Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1962 > June 1962 Decisions > G.R. No. L-14028 June 30, 1962 - NEMESIO AZUCENA v. SEVERINO POTENCIANO, ET AL. :




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. No. L-14028. June 30, 1962.]

NEMESIO AZUCENA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. SEVERINO POTENCIANO and LAGUNA TRANSPORTATION CO., Defendants-Appellees.

Jose A. Lozada and Alvero, Brion & Associates, for Plaintiff-Appellant.

Yatco & Yatco and A. R. Narvasa for Defendants-Appellees.


SYLLABUS


1. ACTIONS; CIVIL ACTION FOR RECOVERY OF DAMAGES BASED ON QUASIDELICT; ACQUITTAL IN CRIMINAL ACTION NOT A BAR TO CIVIL ACTION. — A civil action to recover damages on the theory of quasi-delict may proceed although the defendant therein was acquitted in the criminal case, because, according to Articles 33 and 2177 of the Civil Code, the civil action is entirely independent of the criminal case. To subordinate the civil action contemplated in said articles to the result of the criminal prosecution would render meaningless the independent character of the civil action and the clear injunction in Article 31 that such action "may proceed independently of the criminal proceedings and regardless of the result of the latter."cralaw virtua1aw library

2. ID.; ID.; ID.; EXCEPTION. — There is an exception to the principle of separation and independence of the criminal and civil actions from each other, namely, when the offended party not only fails to reserve the right to file a separate civil action but also intervenes actually in the criminal suit by appearing through a private prosecutor for the purpose of recovering indemnity for damages therein, in which case a judgment of acquittal bars a subsequent civil action. (Maria Roa v. Segunda de la Cruz, Et Al., 107 Phil., 8; 60 Off. Gaz. (31) 6443.)

3. ID.; ID.; ID.; CIVIL ACTION UNDER ARTICLE 33, NEW CIVIL CODE, UNRELATED TO CRIMINAL ASPECT OF THE CASE. — Article 33 of the Civil Code contemplates a civil action for the recovery of damages that is entirely unrelated to the purely criminal aspect of the case. This is the reason why only a preponderance of evidence and not proof beyond reasonable doubt is deemed sufficient.


D E C I S I O N


MAKALINTAL, J.:


Before us on appeal is the order of the Court of First Instance of Laguna, San Pablo branch, dated January 10, 1950, dismissing the complaint on motion of defendants-appellees. The action is for recovery of damages allegedly sustained as a result of a collision between plaintiff-appellant’s scooter and a bus of appellee Laguna Transportation Company, then driven by its co-appellee Severino Potenciano. Negligence is imputed to the driver, and to the company itself with respect to the choice and supervision of its employees. The allegations tend to make out a case of quasi-delict, or culpa aquiliana, under Articles 2176 and 2180 of the Civil Code.

The complaint was filed September 3, 1957. Defendants answered September 9, with a counterclaim also for damages. On December 10 they filed a supplemental pleading with a prayer for dismissal of the complaint on the ground that in the criminal action against Severino Potenciano for serious physical injuries with damage to property through reckless imprudence, involving the same accident which gave rise to the civil action, the accused was acquitted in the decision rendered the previous November 6 by the Court of First Instance of Laguna, Biñan branch. The San Pablo court then issued the order now under review, holding that since the acquittal of the accused was based on a finding that he did not act recklessly or negligently the judgment in the criminal case is a bar to the civil action. Reliance is placed squarely on Rule 107, which provides, inter alia, that when a criminal action is instituted the civil action for recovery of civil liability arising from the offense charged is impliedly instituted with it, and that the extinction of the penal action does not carry with it extinction of the civil, unless the extinction proceeds from a declaration in a final judgment that the fact from which the civil might arise did not exist.

