lost, destroyed or deteriorated, it is
presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently, unless it proves that it observed extraordinary diligence.

Loadmasters Customs
Services, Inc. v. Global
Brokerage Corporation
(2011)
Columbia engaged the
services of Glodel for the
release and withdrawal of the
cargoes from the pier and the
delivery to its
warehouses/plants. Glodel, in
turn, engaged the services of
Loadmasters for the use of its
delivery trucks to transport the
cargoes to Columbia's
Compania Maritima v. Court of Appeals: The extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over the goods tendered for shipment requires the common
carrier :
1. to know and to follow the required precaution for avoiding damage to, or destruction of the goods entrusted to it for sale, carriage and delivery,
2. to render service with the greatest skill and foresight and
3."to use all reasonable means to ascertain the nature and characteristics of goods tendered for shipment, and
4. to exercise due care in the handling and stowage, including such methods as their nature requires."
In the case at bar, it was established that petitioner received the cargoes from the PSI warehouse in NAIA in good order and condition; and that upon
delivery by petitioner to Hizon Laboratories Inc., some of the cargoes were found to be in bad order.
While paragraph No. 4 of Article 1734 of the Civil Code exempts a common carrier from liability if the loss or damage is due to the character of the goods
or defects in the packing or in the containers, the rule is that if the improper packing is known to the carrier or his employees or is apparent upon
ordinary observation, but he nevertheless accepts the same without protest or exception notwithstanding such condition, he is not relieved of
liability for the resulting damage.
Since petitioner received all the cargoes in good order and condition at the time they were turned over by the PSI warehouseman, and upon their delivery
to Hizon Laboratories, a portion thereof was found to be in bad order, it was incumbent on petitioner to prove that it exercised extraordinary
diligence in the carriage of the goods. It did not, however. Hence, its presumed negligence under Article 1735 of the Civil Code remains
unrebutted.
Common Carrier: One engaged in the business of transporting goods by land, through its trucking service
Private Carrier: the carriage is generally undertaken by special agreement and it does not hold itself out to carry goods for the general public
Significance of Distinction: The rights and obligations of the parties to a contract of carriage are governed principally by their stipulations not by the law
on common carriers.
In the present case, there is no indication that the undertaking in the contract between Loadmasters and Glodel was private in character. There is no
showing that Loadmasters solely and exclusively rendered services to Glodel.
In fact, Loadmasters admitted that it is a common carrier.
In the same vein, Glodel is also considered a common carrier within the context of Article 1732. In its Memorandum it states that it "is a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines and is engaged in the business of customs brokering." It cannot be considered
otherwise because as held by the Court that a customs broker is also regarded as a common carrier, the transportation of goods being an
integral part of its business [Schmitz Transport & Brokerage Corporation v. Transport Venture, Inc].
Loadmasters and Glodel, being both common carriers, are mandated from the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy, to observe the
warehouses/plants in Bulacan extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over the goods transported by them as required by Article 1733 of the Civil Code.
and Valenzuela City.
When the Court speaks of extraordinary diligence, it is that extreme measure of care and caution which persons of unusual prudence and circumspection
The goods were loaded on observe for securing and preserving their own property or rights.
board twelve (12) trucks owned
by Loadmasters. Six (6) Thus, in case of loss of the goods, the common carrier is presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently.
truckloads of copper cathodes
were to be delivered to Presumption of loss or negligence rebuttable: proof of EXTRAORDINARY DILIGENCE exercised by the common carrier
Bulacan, while the other six (6)
TIME FRAME of extraordinary responsibility
truckloads were destined for
Valenzuela City. The cargoes Art. 1736 lasts from the time the goods are unconditionally placed in the possession of, and received by, the carrier for transportation until the same are
in six truckloads for Lawang delivered, actually or constructively, by the carrier to the consignee, or to the person who has a right to receive them, without prejudice to the provisions of
Bato were duly delivered. Of Art. 1738
the six (6) trucks en route to
Bulacan, however, only five (5) Art. 1738: The extraordinary liability of the common carrier continues to be operative even during the time the goods are stored in a warehouse of the
reached the destination. One carrier at the place of destination, until the consignee has been advised of the arrival of the goods and has had reasonable opportunity thereafter to remove
(1) truck, loaded with 11 them or otherwise dispose them.
bundles or 232 pieces of
copper cathodes, failed to
Both Loadmasters and Glodel are jointly and severally liable to R & B Insurance for the loss of the subject cargo.
deliver its cargo.

Later on, the said truck, was

recovered but without the
copper cathodes.

Unsworth Transport Issue: WON a freight forwarder is a common carrier?

International (UTI) vs. CA
(2010) It is undisputed that UTI issued a bill of lading in favor of Unilab. Pursuant thereto, petitioner undertook to transport, ship, and deliver the 27 drums
of raw materials for pharmaceutical manufacturing to the consignee.
“freight forwarder" refers to a
firm holding itself out to the
A bill of lading is a written acknowledgement of the receipt of goods and an agreement to transport and to deliver them at a specified place to a person
general public (other than as a
pipeline, rail, motor, or water
named or on his or her order.
carrier) to provide
transportation of property for Undoubtedly, UTI is liable as a common carrier. In order to avoid responsibility for any loss or damage, therefore, they have the burden of proving that
compensation and, in the they observed such diligence. Mere proof of delivery of the goods in good order to a common carrier and of their arrival in bad order at their destination
ordinary course of its business, constitutes a prima facie case of fault or negligence against the carrier. If no adequate explanation is given as to how the deterioration, loss, or destruction
of the goods happened, the transporter shall be held responsible.
(1) to assemble and
consolidate, or to provide for Peitioner failed to explain the damage to one steel drum of Vitamin B Complex Extract while in its possession. Further, petitioner failed to prove that it
assembling and consolidating, observed the extraordinary diligence and precaution which the law requires a common carrier to exercise and to follow in order to avoid damage to or
shipments, and to perform or
provide for break-bulk and
distribution operations of the
shipments;
(2) to assume responsibility for
the transportation of goods
from the place of receipt to the
place of destination; and
(3) to use for any part of the
transportation a carrier subject
to the federal law pertaining to
common carriers
destruction of the goods entrusted to it for safe carriage and delivery.
Other key point: applicability of the Package Limitation Rule under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA)
It is to be noted that the Civil Code does not limit the liability of the common carrier to a fixed amount per package. In all matters not regulated by the Civil
Code, the rights and obligations of common carriers are governed by the Code of Commerce and special laws. Thus, the COGSA supplements the Civil
Code by establishing a provision limiting the carrier’s liability in the absence of a shipper’s declaration of a higher value in the bill of
lading.30 Section 4(5) of the COGSA provides:
(5) Neither the carrier nor the ship shall in any event be or become liable for any loss or damage to or in connection with the transportation of
goods in an amount exceeding $500 per package of lawful money of the United States, or in case of goods not shipped in packages, per customary
freight unit, or the equivalent of that sum in other currency, unless the nature and value of such goods have been declared by the shipper before shipment
and inserted in the bill of lading. This declaration, if embodied in the bill of lading, shall be prima facie evidence, but shall not be conclusive on the carrier.

In the present case, the shipper did not declare a higher valuation of the goods to be shipped.

Petitioner’s liability should be limited to $500 per steel drum. In this case, as there was only one drum lost, private respondent is entitled to receive only
$500 as damages for the loss.

