Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/247512600/phil-National-Railways-v-IAC
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 21:46:19+00:00

Document:
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAYS AND VIRGILIO J. BORJA, PETITIONERS, VS.
COURT OF APPEALS (SECOND DIVISION), CORAZON C. AMORES, MA. EMILIE A.
JINO C. AMORES AND JOHN C. AMORES, RESPONDENTS.
(RTC) of Manila, Branch 28, in Civil Case No. 92-61987.
actual and moral damages, as well as attorneyâ€™s fees.
the dispositive portion of which reads: WHEREFORE. the appellate court found the petitioners negligent.00 for the cost of damage to the car. Borja. judgment is hereby rendered dismissing the complaint of the plaintiffs and the defendantsâ€™ counterclaim. The court based the petitionersâ€™ negligence on the failure of PNR to install a semaphore or at the very least. as follows: WHEREFORE. Lastly. considering that the crossing is located in a thickly populated area. no negligence could be attributed to Amores as he exercised reasonable diligence in crossing the railroad track. The costs shall be halved and paid equally by the parties. The RTC rationalized that the proximate cause of the collision was Amoresâ€™ fatal misjudgment and the reckless course of action he took in crossing the railroad track even after seeing or hearing the oncoming train. Borja are jointly and severally liable to pay plaintiffs the following: 1) The amount of P122. The counsel for the defendants is hereby ordered to inform this court who is the legal representative of the deceased defendant. the RTC rendered judgment in favor of the petitioners. Virgilio Borja. 2) The amount of P50. SO ORDERED. On appeal. Look and Listenâ€ was found insufficient because of its defective condition as described above. For lack of official receipts for funeral expenses and specimen of the last pay slip of the deceased.regulations in crossing the railroad tracks and trying to beat the approaching train. Branch 28 is hereby REVERSED. and. the CA reversed the RTC decision. SO ORDERED. In reversing the trial courtâ€™s decision. 1996. the assailed Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Manila. PNR stressed that it exercised the diligence of a good father of a family in the selection and supervision of the locomotive driver and train engineer.300. and that the latter likewise used extraordinary diligence and caution to avoid the accident. the claim for reimbursement of funeral expenses and claim for payment of support is hereby DENIED for lack of basis. . After trial on the merits. Moreover. on August 22. They admitted that there was no crossing bar at the site of the accident because it was merely a barangay road. Costs against Defendants. within ten (10) days from receipt of a copy of this decision. to post a flagman. the signboard â€œStop.000 as moral damages. Petitioners further asserted that respondents had the last clear chance to avoid the accident but recklessly failed to do so. The defendants PNR and the estate of Virgilio J.
which states that: Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another. Considering that Kahilum II Street is in the middle of a thickly populated squattersâ€™ area. 92-61987. in operating the passenger train. notwithstanding the fact that it is a public street and a main thoroughfare utilized in going to Herran Street. Lastly. and many pedestrians cross the railroad track. The petitioners likewise add that the train was railroad-worthy and that its defective speedometer did not affect the trainâ€™s operation. argue that the cause of the accident was petitionersâ€™ carelessness. The only issue to be resolved in the present case is whether the appellate court was correct in ascribing negligence on the part of the petitioners. It was ascertained beyond quandary that the proximate cause of the collision is the negligence and imprudence of the petitioner PNR and its locomotive driver. Respondents. Another crucial point raised by the respondents is the manner in which Borja applied the brakes of the train only when the locomotive was already very near Amoresâ€™ car. if there was no pre-existing contractual . is obliged to pay for the damage done. IN NOT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE PROVISION OF SECTION 42. the petitioners filed the present petition for review oncertiorari. Such fault or negligence. on the other hand. they insist that evidence showed sufficient warning signs strategically installed at the crossing to alert both motorists and pedestrians. respondents claim that Borjaâ€™s failure to blow the locomotiveâ€™s horn.Aggrieved by this reversal. he must have calculated that he could beat it to the other side of the track before the train would arrive at the intersection. Borja.A. 4136 OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC CODE. as admitted by witness Querimit. the presence of adequate warning signals would have prevented the untimely death of Amores. The petition must fail. there being fault or negligence. R. II THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS IS CONTRARY TO THE EVIDENCE ON RECORD ADDUCED IN THE TRIAL ON THE MERIT IN CIVIL CASE NO. the relevant provision is Article 2176 of the New Civil Code. The petitioners insist that Amores must have heard the trainâ€™s whistle and heeded the warning but. raising the following grounds: I THE COURT OF APPEALS COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN RENDERING ITS DECISION REVERSING THE DECISION OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MANILA BRANCH 28. noting that the train was still a distance away and moving slowly. Finally. imprudence and laxity in failing to provide a crossing bar and keeper at the Kahilum II railway intersection. As the action is predicated on negligence. pursuant to the usual practice of doing the same 100 meters before reaching the Kahilum II crossing point is an earmark of recklessness on the part of the petitioners.