The issue here presented is not a novel one in this jurisdiction. Bachrach Motor Co. Inc. v. Santiago D. Gamboa G. R. No. L-10296, May 21, 1957; Leoncio Dyogi Et. Al. v. Nicasio Yatco Et. Al., G. R. No. L-9623, Jan. 22, 1957; Maria C. Roa v. Segunda de la Cruz, G.R. No. L-13134, Feb. 13, 1960; Standard-Vacuum Oil Co. v. Anita Tan Et. Al., G.R. No. L-13048, Feb. 27, 1960; Quirino Pacheco v. Agripina Tumanpay Et. Al. G.R. No. L-14500, May 25, 1960; Hermenegildo Calo Et. Al., v. Luis Peggy, G. R. No. L-10756, March 29, 1958. It involves a determination of which law should govern; Rule 107, which states a general rule, or the more specific provisions of Articles 31, 33 and 2177 of the Civil Code, which read as follows:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"ART. 31. When the civil action is based on an obligation not arising from the act or omission complained of as a felony, such civil action may proceed independently of the criminal proceedings and regardless of the result of the latter."cralaw virtua1aw library

"ART. 33. In cases of defamation, fraud, and physical injuries, a civil action for damages, entirely separate and distinct from the criminal action, may be brought by the injured party. Such civil action shall proceed independently of the criminal prosecution, and shall require only a preponderance of evidence.

"ART. 2177. Responsibility for fault or negligence under the preceding article is entirely separate and distinct from the civil liability arising from negligence under the Penal Code. But the plaintiff can not recover damages twice for the same act or omission of the defendant."cralaw virtua1aw library

This Court in Dyogi v. Yatco, supra, stated that Article 33 constitutes a partial amendment of Rule 107. In Calo v. Peggy, supra, substantially the same situation as the one now before us was passed upon by this Court. A minor son of the defendant there, while driving a jeep belonging to the father, bumped and injured plaintiff Romeo Calo. A criminal action for serious physical injuries through reckless imprudence was instituted. While it was pending a civil action to recover damages on the theory of quasi-delict was filed against the father of the accused. After a judgment of acquittal was rendered, where it was intimated that the victim of the accident was the one at fault, the defendant in the civil action moved for its dismissal, alleging that since in the criminal case there was no reservation of the right to file a separate civil action for damages the judgment of acquittal operated to extinguish the civil liability of the defendant based on the same incident. The trial Court granted the motion to dismiss, but on appeal this Court reversed the ruling on the ground that the civil action was entirely independent of the criminal case according to Articles 33 and 2177 of the Civil Code. There can indeed be no other logical conclusion than this, for to subordinate the civil action contemplated in the said articles to the result of the criminal prosecution — whether it be conviction or acquittal — would render meaningless the independent character of the civil action and the clear injunction in Article 31 that this action "may proceed independently of the criminal proceedings and regardless of the result of the latter." To be sure, an exception to this principle of separation and independence of the two classes of actions from each other has been recognized, namely, when the offended party not only fails to reserve the right to file a separate civil action but intervenes actually in the criminal suit by appearing through a private prosecutor for the purpose of recovering indemnity for damages therein, in which case a judgment of acquittal bars a subsequent civil action. Maria Roa v. Segunda de la Cruz Et. Al., supra. The case at bar, however, does not fall under the exception, for the plaintiff here did not so intervene in the criminal action against defendant Potenciano.

Appellees contend that the civil action referred to in Article 33 of the Civil Code is that which arises ex delicto, or from the commission of the offense involving defamation, fraud or physical injuries, and consequently, pursuant to Rule 107, section 1 (a), the right to file it must be expressly reserved in the criminal action if it is to prosper at all. The contention is erroneous. Bachrach Motor Co., Inc. v. Gamboa. It presupposes that there must first be a conviction for the crime, for without conviction there can be no offense to speak of from which civil liability could arise. Article 33 contemplates a civil action for the recovery of damages that is entirely unrelated to the purely criminal aspect of the case. This is the reason why only a preponderance of evidence and not proof beyond reasonable doubt is deemed sufficient.

WHEREFORE, the order appealed from is set aside and the case is remanded to the Court of origin for further proceedings, with costs against defendants-appellees.

Bengzon, C.J., Padilla, Bautista Angelo, Labrador, Concepcion, Barrera, Paredes, Dizon and Regala, JJ., concur.

Reyes, J.B.L., took no part.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






June-1962 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. L-15423 June 22, 1962 - NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SUGARCANE PLANTERS, ET AL. v. COURT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, ET. AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15242 June 29, 1962 - ROSAURO M. TANINGCO, ET AL. v. REGISTER OF DEEDS OF LAGUNA

  • G.R. No. L-15333 June 29, 1962 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. IMAM SAWAH, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15346 June 29, 1962 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ROGELIO FELISARTA

  • G.R. No. L-15566 June 29, 1962 - BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS v. ANGELA M. VDA. DE BUTTE

  • G.R. No. L-16202 June 29, 1962 - ILOILO DOCK & ENGINEERING CO. v. WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-16537 June 29, 1962 - FRANCISCO C. CALO v. DELFIN G. FUERTES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-16581 June 29, 1962 - DAVAO FAR EASTERN COMMERCIAL COMPANY v. ALBERTO C. MONTEMAYOR

  • G.R. No. L-16961 June 29, 1962 - EMILIO SY, ET AL. v. PATRICIO CENIZA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17137 June 29, 1962 - IN RE: MO YUEN TSI v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL.