Perena vs Zarate

The operator of a school Private Carrier Common/Public Carrier

bus service is a common
carrier in the eyes of the
law. He is bound to observe
extraordinary diligence in
the conduct of his business.
He is presumed to be
negligent when death
occurs to a passenger. His
liability may include
indemnity for loss of earning
capacity even if the
deceased passenger may
only be an unemployed high
school student at the time of
the accident.
one who, without making the activity a vocation,
or without holding himself or itself out to the
public as ready to act for all who may desire his
Definition or its services, undertakes, by special
agreement in a particular instance only, to
transport goods or persons from one place to
another either gratuitously or for hire
provisions on the ordinary contracts of the Civil
Governing Law:
Code
Diligence Required: Ordinary Diligence
A person, corporation, firm or association
engaged in the business of carrying or
transporting passengers or goods or both, by
land, water, or air, for compensation, offering
such services to the public.
• provisions on common carriers of the
Civil Code
• the Public Service Act
• other special laws relating to
transportation.
Extraordinary Diligence

Torres Madrid Brokerage,
Inc. (TMBI) vs FEB Mitsui
Marine Insurance Co, Inc
and Benjamin Manalastas
(2018)
Sony, engaged the services
of TMBI, a common carrier,
to facilitate the release of its
shipment and deliver the
goods to its warehouse. In
turn, TMBI subcontracted a
portion of its obligation, the
delivery of the cargo, to
another common carrier,
BMT. Despite the
subcontract, TMBI
remained responsible for
Test for a Common Carrier: whether the undertaking is a part of the activity engaged in by the carrier that he has held out to the general public as his
business or occupation.
If the undertaking is a single transaction, not a part of the general business or occupation engaged in, as advertised and held out to the
general public, the individual or the entity rendering such service is a private, not a common carrier.
Despite catering to a limited clientèle, the Pereñas operated as a common carrier because they held themselves out as a ready transportation
indiscriminately to the students of a particular school living within or near where they operated the service and for a fee.―
Given the nature of the business and for reasons of public policy, the common carrier is bound „to observe extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over the
goods and for the safety of the passengers transported by them, according to all the circumstances of each case.
Article 1755 of the Civil Code specifies that the common carrier should „carry the passengers safely as far as human care and foresight can provide, using
the utmost diligence of very cautious persons, with a due regard for all the circumstances.
Although the basis of the right to relief of the Zarates (i.e., breach of contract of carriage) against the Pereñas was distinct from the basis of the Zarate’s
right to relief against the Philippine National Railways (PNR) (i.e., quasidelict under Article 2176, Civil Code), they nonetheless could be held jointly and
severally liable by virtue of their respective negligence combining to cause the death of Aaron.―
In A.F. Sanchez Brokerage, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, the Court held that a custom broker, whose principal business is the preparation of the correct
customs declaration and the proper shipping documents, is still considered a common carrier if it also undertakes to deliver the goods for its customers.
The law does not distinguish between one, whose principal business activity is the carrying of goods, and one, who undertakes this task only as an
ancillary activity.
Despite TMBI’s present denials, the Court finds that the delivery of the goods is an integral, albeit ancillary, part of its brokerage services. . That
TMBI does not own trucks and has to subcontract the delivery of its client’s goods is immaterial. As long as an entity holds itself to the public for the
transport of goods as a business, it is considered a common carrier regardless of whether it owns the vehicle used or has to actually hire one.
Lastly, TMBI’s customs brokerage services, including the transport/delivery of the cargo, are available to anyone willing to pay its fees.
Given these circumstances, the Court finds it undeniable that TMBI is a common carrier. Consequently, TMBI should be held responsible for the
loss, destruction, or deterioration of the goods it transports unless it results from five exemptions under Article 1734 of the Civil Code.
For all other cases, such as theft or robbery, a common carrier is presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently, unless it can prove that it
observed extraordinary diligence. Simply put, the theft or the robbery of the goods is not considered a fortuitous event or a force majeure.
Nevertheless, a common carrier may absolve itself of liability for resulting loss:
(1) if it proves that it exercised extraordinary diligence in transporting and safekeeping the goods; or
(2) if it stipulated with the shipper/owner of the goods to limit its liability for the loss, destruction, or deterioration of the goods to a degree less
than extraordinary diligence.
the cargo
Philippine American
General Insurance
Company vs PKS Shipping
Co.
GR 149038 April 09, 2003
Diligence Required of Common Carriers
Extra-ordinary diligence required/Presumpton of fault in case of loss or damage to goods or death or injury to passengers
HEIRS OF AMPARO DE
LOS SANTOS V CA (1990)
M/V ‘Mindoro’, owned by
Compania Maritima, bound
However, a stipulation diminishing or dispensing with the common carrier’s liability for acts committed by thieves or robbers, who do not act with grave or
irresistible threat, violence, or force is void under Article 1745 of the Civil Code for being contrary to public policy.
Jurisprudence, too, has expanded Article 1734’s five exemptions. De Guzman v. Court of Appeals interpreted Article 1745 to mean that a robbery attended
by “grave or irresistible threat, violence or force” is a fortuitous event that absolves the common carrier from liability.
Under Article 1736, a common carrier’s extraordinary responsibility over the shipper’s goods lasts from the time these goods are
unconditionally placed in the possession of, and received by, the carrier for transportation, until they are delivered, actually or constructively,
by the carrier, to the consignee.
That the cargo disappeared during the transit while under the custody of BMT, TMBI’s subcontractor, did not diminish nor terminate TMBI’s responsibility
over the cargo. Article 1735 of the Civil Code presumes that it was at fault.
Instead of showing that it had acted with extraordinary diligence, TMBI simply argued that it was not a common carrier bound to observe
extraordinary diligence. Its failure to successfully establish this premise carries with it the presumption of fault or negligence, thus, rendering it
liable to Sony/ Mitsui for breach of contract. Specifically, TMBI’s current theory, that the hijacking was attended by force or intimidation, is untenable.
Much of the distinction between a common or public carrier and a private or special carrier lies in the character of the business, such that if the
undertaking is an isolated transaction, not a part of the business or occupation, and the carrier does not hold itself out to carry the goods for the
general public or to a limited clientele, although involving the carriage of goods for a fee, the person or corporation providing such service could
very well be just a private carrier. A typical case is that of a charter party which includes both the vessel and its crew, such as in a bareboat or
demise, where the charterer obtains the use and service of all or some part of a ship for a period of time or a voyage or voyages and gets the
control of the vessel and its crew.
CA: There was no way by which the barges or the tugboats crew could have prevented the sinking of Limar I. The vessel was suddenly tossed
by waves of extraordinary height of six (6) to eight (8) feet and buffeted by strong winds of 1.5 knots resulting in the entry of water into the
barges hatches.
The official Certificate of Inspection of the barge issued by the Philippine Coastguard and the Coastwise Load Line Certificate would
attest to the seaworthiness of Limar I and should strengthen the factual findings of the appellate court.
SC: The CA did not err in its judgment absolving PKS Shipping from liability for the loss of the DUMC cargo.
ISSUE: 1. WON Compania Maritima was negligent? yes
2. Won Art 587 of the Code of Commerce is applicable in this case? No
1. Compania Maritima was negligent. Modern technology belies the claim of Compania Maritima that it did not have any information about typhoon
for Aklan
*typhoon Whelming ---
sinking of ship
Art 587 inapplicable if fault
or negligence is commited
by shipowner
AMERICAN HOME
ASSURANCE COMPANY V
CA (1992)
* the filing of a motion to
dismiss on the ground of
lack of cause of action
carries with it the admission
of the material facts
pleaded in the complaint
Welming until after the boat was already at sea.
The Weather Bureau is equipped with modern apparatus which enables it to detect any incoming atmospheric disturbances. It is highly improbable due
to the late departure of the ship that the Weather Bureau had not yet issued any typhoon bulletin at any time during the day to the shipping
companies.
Maritima displayed lack of foresight and minimum concern for the safety of its passengers. The ship was delayed for 4 hours and it did not check
from the captain the reasons behind the delay nor send its representative to inquire into the cause of the delay. A closer supervision could have
prevented the overloading of the vessel. Maritima also did not install a radar which could have allowed the ship to navigate safely for shelter
during the storm. The vessel was left at the mercy of Welming.
2. Art. 587 is inapplicable because the shipowner was also negligent.
Art. 587 of the Code of Commerce, a shipowner or agent has the right of abandonment; and by necessary implication, his liability is confined to that which
he is entitled of right to abandon – the vessel with all her equipment and the freight it may have earned during the voyage.
The limited liability doctrine applies not only to goods but also in all cases like death or injury to passengers wherein the shipowner or agent
may properly be held liable for the negligent or illicit acts of the captain.
Art. 587 speaks only of situations where the fault or negligence is committed solely by the captain. In cases where the shipowner is likewise to be
blamed, Art. 587 does not apply. Such a situation will be covered by the New Civil Code provisions on common carriers.
Owing to the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy, common carriers are tasked to observe extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over
the goods and for the safety of its passengers (Article 1733, NCC).
Further, they are bound to carry the passengers safely as far as human care and foresight can provide, using the utmost diligence of very
cautious persons, with a due regard for all the circumstances (Article 1755, NCC).
Whenever death or injury to a passenger occurs, common carriers are presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently unless they prove that
they observed extraordinary diligence as prescribed by Articles 1733 and 1755 (Article 1756, NCC)
Art. 1753 Country of Destination
The law of the country to which the goods are to be transported governs the liability of the common carrier in case of their loss, destruction or deterioration.
Thus, for cargoes transported to the Philippines as in the case at bar, the liability of the carrier is governed primarily by the Civil Code and in all
matters not regulated by said Code, the rights and obligations of common carrier shall be governed by the Code of Commerce and by special
laws (Article 1766, Civil Code).
Article 1733 CC, common carriers from the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy are bound to observe extraordinary diligence in the
vigilance over the goods and for the safety of passengers transported by them according to all circumstances of each case. Thus, under Article 1735 of the
same Code, in all cases other than those mentioned in Article 1734 thereof, the common carrier shall be presumed to have been at fault or to have acted