it may be reliably concluded that there is no hard and fast rule whereby such degree of care and vigilance is calibrated. good. and vigilance which the circumstances justly demand. is called quasi-delict and is governed by the provisions of this chapter. sufficient. A reliable signaling device in good condition. or semaphore is evidence of negligence and disregard of the safety of the public. the train still dragged the car some distance away from the point of impact. Article III of R. Brunty. to give notice of the proximity of the railway. It is the responsibility of the railroad company to use reasonable care to keep the signal devices in working order. flagman or switchman. Aside from not having any crossing bar. We hold that the petitioners were negligent when the collision took place. precaution. no flagman or guard to man the intersection at all times was posted on the day of the incident. a sign with large and distinct letters placed thereon. whereby such other person suffers injury.A. Look and Listenâ€ signage because of many years of neglect. 4136. All that the law requires is that it is perpetually compelling upon a person to use that care and diligence expected of sensible men under comparable circumstances.relation between the parties. and erect at such points. Evidence likewise unveils the inadequate precautions taken by petitioner PNR to forewarn the public of the impending danger. The petitioners insist that a train has a right-of-way in a railroad crossing under the existing laws. not just a dilapidated â€œStop. . or signal light. As held in the case of Philippine National Railway v. and safe crossings. Failure to do so would be an indication of negligence. The transcript of stenographic notes reveals that the train was running at a fast speed because notwithstanding the application of the ordinary and emergency brakes. Negligence has been defined as â€œthe failure to observe for the protection of the interests of another person that degree of care. Moreover. the vehicle may be slowed down to five miles per hour instead of bringing it to a full stop. because public safety demands that said device or equipment be installed. We have thoroughly reviewed the records of the case and we find no cogent reason to reverse the appellate courtâ€™s decision. every corporation constructing or operating a railway shall make and construct at all points where such railway crosses any public road. even if there is no law or ordinance requiring it. it may broadly be stated that railroad companies owe to the public a duty of exercising a reasonable degree of care to avoid injury to persons and property at railroad crossings. The failure of the PNR to put a cross bar. it is dependent upon the circumstances in which a person finds himself. which duties pertain both to the operation of trains and to the maintenance of the crossings. and warn persons of the necessity of looking out for trains. which states that: The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall bring to a full stop such vehicle before traversing any â€œthrough highwayâ€ or railroad crossing: Provided. otherwise known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. That when it is apparent that no hazard exists.â€ Using the aforementioned philosophy. They claim that motorists are enjoined by law to stop. look and listen before crossing railroad tracks and that a heavier responsibility rests upon the motorists in avoiding accidents at level crossings. is needed to give notice to the public. at sufficient elevation from such road as to admit a free passage of vehicles of every kind. They derive their theory from Section 42 (d).