  • G.R. No. L-17241 June 29, 1962 - LEONARD M. STOLL, ET AL. v. ATANACIO A. MARDO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17495 June 29, 1962 - MADRIGAL SHIPPING CO., INC. v. WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17723 June 29, 1962 - JOSE S. VILLALOBOS v. MANUEL CATALAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17777 June 29, 1962 - MODESTA N. OCA, ET AL. v. DAMIAN L. JIMENEZ, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17806 June 29, 1962 - ALFONSO ZOBEL, ET AL. v. HERMOGENES CONCEPCION, JR., ET AL.

  • G.R. Nos. L-17921-22 June 29, 1962 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. DOMINGO TELAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18027 June 29, 1962 - ALEJANDRO SARMIENTO v. SERAFIN QUEMADO

  • G.R. No. L-18114 June 29, 1962 - JOSE P. VELEZ, ET AL. v. GUSTAVO VICTORIANO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18179 June 29, 1962 - LANDAWI PARASAN BILAAN, ET AL. v. VICENTE N. CUSI, ETC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18339 June 29, 1962 - GODOFREDO NAVERA v. PERFECTO QUICHO, ETC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18585 June 29, 1962 - CESAR DE GUZMAN v. PASTOR L. DE GUZMAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18738 June 29, 1962 - CLAUDIO S. PRIMO v. FIDEL FERNANDEZ, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-19550 June 29, 1962 - HARRY S. STONEHILL, ET AL. v. JOSE W. DIOKNO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14028 June 30, 1962 - NEMESIO AZUCENA v. SEVERINO POTENCIANO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14429 June 30, 1962 - RAMON MERCADO, ET AL. v. PIO D. LIWANAG

  • G.R. No. L-15472 June 30, 1962 - IN RE: K. KATANCIK v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL.

  • G.R. No. L-15537 June 30, 1962 - J. M. TUASON & CO., INC. v. JOSE RAFOR

  • G.R. No. L-15549 June 30, 1962 - IN RE: ONG TE v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL.

  • G.R. No. L-15666 June 30, 1962 - RIO Y COMPANIA v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17045 June 30, 1962 - LEONCIO GARCHITORENA, ET AL. v. ROSA DE LOS SANTOS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17322 June 30, 1962 - IGNACIO SANTIAGO v. EULOGIA CENIZA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17410 June 30, 1962 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. RUPERTO ASI, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17419 June 30, 1962 - MARIA FAMA FLORENTIN v. LAZARO GALERA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17444 June 30, 1962 - MARIA ELLI, ET AL. v. JUAN DITAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17493 June 30, 1962 - ALBERTO E. MALICSI v. ROSALIA A. CARPIZO

  • G.R. No. L-17526 June 30, 1962 - GREGORIO MAGDUSA, ET AL. v. GERUNDIO ALBARAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17573 June 30, 1962 - C. N. HODGES v. CITY OF ILOILO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17624 June 30, 1962 - AQUILINA LARGADO v. LUPO A. MASAGANDA, ETC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17652 June 30, 1962 - IGNACIO GRANDE, ET AL. v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17783 June 30, 1962 - VALDERRAMA LUMBER MANUFACTURERS COMPANY, INC. v. THE ADMINISTRATOR, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17803 June 30, 1962 - EMILIO MENDENILLA v. JOSE MANUEL ONANDIA

  • G.R. No. L-18102 June 30, 1962 - TEODORA LOPERA v. SEVERINO E. VICENTE, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18266 June 30, 1962 - FRANCISCO ROSKA, ET AL. v. MODESTA R. RAMOLETE, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18431 June 30, 1962 - RUFINO ALARCON, ET AL. v. PILAR SANTOS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18457 June 30, 1962 - GUILLERMO VIACRUCIS, ET AL. v. NUMERIANO G. ESTENZO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-18894 June 30, 1962 - ERNESTO TAJANLANGIT v. MANUEL L. CAZEÑAS