Philippine Airlines, Inc vs
CA, Pedro Zapatos (1993)
*diverted flight
Private respondent was a
stranger to the place
Ongoing battle between
gov’t. forces and Muslim
rebels in Cotabato
Macam v CA (1999)
Go back!
negligently, unless it proves that it has observed the extraordinary diligence required by law.
The Court ruled that common carriers cannot limit their liability for injury or loss of goods where such injury or loss was caused by its own negligence.
Otherwise stated, the law on averages under the Code of Commerce cannot be applied in determining liability where there is negligence. It is but
reasonable to conclude that the issue of negligence must first be addressed before the proper provisions of the Code of Commerce on the extent of liability
may be applied.
Records show that upon delivery of the shipment in question to Mayleen's warehouse in Manila, 122 bales were found to be damaged/lost with straps cut
or loose. Instead of presenting proof of the exercise of extraordinary diligence as required by law, National Marine Corporation (NMC) filed its Motion to
Dismiss , hypothetically admitting the truth of the facts alleged in the complaint to the effect that the loss or damage to the 122 bales was due to the
negligence or fault of NMC (Rollo, p. 179).
As ruled by this Court, the filing of a motion to dismiss on the ground of lack of cause of action carries with it the admission of the material
facts pleaded in the complaint
Such being the case, it is evident that the Code of Commerce provisions on averages cannot apply.
On the other hand, Article 1734 of the Civil Code provides that common carriers are responsible for loss, destruction or deterioration of the
goods, unless due to any of the causes enumerated therein. It is obvious that the case at bar does not fall under any of the exceptions. Thus,
American Home Assurance Company is entitled to reimbursement of what it paid to Mayleen Paper, Inc. as insurer
A contract to transport passengers is quite different in kind and degree from any other contractual relation. And this, because of the relation which an air
carrier sustains with the public. Its business is mainly with the travelling public. It invites people to avail of the comforts and advantages it offers. The
contract of air carriage, therefore, generates a relation attended with a public duty [Air France v. Carrascoso]
PAL failed to grasp the exacting standard required by law. While PAL’s diversion of its flight due to inclement weather was a fortuitous event.
Nonetheless, such occurrence did not terminate PAL’s contract with its passengers. Being in the business of air carriage and the sole one to operate in the
country, PAL is deemed equipped to deal with situations as in the case at bar.
It must be stressed that the relation of carrier and passenger continues until the latter has been landed at the port of destination and has left the carrier’s
premises.
Hence, PAL necessarily would still have to exercise extraordinary diligence in safeguarding the comfort, convenience and safety of its stranded
passengers until they have reached their final destination. PAL grossly failed considering the then ongoing battle between government forces and
Muslim rebels in Cotabato City and the fact that the private respondent was a stranger to the place
The extraordinary responsibility of the common carriers lasts until actual or constructive delivery of the cargoes to the consignee or to the person who has
a right to receive them. PAKISTAN BANK was indicated in the bills of lading as consignee whereas GPC was the notify party. However, in the export
invoices, GPC was clearly named as buyer/importer. Petitioner also referred to GPC as such in his demand letter to respondent WALLEM and in his
complaint before the trial court. This premise draws us to conclude that the delivery of the cargoes to GPC as buyer/importer which, conformably
with Article 1736 had, other than the consignee, the right to receive them was proper.
VIRGINES CALVO doing Nor is there basis to exempt petitioner from liability under Art. 1734(4), which provides –
business under the name
Common carriers are responsible for the loss, destruction, or deterioration of the goods,unless the same is due to any of the following causes only:
and style TRANSORIENT
CONTAINER TERMINAL --(4) The character of the goods or defects in the packing or in the containers.
SERVICES, INC.,
Petitioner, vs. UCPB
GENERAL INSURANCE For this provision (Art 1734 (4)) to apply, the rule is that if the improper packing or, in this case, the defect/s in the container, is/are known to the
CO., INC. (formerly Allied carrier or his employees or apparent upon ordinary observation, but he nevertheless accepts the same without protest or exception notwithstanding
such condition, he is not relieved of liability for damage resulting therefrom. In this case, petitioner accepted the cargo without exception despite the
Guarantee Ins. Co., Inc.)
apparent defects in some of the container vans. Hence, for failure of petitioner to prove that she exercised extraordinary diligence in the carriage of goods
respondent.
in this case or that she is exempt from liability, the presumption of negligence as provided under Art. 1735 holds.

VECTOR SHIPPING V Issue: WON Vector Shipping failed to observe extraordinary diligence as a common carrier
MACASA
YES, The SC took judicial notice in the case of Caltex (Philippines), Inc. v. Sulpicio Lines, Inc., we held that MT Vector fits the definition of a common
carrier under Article 1732 of the New Civil Code. Our ruling in that case is instructive: Thus, the carriers are deemed to warrant impliedly the
seaworthiness of the ship. For a vessel to be seaworthy, it must be adequately equipped for the voyage and manned with a sufficient number of
competent officers and crew. The failure of a common carrier to maintain in seaworthy condition the vessel involved in its contract of carriage is a clear
breach of its duty prescribed in Article 1755 of the Civil Code.