R. it can be inferred that Amores exercised all the necessary precautions required of him as to avoid injury to himself and to others. Article 2180 of the New Civil Code discusses the liability of the employer once negligence or fault on the part of the employee has been established. with absolute care and caution. rollo. 1994. 6. We will now discuss the liability of petitioner PNR. Austria-Martinez. The Decision of the Court of Appeals dated March 31. Regino. we are convinced that Amores did everything. 10. at 41. The employer is actually liable on the assumption of juris tantum that the employer failed to exercisediligentissimi patris families in the selection and supervision of its employees. concurring. Under these circumstances. Ynares-Santiago. . rollo. Gualberto. with Associate Justices Buenaventura J. Besides. It is settled that every person or motorist crossing a railroad track should use ordinary prudence and alertness to determine the proximity of a train before attempting to cross.  Rollo.  TSN. In view of the foregoing. a factual matter that has not been demonstrated. pp. Del Castillo. to post a flagman or watchman to warn the public of the passing train amounts to negligence. March 4. the petition is DENIED.It is true that one driving an automobile must use his faculties of seeing and hearing when nearing a railroad crossing.  Id. (Chairperson). WHEREFORE.concur. the authority in this jurisdiction is that the failure of a railroad company to install a semaphore or at the very least.. p. and Reyes. The witnessesâ€™ testimonies showed that Amores slackened his speed. CV No. to avoid the collision. We are persuaded that the circumstances were beyond the control of Amores for no person would sacrifice his precious life if he had the slightest opportunity to evade the catastrophe. However. Chico-Nazario. pp. 54906 is hereby AFFIRMED. the obligation to bring to a full stop vehicles moving in public highways before traversing any â€œthrough streetâ€ only accrues from the time the said â€œthrough streetâ€ or crossing is so designated and sign-posted. SO ORDERED. Even the existence of hiring procedures and supervisory employees cannot be incidentally invoked to overturn the presumption of negligence on the part of the employer. From the records of the case. 2003 in CA-G.  Penned by Associate Justice Teodoro P. 37-43. Guerrero and Mariano C. pp. 37.  Penned by Judge Eudoxia T. JJ. made a full stop. and then proceeded to cross the tracks when he saw that there was no impending danger to his life. 44-58. The liability is primary and can only be negated by showing due diligence in the selection and supervision of the employee.
R.. 758 (1934). 2180. National Railways v.  Id. 1994. 31 May 1979.  Id. 1-5. 362. 1995. at 42. 169891. PO F. Intermediate Appellate Court. even though the former are not engaged in any business or industry. p. The owners and managers of an establishment or enterprise are likewise responsible for damages caused by their employees in the service of the branches in which the latter are employed or on the occasion of their functions.  Records. 58.  Phil. 22 January 1993.2d 439. Manila Railroad Company. 137 Phil. The obligation imposed by Article 2176 is demandable not only for oneâ€™s own acts or omissions. pp. 23. TSN. 416. in case of his death or incapacity. 40. pp. March 4. 2006. 271 SCRA 401.  Id.  Cusi v. at 14-17. July 3. but also for those of persons for whom one is responsible. G.  G. the mother. p. Employers shall be liable for the damages caused by their employees and household helpers acting within the scope of their assigned tasks.Jur. 101.  TSN.  Art. November 2. . The father and. 506 SCRA 685. 107. at 4. 90 SCRA 357. Philippine National Railways.  Id. No. p.  Corliss v. Guardians are liable for damages caused by the minors or incapacitated persons who are under their authority and live in their company. at 15. 59 Phil. L-29889.  Rollo.R. 699 citing 37 Am. 70547. are responsible for the damages caused by the minor children who live in their company. No.  Rollo. citing Lilius v.  Id. The Manila Railroad Company. No. 17-18.
but not when the damage has been caused by the official to whom the task done properly pertains.The State is responsible in like manner when it acts through a special agent. Navidad. 434-435. v. 111127. 82. ID: a45475a11ec72b843d74959b60fd7bd6476103a3022f4 . Court of Appeals.Campo v. 26 July 1996. No. G. E-Library Doc.R. 233 SCRA 521 (1993). 100 Phil 459 (1956). in which case what is provided in Article 2176 shall be applicable. Court of Appeals. 6 February 2003. 145804. Lastly. Jr. citing Metro Manila Transit Corp. G. so ling as they remain in their custody. 259 SCRA 426. No. v. The responsibility treated of in this article shall cease when the persons herein mentioned prove that they observed all the diligence of a good father of a family to prevent damage. teachers or heads of establishments of arts and trades shall be liable for damages caused by their pupils and students or apprentices.  Fabre.  Light Rail Transit Authority v.R. 397 SCRA 75. Camarote.

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