PORFIRIO P. CINCO vs. HON. MATEO CANONOY et. Al G.R. No. L-33171.

May 31, 1979] MELENCIO-HERRERA, J p: FACTS: Petitioner fi e! a "o#p aint for t$e re"o%ery of !a#a&e' on a""o(nt of a %e$i"( ar a""i!ent in%o %in& $i' a(to#o)i e an! a *eepney !ri%en )y Ro#eo +i ot an! operate! )y ,a eriana Pepito an! Car o' Pepito. T$en, a "ri#ina "a'e -a' fi e! a&ain't t$e !ri%er fro# t$e 'a#e a""i!ent. At t$e pre-tria of t$e "i%i "a'e "o(n'e for t$e re'pon!ent' #o%e! for t$e '('pen'ion of t$e "i%i a"tion pen!in& !eter#ination of t$e "ri#ina "a'e in%o.in& Se"tion 3/)0, R( e 111 of t$e R( e' of Co(rt. 12/)0After a "ri#ina a"tion $a' )een "o##en"e!, no "i%i a"tion ari'in& fro# t$e 'a#e offen'e "an )e pro'e"(te!, an! t$e 'a#e '$a )e '('pen!e!, in -$ate%er 'ta&e it #ay )e fo(n!, (nti fina *(!&#ent in t$e "ri#ina pro"ee!in& $a' )een ren!ere!34] T$e City Co(rt &rante! t$e #otion an! or!ere! t$e '('pen'ion of t$e "i%i "a'e. Petitioner e e%ate! t$e #atter on "ertiorari to t$e Co(rt of Fir't 5n'tan"e, a e&in& t$at t$e City 6(!&e a"te! -it$ &ra%e a)('e of !i'"retion in '('pen!in& t$e "i%i a"tion for )ein& "ontrary to a- an! *(ri'pr(!en"e. T$e Co(rt of Fir't 5n'tan"e !i'#i''e! t$e petition3 $en"e, t$i' petition to re%ie- on "ertiorari. 5SS78: 9:N t$ere "an )e an in!epen!ent "i%i a"tion for !a#a&e' to property !(rin& t$e pen!en"y of t$e "ri#ina a"tion. +8L;: An a"tion for !a#a&e' )a'e! on Arti" e' <17= an! <1>? of t$e Ne- Ci%i Co!e i' @(a'i-!e i"t(a in "$ara"ter -$i"$ "an )e pro'e"(te! in!epen!ent y of t$e "ri#ina a"tion. 1Art. <177.Re'pon'i)i ity for fa( t or ne& i&en"e (n!er t$e pre"e!in& arti" e i' entire y 'eparate an! !i'tin"t fro# t$e "i%i ia)i ity ari'in& fro# ne& i&en"e (n!er t$e Pena Co!e. A(t t$e p aintiff "annot re"o%er !a#a&e' t-i"e for t$e 'a#e a"t or o#i''ion of t$e !efen!ant]