All evidence points to the fact that it was MT Vectors negligent officers and crew which caused it to ram into MV Dona Paz. More so, MT Vector was found
to be carrying expired coastwise license and permits and was not properly manned. As the records would also disclose, there is a defect in the ignition
system of the vessel, and it was not convincingly shown whether the necessitated repairs were in fact undertaken before the said ship had set to sea. In
short, MT Vector was unseaworthy at the time of the mishap. That the said vessel was allowed to set sail when it was, to everyone in the groups
knowledge, not fit to do so translates into rashness and imprudence.

Lastly, we cannot turn a blind eye to this gruesome maritime tragedy and we commiserate with all the victims, particularly with the Macasas who were
denied justice for almost two decades in this case.

Article 1755. The failure of a common carrier to maintain in seaworthy condition the vessel involved in its contract of carriage is a clear breach
of its duty

Exceptions:

1. when the findings are grounded entirely on speculation, surmises, or conjectures;

2. when the inference made is manifestly mistaken, absurd, or impossible;
3. when there is a grave abuse of discretion
4. when the judgment is based on a misapprehension of facts
5. when the findings of facts are conflicting;
6. when in making its findings, the CA went beyond the issues of the case, or its findings are contrary to the admissions of both the appellant and the
appellee;
 7. when the findings are contrary to the trial court
8. when the findings are conclusions without citation of specific evidence on which they are based
9. when the facts set forth in the petition as well as in the petitioners main and reply briefs are not disputed by the respondent;
10. when the findings of fact are premised on the supposed absence of evidence and contradicted by the evidence on record
11. when the CA manifestly overlooked certain relevant facts not disputed by the parties, which, if properly considered, will justify a different conclusion.
R Transport Corporation v Common carriers, like petitioner bus company, from the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy, are bound to observe extraordinary
Pante diligence for the safety of the passengers transported by them, according to all the circumstances of each case.

*Balikan Common carriers are liable for the death or injury to passengers through the negligence or willful acts of the former’s employees, although such employees
may have acted beyond the scope of their authority or in violation of the orders of the common carriers.

This liability of the common carriers does not cease upon proof that they exercised all the diligence of a good father of a family in the selection and
supervision of their employees.”

Nedlloyd Lijnen B.V. In this case, there is no dispute that the custody of the goods was never turned over to the consignee or his agents but was lost into the hands of
Rotterdam and the East unauthorized persons who secured possession thereof on the strength of falsified documents. The loss or the misdelivery of the goods in the instant case
Asiatic Co., LTD. vs. Glow gave rise to the presumption that the common carrier is at fault or negligent
Laks Enterprises, LTD.,
In the present case, petitioners failed to prove that they did exercise the degree of diligence required by law over the goods they transported. Indeed, aside
G.R. No. 156330,
from their persistent disavowal of liability by conveniently posing an excuse that their extraordinary responsibility is terminated upon release of the goods to
November 19, 2014 the Panamanian Ports Authority, petitioners failed to adduce sufficient evidence they exercised extraordinary care to prevent unauthorized withdrawal of
Nedlloyd-foreign corp; the shipments. Nothing in the New Civil Code, however, suggests, even remotely, that the common carriers’ responsibility over the goods ceased upon
delivery thereof to the custom authorities
license to do business in
Phil To the mind of this Court, the contract of carriage remains in full force and effect even after the delivery of the goods to the port authorities; the
East Asiatic-local ship agent only delivery that releases it from their obligation to observe extraordinary care is the delivery to the consignee or his agents. Even more telling of
of Nedlloyd petitioners’ continuing liability for the goods transported to the fact that the original bills of lading up to this time, remains in the possession of the notify
Glow Laks-foreign corp; party or consignee. Explicit on this point is the provision of Article 353 of the Code of Commerce which provides:
bound by Hong Kong laws;
**misdelivered goods Article 353. The legal evidence of the contract between the shipper and the carrier shall be the bills of lading, by the contents of which the disputes which
may arise regarding their execution and performance shall be decided, no exceptions being admissible other than those of falsity and material error in the
Doctrine of processual drafting.
presumption: if the foreign
law involved is not properly
pleaded and proved, our
courts will presume that the
foreign law is the same as
our local or domestic or
internal law
Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. NO, in the aid Damage Reports, Turn Over Survey Reports and Requests for Bad Order Survey led the Court to conclude that before the subject
vs. BPI/MS Insurance shipments were turned over to ATI, the said cargo were already in bad order condition due to damage sustained during the sea voyage. Nevertheless, this
Corporation and Mitsui Court cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there was also negligence on the part of the employees of ATI and [Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc.] in the
Insurance Co., Ltd., G.R. discharging of the cargo as observed by plaintiff’s witness, Mario Manuel, and [Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc.’s] witness, Rodrigo Victoria.
No. 193986, January 15,
It is settled in maritime law jurisprudence that cargoes while being unloaded generally remain under the custody of the carrier. As found by the
2014
RTC and affirmed by the CA, the goods were damaged even before they were turned over to ATI. Such damage was even compounded by the
Sumimoto negligent acts of petitioner and ATI which both mishandled the goods during the discharging operations. Thus, it bears stressing unto petitioner that
Eastern shipping-vessel common carriers, from the nature of their business and for reasons of public policy, are bound to observe extraordinary diligence in the
vigilance over the goods transported by them. Subject to certain exceptions enumerated under Article 1734 of the Civil Code, common carriers are
owner
responsible for the loss, destruction, or deterioration of the goods. The extraordinary responsibility of the common carrier lasts from the time the
Calamba Steel-consignee
goods are unconditionally placed in the possession of, and received by the carrier for transportation until the same are delivered, actually or
Mitsui Sumimo Insurance –
constructively, by the carrier to the consignee, or to the person who has a right to receive them.
insurer
Asian Terminals-arrastre Owing to this high degree of diligence required of them, common carriers, as a general rule, are presumed to have been at fault or negligent if the
operator goods they transported deteriorated or got lost or destroyed. That is, unless they prove that they exercised extraordinary diligence in transporting the
goods. In order to avoid responsibility for any loss or damage, therefore, they have the burden of proving that they observed such high level of diligence. In
Request for Bad Order
this case, petitioner failed to hurdle such burden.
Survey is a document which
is requested by an
interested party that
incorporates therein the
***pacheck ulit
details of the damage, if any,
suffered by a shipped
commodity.

Turn Over Survey of Bad Order

Cargoes (TOSBOC), usually
issued by the arrastre contractor
(ATI in this case), is a form of
certification that states therein the
bad order condition of a particular
cargo, as found prior to its turn
over to the custody or possession
of the said arrastre contractor

EASTERN SHIPPING 1. WON ESLI is liable for damages

LINES, INC., Petitioner,
vs. YES. Easily seen, however, is the absence of a crucial point in determining liability of either or both ESLI and ATI – lack of determination whether the cargo
BPI/MS INSURANCE was in a good order condition as described in the bills of lading at the time of his boarding. As Rodrigo admits, it was also his duty to inspect and monitor
CORP., & MITSUI the cargo on-board upon arrival of the vessel. ESLI cannot invoke its non-liability solely on the manner the cargo was discharged and unloaded.
SUMITOMO INSURANCE The actual condition of the cargoes upon arrival prior to discharge is equally important and cannot be disregarded. Proof is needed that the cargo
CO., LTD arrived at the port of Manila in good order condition and remained as such prior to its handling by ATI.

Based on the bills of lading issued, it is undisputed that ESLI received the two shipments of coils from shipper Sumitomo Corporation in good
G.R. No.
182864 January
12, 2015
* In maritime transportation, a
bill of lading is issued by a
common carrier as a contract,
receipt and symbol of the
goods covered by it. If it has no
notation of any defect or
damage in the goods, it is
considered as a "clean bill of
lading." A clean bill of lading
constitutes prima facie
evidence of the receipt by the
carrier of the goods as therein
described
Asian Terminals vs. Simon
Enterprises, Inc. GR no.
177116, February 27 2013
Exception: inherent nature
of soybean—natural to lose
weight
condition. However, upon arrival at the port of Manila, some coils from the two shipments were partly dented and crumpled as evidenced by the Turn Over
Survey of Bad Order Cargoes (TOSBOC) both dated 24 May 2004 signed by ESLI’s representatives, a certain Tabanao and Rodrigo together with ATI’s
representative Garcia.
According to TOSBOC No. 67982, four coils and one skid were partly dented and crumpled prior to turnover by ESLI to ATI’s possession while a total of
eleven coils were partly dented and crumpled prior to turnover based on TOSBOC Nos. 68363 and 68365.
Upon Calamba Steel’s request for re-examination of damages sustained by two shipments, four coils were damaged prior to turnover. The second affirmed
the 11 coils that were damaged prior to turnover on the second shipment.
Mere proof of delivery of the goods in good order to a common carrier and of their arrival in bad order at their destination constitutes a prima facie case of
fault or negligence against the carrier. If no adequate explanation is given as to how the deterioration, loss, or destruction of the goods happened,
the transporter shall be held responsible.From the foregoing, the fault is attributable to ESLI
1. WON the CA erred in holding petitioner ATI solidarily liable with its co-defendants for the shortage incurred in the shipment of the goods to respondent
YES. ATI is correct in arguing that the respondent failed to prove that the subject shipment suffered actual shortage, as there was no competent evidence
to prove that it actually weighed 3,300 metric tons at the port of origin.
Though it is true that common carriers are presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently if the goods transported by them are lost,
destroyed, or deteriorated, and that the common carrier must prove that it exercised extraordinary diligence in order to overcome the
presumption, the plaintiff must still, before the burden is shifted to the defendant, prove that the subject shipment suffered actual shortage. This can only
be done if the weight of the shipment at the port of origin and its subsequent weight at the port of arrival have been proven by a preponderance
of evidence, and it can be seen that the former weight is considerably greater than the latter weight, taking into consideration the exceptions provided in
Article 1734 of the Civil Code.
In this case, respondent failed to prove that the subject shipment suffered shortage, for it was not able to establish that the subject shipment was
weighed at the port of origin.
This means that the shipper was solely responsible for the loading of the container, while the carrier was oblivious to the contents of the
shipment x x x. The arrastre operator (ATI) was, like any ordinary depositary, duty-bound to take good care of the goods received from the vessel and to
turn the same over to the party entitled to their possession, subject to such qualifications as may have validly been imposed in the contract between the
parties. The arrastre operator was not required to verify the contents of the container received and to compare them with those declared by the shipper
because, as earlier stated, the cargo was at the shipper’s load and count x x x.
Also, Bankers & Manufacturers Assurance Corporation v. Court of Appeals elucidates thus:

Westwind Shipping
Corporation vs UCPB
A *customs broker has
been regarded as a
common carrier because
transportation of goods is
an integral part of its
business.—
*under a given set of facts
Article 1732 does not
distinguish between one
whose principal business
activity is the carrying of
goods and one who does
such carrying only as an
ancillary activity.
BENEDICTO vs IAC
The recital of the bill of lading xxxxx is only prima facie evidence of the amount or quantity x x x.
A shipment under this arrangement is not inspected or inventoried by the carrier whose duty is only to transport and deliver the containers in
the same condition as when the carrier received and accepted the containers for transport x x x. (Emphasis supplied)
Hence, from the above-mentioned cases, the weight of the shipment as indicated in the bill of lading is not conclusive as to the actual weight of
the goods. Consequently, the respondent must still prove the actual weight of the subject shipment at the time it was loaded at the port of origin
so that a conclusion may be made as to whether there was indeed a shortage for which petitioner must be liable. This, the respondent failed to
do.
A custom broker has been regarded as a common carrier because transportation of goods is an integral part of its business.
In A.F. Sanchez Brokerage v CA, it held that a custom broker is also a common carrier as defined in Article 1732 of the Civil Code. Article 1732
does not distinguish between one whose principal business activity is the carrying of goods and one who does such carrying only as ancillary
activity.
In Calvo v UCPB, the Court held that as the transportation of goods is an integral part of customs broker, the customs broker is also a common
carrier. For to declare otherwise would be to deprive those with whom it contracts the protection which the law affords them notwithstanding the fact
that the obligation to carry goods for its customers, is part and parcel of petitioner’s business.
That OFII is a common carrier is supported by the testimony of one of its witness, Mr. Panganiban, that part of the services it offers to clients
is cargo forwarding, which includes the delivery of the shipment to the consignee. Thus, for undertaking the transport of cargoes from
ATI to SMC’s warehouse in Laguna, OFII is considered a common carrier.
As long as a person or corporation holds itself to the public for the purpose of transporting goods as a business, it is already considered a
common carrier regardless of whether it owns the vehicle to be used or has to actually hire one.
In the case at bar, it was established that upon its delivery to SMC, additional nine containers/skids were found to be in bad order, as noted in the
Delivery Receipts issued by OFII and as indicated in the Report of Cares Marine & Cargo Surveyors. Instead of merely excusing itself from
liability by putting the blame to ATI and SMC, it is incumbent upon OFII to prove that it actively took care of the goods by exercising
extraordinary diligence in the carriage thereof. It failed to do so.
ISSUE: WON Benedicto, being the registered owner of the carrier, should be held liable for the value of the undelivered or lost sawn lumber
Yes. The registered owner is liable for consequences flowing from the operations of the carrier, even though the specific vehicle involved may already
have been transferred to another person. This doctrine rests upon the principle that in dealing with vehicles registered under the Public Service
Law, the public has the right to assume that the registered owner is the actual or lawful owner thereof.It would be very difficult and often impossible
as a practical matter, for members of the general public to enforce the rights of action that they may have for injuries inflicted by the vehicles being
negligently operated if they should be required to prove who the actual owner is. Greenhills is not required to go beyond the vehicle’s certificate of

COGEO CUBAO
OPERATORS vs CA,
LUNGSOD SILANGAN
TRANSPORT SERVICES
CORP
Under the Public Service
Law, a certificate of public
convenience is an
authorization issued by the
Public Service Commission
for the operation of public
services for which no
franchise is required by law.
It was issued to Lungsod
Silangan to operate a PUV
on the Cogeo-Cubao route
which was based on the
decision of the Board of
registration to ascertain the owner of the carrier.
The loss or destruction or deterioration of goods turned over to the common carrier for conveyance to a designated destination, raises instantly a
presumption of fault or negligence on the part of the carrier.
XPNS: 1. where such loss, destruction or damage arises from extreme circumstances such as a natural disaster or
2. act of the public enemy in time of war, or
3. from an act or omission of the shipper himself, or
4. from the character of the goods or their packaging or container
Clearly, to permit a common carrier to escape its responsibility for the passengers or goods transported by it by proving a prior sale of the vehicle or means
of transportation to an alleged vendee would be to attenuate drastically the carrier's duty of extraordinary diligence.
It would also open wide the door to collusion between the carrier and the supposed vendee and to shifting liability from the carrier to one without financial
capability to respond for the resulting damages. In other words, the thrust of the public policy here involved is as sharp and real in the case of carriage of
goods as it is in the transporting of human beings.
Thus, to sustain petitioner Benedicto's contention, that is, to require the shipper to go behind a certificate of registration of a public utility vehicle, would be
utterly subversive of the purpose of the law and doctrine.
A certification of public convenience is included in the term "property" in the broad sense of the term. Under the Public Service Law, a certificate of public
convenience can be sold by the holder thereof because it has considerable material value and is considered as valuable asset. Hence, insofar as the
interest of the State is involved, a certificate of public convenience does not confer upon the holder any proprietary right or interest or franchise in the route
covered thereby and in the public highways. However, with respect to other persons and other public utilities, a certificate of public convenience as
property, which represents the right and authority to operate its facilities for public service, cannot be taken or interfered with without due process of
law.
In the case at bar, the trial court found that the Aassociation forcibly took over the operation of the jeepney service in the Cogeo-Cubao route without any
authorization from the Public Service Commission and in violation of the right of respondent corporation to operate its services in the said route under its
certificate of public convenience.
As found by the trial court, the actions taken by defendant herein though it admit that it did not have the authority to transport passenger did in fact assume
the role as a common carrier engaged in the transport of passengers within that span of ten days beginning November 11, 1985 when it
unilaterally took upon itself the operation and dispatching of jeepneys at St. Mary's St. Such takeover was confirmed by the president of the
corporation, Roman Oliva.
The takeover paralyzed the usual activities and earnings of the Lungsod Silangan during the period of ten days and violated the right of respondent
Lungsod Corp. To conduct its operations thru its authorized officers.
No compelling reason exists to justify the reversal of the ruling of the respondent appellate court in the case at bar. Article 2222 of the Civil Code states
that the court may award nominal damages in every obligation arising from any source enumerated in Article 1157, or in every case where any property
Transportation. right has been invaded. Considering the circumstances of the case, the respondent corporation is entitled to the award of nominal damages

SPOUSES ZALAMEA vs ISSUE: Whether or not TWA was in bad faith and is liable for moral damages.
CA, TRANSWORD
AIRLINES RULING: YES. The US Law or regulation allegedly authorizing overbooking has never been proved by TWA hence the presence of fraud or bad faith on
the part of TWA when it did not allow the Zalameas to board their flight in spite of the confirmed tickets cannot be disputed.

TWA solely relied on the statement of its customer service agent, Ms. Lather, in her deposition that the Code of Federal Regulations of the Civil
Aeronautics Board allows overbooking. Also, no official publication of the said Code was presented as evidence. Thus, the CA’s finding that overbooking
is allowed has no basis.

Existing jurisprudence explicitly states that OVERBOOKING AMOUNTS TO BAD FAITH, entitling the passengers concerned to an award of moral
damages.

In Alitalia Airways v. Court of Appeals, where passengers with confirmed bookings were refused carriage on the last minute,

SC:held that when an airline issues a ticket to a passenger confirmed on a particular flight, on a certain date, a contract of carriage arises, and the
passenger has every right to expect that he would fly on that flight and on that date. If he does not, then the carrier opens itself to a suit for breach of
contract of carriage. Where an airline had deliberately overbooked, it took the risk of having to deprive some passengers of their seats in case all of
them would show up for the check in.

in Korean Airlines Co., Ltd. v. Court of Appeals, where private respondent was not allowed to board the plane because her seat had already been
given to another passenger even before the allowable period for passengers to check in had lapsed despite the fact that she had a confirmed ticket and
she had arrived on time,

SC: Court held that petitioner airline acted in bad faith in violating private respondent's rights under their contract of carriage and is therefore
liable for the injuries she has sustained as a result.

In Pan American World Airways, Inc. v. IAC, where a would-be passenger had the necessary ticket, baggage claim and clearance from immigration all
clearly and unmistakably showing that she was, in fact, included in the passenger manifest of said flight, and yet was denied accommodation in said
flight, this Court did not hesitate to affirm the lower court's finding awarding her damages.

A contract to transport passengers is quite different in kind and degree from any other contractual relation.

In Zulueta v. Pan American World Airways, Inc. This is so, for a contract of carriage generates a relation attended with public duty — a duty to
provide public service and convenience to its passengers which must be paramount to self-interest or enrichment.

Even on the assumption that overbooking is allowed, TWA is still guilty of bad faith in not informing its passengers beforehand that it could
breach the contract of carriage even if they have confirmed tickets if there was overbooking. TWA should have incorporated stipulations on

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES vs
CA, Spouses MIRANDA
May 17
* Spouses Miranda boarded
PAL Flight PR 101 from
San Francisco with 5 pieces
of baggage. Upon arrival in
Manila, they were told by
the PAL personnel that their
baggage consisting of two
balikbayan boxes, two
pieces of luggage and one
fishing rod case were off-
loaded at Honolulu,
Hawaii due to weight
limitations. Consequently,
they missed their
connecting flight from
Manila to Cebu City, as
originally scheduled, since
they had to wait for their
baggage which arrived the
following day and also
missed another scheduled
flight from Cebu to Surigao,
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES vs
CA July 17
overbooking on the tickets issued or to properly inform its passengers about these policies so that the latter would be prepared for such eventuality or
would have the choice to ride with another airline.
TWA was also guilty of not informing its passengers of its alleged policy of giving less priority to discounted tickets. While the petitioners had
checked in at the same time, and held confirmed tickets, yet, only one of them was allowed to board the plane ten minutes before departure time because
the full-fare ticket he was holding was given priority over discounted tickets. The other two petitioners were left behind.
TWA failed to show that there are provisions to that effect. Neither did it present any argument of substance to show that petitioners were duly
apprised of the overbooked condition of the flight or that there is a hierarchy of boarding priorities in booking passengers.
the claims of Spouses Miranda were reasonable and appeared to be supported by the evidence. Thus it cannot be denied that plaintiffs had to undergo
some personal inconveniences in Manila for lack of their baggage.
Consequently, it was quite evident that the off-loading of plaintiffs' baggage in Honolulu was the proximate cause of plaintiffs subsequent inconveniences
for which they claimed to have suffered social humiliation, wounded feelings, frustration and mental anguish
In the present case there was a breach of contract committed in bad faith by the defendant airlines. As previously noted, plaintiffs had a confirmed booking
on PAL Flight PR 101 from San Francisco to Manila. Therefore plaintiffs were entitled to an assured passage not only for themselves but for their baggage
as well. They had a legal right to rely on this.
The off-loading or bumping off by defendant airlines of plaintiffs' baggage to give way to other passengers or cargo was an arbitrary and
oppressive act which clearly amounted to a breach of contract committed in bad faith and with malice.
a contract of air carriage generates a relation attended with a public duty and any discourteous conduct on the part of a carrier's employee toward a
passenger gives the latter an action for damages and, more so, where there is bad faith.
It is settled that moral damages are recoverable in suits predicated on breach of a contract of carriage where it is proved that the carrier was guilty of fraud
or bad faith.
Inattention to and lack of care for the interests of its passengers who are entitled to its utmost consideration, particularly as to their convenience, amount to
bad faith which entitles the passenger to an award of moral damages.
An airline’s unilateral and voluntary act of providing cash assistance is deemed part of its obligations as an air carrier, and is hardly anything to rave about
.
Yes. A contract to transport passengers is quite different in kind and degree from any other contractual relation because of the relation which an air carrier
sustains with the public. Its business is mainly with the travelling public. It invites people to avail of the comforts and advantages it offers. The contract of air
 carriage, therefore, generates a relation attended with a public duty. Neglect or malfeasance of the carrier's employees naturally could give ground for an
action for damages.

In this case, there was bad faith on the part of PAL. Contrary to the claim of PAL that cash assistance was given instead because of non-availability of
rooms in hotels, the evidence showed that Sky View Hotel, where respondent Pantejo was billeted, had plenty of rooms available. Pantejo only came to
know about the reimbursements when other passengers informed him that they were able to obtain the refund for their own hotel expenses.

The hotel accommodation was not a mere amenity or privilege. It was a company policy whenever a flight is cancelled as testified by several witnesses.
And even if it was a mere privilege, PAL was still liable for damages for its blatant refusal to accord the so-called amenities equally to all its stranded
passengers.

The refund of hotel expenses was surreptitiously and discriminatorily made by PAL as only handful of passengers knew about it. Pantejo was exposed to
humiliation and embarrassment especially because of his government position and social prominence.

The discriminatory act of PAL against Pantejo made PAL liable for moral damages under Article 21 in relation to Article 2219 (10) of the Civil Code. As held
in Alitalia Airways vs. CA, such inattention to and lack of care by petitioner airline for the interest of its passengers who were entitled to its utmost
consideration, particularly as to their convenience, amounted to bad faith which entitled the passenger to the award of moral damages. Under
the peculiar circumstances of this case, the awards for actual, moral and exemplary damages granted in the judgment of CA were just and equitable
PHILIPPINE GENERAL We subscribe to the findings of the Elite Adjusters, Inc., and the Court of Appeals that the proximate cause of the sinking of “MV Asilda” was its being top-
INSURANCE vs CA, heavy. Contrary to the ship captain’s allegations, evidence shows that approximately 2,500 cases of softdrink bottles were stowed on deck. Several days
FELMAN SHIPPING after MV Asilda sank, an estimated 2,500 empty Coca-Cola plastic cases were recovered near the vicinity of the sinking. Considering that the ship’s
hatches were properly secured, the empty Coca-Cola cases recovered could have come only from the vessel’s deck cargo.
GR116940 June 11 1997
It is settled that carrying a deck cargo raises the presumption of unseaworthiness unless it can be shown that the deck cargo will not interfere with
the proper management of the ship. However, in this case it was established that “MV Asilda” was not designed to carry substantial amount of cargo on
deck. The inordinate loading of cargo on deck resulted in the decrease of the vessel’s metacentric height thus making it unstable. The strong
winds and waves encountered by the vessel are but the ordinary vicissitudes of a sea voyage and as such merely contributed to its already
unstable and unseaworthy condition.

Art. 587 of the Code of Commerce is not applicable to the case at bar. Simply put, the ship agent is liable for the negligent acts of the captain in the care of
goods loaded on the vessel. This liability however can be limited through abandonment of the vessel, its equipment and freightage as provided in Art. 587.
Nonetheless, there are exceptional circumstances wherein the ship agent could still be held answerable despite the abandonment, as where the loss or
injury was due to the fault of the shipowner and the captain.

The international rule is to the effect that the right of abandonment of vessels, as a legal limitation of a shipowner’s liability, does not apply to cases where
the injury or average was occasioned by the shipowner’s own fault.
It must be stressed at this point that Art. 587 speaks only of situations where the fault or negligence is committed solely by the captain. Where the
shipowner is likewise to be blamed, Art. 587 will not apply, and such situation will be covered by the provision of the Civil Code on common carriers.

The result of the admission of seaworthiness by the assurer may mean one or two things·

CARLOS SINGSON vs CA
B. VIGILANCE OVER
GOODS
Mauro Ganzon vs. CA,
Gelacio Tumambing (1988)
Intervention of municipal
officials, not a character that
would render impossible the
fulfillment by the carrier of
its obligation
CENTRAL SHIPPING
COMPANY, INC. vs.
INSURANCE COMPANY
OF NORTH AMERICA
1. that the warranty of the seaworthiness is to be taken as fulfilled; or,
2.that the risk of unseaworthiness is assumed by the insurance company.
Anent the accusation that private respondent’ss personnel were rude and arrogant, petitioner failed to adduce sufficient evidence to substantiate his claim.
Nonetheless, such fact will not in any manner affect the disposition of this case. Private respondent’s mistake in removing the wrong coupon was
compounded by several other independent acts of negligence above-enumerated. Taken together, they indubitably signify more than ordinary inadvertence
or inattention and thus constitute a radical departure from the extraordinary standard of care required of common carriers. Put differently, these
circumstances reflect the carrier’s utter lack of care and sensitivity to the needs of its passengers, clearly constitutive of gross negligence, recklessness
and wanton disregard of the rights of the latter, acts evidently indistinguishable or no different from fraud, malice and bad faith. As the rule now stands,
where in breaching the contract of carriage the defendant airline is shown to have acted fraudulently, with malice or in bad
faith, the award of moral and exemplary damages, in addition to actual damages, is proper.
The petitioner has failed to show that the loss of the scraps was due to any of the following causes enumerated in Article 1734 of the Civil Code, namely:
1) Flood, storm, earthquake, lightning, or other natural disaster or calamity;
(2) Act of the public enemy in war, whether international or civil;
(3) Act or omission of the shipper or owner of the goods;
(4) The character of the goods or defects in the packing or in the containers;
(5) Order or act of competent public authority.
We cannot sustain the theory of caso fortuito. In the courts below, the petitioner’s defense was that the loss of the scraps was due to an “order or act of
competent public authority,” and this contention was correctly passed upon by the Court of Appeals.
Now the petitioner is changing his theory to caso fortuito. Such a change of theory on appeal [W]e cannot, however, allow. In any case, the intervention of
the municipal officials was not of a character that would render impossible the fulfillment by the carrier of its obligation.
The petitioner was not duty bound to obey the illegal order to dump into the sea the scrap iron. Moreover, there is absence of sufficient proof that the
issuance of the same order was attended with such force or intimidation as to completely overpower the will of the petitioner’s employees. The mere
difficulty in the fulfillment of the obligation is not considered force majeure. We agree with the private respondents that the scraps could have been properly
unloaded at the shore or at the NASSCO compound, so that after the dispute with the local officials concerned was settled, the scraps could then be
delivered in accordance with the contract of carriage.
Issue: WON the weather disturbance which caused the sinking of the vessel was a fortuitous event
NO, The pieces of evidence with respect to the weather conditions encountered by the vessel showed that there was a southwestern monsoon at the time.
Normally expected on sea voyages, however, were such monsoons, during which strong winds were not unusual. Rosa S. Barba, weather
According to PAGASA, a
storm has a wind force of
48 to 55 knots,24 equivalent
to 55 to 63 miles per hour or
10 to 11 in the Beaufort
Scale. The second mate of
the vessel stated that the
wind was blowing around
force 7 to 8 on the Beaufort
Scale
VIRGINES CALVO doing
business under the name
and style TRANSORIENT
CONTAINER TERMINAL
SERVICES, INC.,
Petitioner, vs. UCPB
GENERAL INSURANCE
CO., INC. (formerly Allied
Guarantee Ins. Co., Inc.)
respondent.
A. REQUIREMENT OF ABSENCE OF NEGLIGENCE
BACHELOR EXPRESS,
INCORPORATED, and
CRESENCIO RIVERA,
specialist of (PAGASA), testified that a thunderstorm might occur in the midst of a southwest monsoon.
According to her, one did occur during the vessel’s voyage. HOWEVER, it would not be sufficient to categorize the weather condition at the time as a
"storm" within the absolutory causes enumerated in the law. Significantly, no typhoon was observed within the Philippine area of responsibility during
that period.
The strong winds accompanying the southwestern monsoon could not be classified as a "storm." Such winds are the ordinary vicissitudes of a sea voyage.
Even if the weather encountered by the ship is to be deemed a natural disaster under Article 1739 of the Civil Code, petitioner failed to show that such
natural disaster or calamity was the proximate and only cause of the loss. Human agency must be entirely excluded from the cause of injury or loss. In
other words, the damaging effects blamed on the event or phenomenon must not have been caused, contributed to, or worsened by the presence of
human participation. The defense of fortuitous event or natural disaster cannot be successfully made when the injury could have been avoided by human
precaution
The doctrine of limited liability under Article 587 of the Code of Commerce is not applicable to the present case. This rule does not apply to situations in
which the loss or the injury is due to the concurrent negligence of the shipowner and the captain. It has already been established that the sinking of M/V
Central Bohol had been caused by the fault or negligence of the ship captain and the crew, as shown by the improper stowage of the cargo of logs. "Closer
supervision on the part of the shipowner could have prevented this fatal miscalculation." As such, the shipowner was equally negligent. It cannot escape
liability by virtue of the limited liability rule.
Calvo insist that the cargo could not have been damaged while in her custody as she immediately delivered the containers to SMC's compound. To prove
the exercise of extraordinary diligence, petitioner must show that it used "all reasonable means to ascertain the nature and characteristic of goods
tendered for transport and that it exercised due care in the handling thereof." Petitioner failed to do this.
Nor is there basis to exempt petitioner from liability under Art. 1734(4), which provides –
Common carriers are responsible for the loss, destruction, or deterioration of the goods,unless the same is due to any of the following causes only:
--(4) The character of the goods or defects in the packing or in the containers.
For this provision (Art 1734 (4)) to apply, the rule is that if the improper packing or, in this case, the defect/s in the container, is/are known to the carrier or
his employees or apparent upon ordinary observation, but he nevertheless accepts the same without protest or exception notwithstanding such condition,
he is not relieved of liability for damage resulting therefrom. In this case, petitioner accepted the cargo without exception despite the apparent defects in
some of the container vans. Hence, for failure of petitioner to prove that she exercised extraordinary diligence in the carriage of goods in this case or that
she is exempt from liability, the presumption of negligence as provided under Art. 1735 holds.
Considering the factual findings of the Court of Appeals—the bus driver did not immediately stop the bus at the height of the
commotion; the bus was speeding from a full stop; the victims fell from the bus door when it was opened or gave way while
the bus was still running; the conductor panicked and blew his whistle after people had already fallen off the bus; and the
petitioners,
vs.
CA, RICARDO BETER,
SERGIA BETER, TEOFILO
RAUTRAUT and ZOETERA
RAUTRAUT (1990)
LOADSTAR vs CA
Seaworthy vessel:
1. adequately equipped for
the voyage and
2. manned with a sufficient
number of competent
officers and crew
SMITH BELL DODWELL
SHIPPING AGENCY
CORPORATION, vs.
CATALINO BORJA and
INTERNATIONAL
bus was not properly equipped with doors in accordance with law—it is clear that the petitioners have failed to overcome
the presumption of fault and negligence found in the law governing common carriers.
Argument that the petitioners are not insurers of their passengers deserves no merit.—The petitioners' argument that the
petitioners "are not insurers of their passengers" deserves no merit in view of the failure of the petitioners to prove that the
deaths of the two passengers were exclusively due to force majeure and not to the failure of the petitioners to observe
extraordinary diligence in transporting safely the passengers to their destinations as warranted by law.
The running amuck of the passenger was the proximate cause of the incident as it triggered off a commotion and panic
among the passengers such that the passengers started running to the sole exit shoving each other resulting in the falling off
the bus by passengers Beter and Rautraut causing them fatal injuries. The sudden act of the passenger who stabbed another
passenger in the bus is within the context of force majeure.
To be absolved from liability in case of force majeure, it is not enough that the accident was caused by force majeure; Common carrier must still prove
that it was not negligent in causing the injuries resulting from such accident.—
A certificate of public convenience is not a requisite for the incurring of liability under the Civil Code provisions governing common carriers.
To exempt private respondent from the liabilities of a common carrier because he has not secured the necessary certificate of public convenience, would
be offensive to sound public policy; that would be to reward private respondent precisely for failing to comply with applicable statutory requirements.
The business of a common carrier impinges directly and intimately upon the safety and wellbeing and property of those members of the general community
who happen to deal with such carrier. The law imposes duties and liabilities upon common carriers for the safety and protection of those who utilize their
services and the law cannot allow a common carrier to render such duties and liabilities merely facultative by simply failing to obtain the necessary permits
and authorizations.
We find that the M/V „Cherokee was not seaworthy when it embarked on its voyage on 19 November 1984. The vessel was not even sufficiently manned at
the time. For a vessel to be seaworthy, it must be adequately equipped for the voyage and manned with a sufficient number of competent officers and
crew. The failure of a common carrier to maintain in seaworthy condition its vessel involved in a contract of carriage is a clear breach of its
duty prescribed in Article 1755 of the Civil Code.
The doctrine of limited liability does not apply where there was negligence on the part of the vessel owner or agent. LOADSTAR was at fault or
negligent in not maintaining a seaworthy vessel and in having allowed its vessel to sail despite knowledge of an approaching typhoon. In any event, it did
not sink because of any storm that may be deemed as force majeure, inasmuch as the wind condition in the area where it sank was determined to be
moderate. Since it was remiss in the performance of its duties, LOADSTAR cannot hide behind the limited liability doctrine to escape responsibility for
the loss of the vessel and its cargo.
Negligence is conduct that creates undue risk of harm to another. It is the failure to observe that degree of care, precaution and vigilance that the
circumstances justly demand, whereby that other person suffers injury. Petitioners vessel was carrying chemical cargo -- alkyl benzene and methyl
methacrylate monomer. While knowing that their vessel was carrying dangerous inflammable chemicals, its officers and crew failed to take all
the necessary precautions to prevent an accident. Petitioner was, therefore, negligent.
TOWAGE AND Knowing fully well that it was carrying dangerous chemicals, petitioner was negligent in not taking all the necessary precautions in transporting
TRANSPORT the cargo.
CORPORATION (ITTC)
(2002) As a result of the fire and the explosion during the unloading of the chemicals from petitioners vessel, Respondent Borja suffered the damages and
injuries.

Hence, the owner or the person in possession and control of a vessel and the vessel are liable for all natural and proximate damage caused to
persons and property by reason of negligent management or navigation