Civil Law Review II

G.R No. 147437

Date: May 08, 2009
CAMINOS Jr. v. PEOPLE
Plaintiff: Larry Camino !r.
"##$e%: Peo&le of t'e P'ili&&ine
Facts:
(n !$ne 21, 1988, at a)o$t 7:4*PM, t+o ,e'i#le #olli%e% at t'e intere#tion of (rti-a ",en$e an% Col$m)ia .treet in Man%al$yon-. "
/ol0+a-en 1armann G'ia %ri,en )y "rnol% Liton2$a 3"rnol%4 +a t$rnin- left at t'e intere#tion of (rti-a an% Col$m)ia +'en t'e ,e'i#le of
&etitioner Camino 3em&loye% a a #om&any %ri,er )y 5ort$ne 6o)a##o 7n#.4, a M$ti)i'i .$&er .aloon $%%enly ramme% t'e former8 ,e'i#le.
"rnol% imme%iately #alle% t'e attention of Patrolman .anto, +'o +a at t'e &oli#e o$t&ot in front of t'e P'ili&&ine (,erea 9m&loyment
"%minitration 3P(9"4 :$il%in-. ;e interro-ate% t'e &artie an% ma%e a 0et#' of t'e re$ltin- #ene< &etitioner8 ,e'i#le +a a)le to 0ee& it
moment$m an% %ire#tion +'ile "rnol%8 #ar +a lo%-e% at t'e o$ter lane of (rti-a ",en$e. "rnol% re#o$nte% t'at t'e for#e of t'e #ra' #a$e%
'i ,e'i#le to t$rn 180= $ntil it to&&e%. 6'e 0et#' +a i-ne% )y )ot' of t'e &artie.
" 6raffi# "##i%ent 7n#i%ent Re&ort 36"7R4 re,eale% t'at "rnol%8 #ar, +'i#' 'a% no >ri-'t of +ay?, +a t$rnin- left +'ile &etitioner8 #ar +a >-oin-
trai-'t? an% +a >e@#ee%in- t'e la+f$l &ee%?. 7t +a alo fo$n% t'at t'e ,iion of t'e %ri,er +a o)tr$#te% )y t'e flo+er )e% at t'e #enter
ilan% an% t'at t'e roa% +a +et.
Petitioner +a #'ar-e% +it' Re#0le 7m&r$%en#e re$ltin- in Dama-e to Pro&erty. ;e entere% a >not -$ilty &lea?.
Arnolds story Petitioners story
"rnol% tetifie t'at 'i ,e'i#le +a at f$ll to& at t'e intere#tion
+'en t'e in#i%ent 'a&&ene%. ;e 'o+e% t'at 'i #ar 'a not yet
in,a%e% t'at &ortion of t'e roa% )eyon% t'e me%ian line of t'e ilan%
an% t'at t'e &etitioner8 ,e'i#le #ame +er,in- from t'e o$ter lane of
t'e roa% to t'e left to+ar% "rnol%8 ,e'i#le.
"rnol%8 fat'er tetifie% t'at etimation re&ort 'o+ t'at re&air #ot
+o$l% amo$nt to almot P1401.
Petitioner #laim t'at it i "rnol%8 fa$lt t'at t'e #olliion 'a&&ene%. ;e
re#o$nt t'at 'e +a tra,erin- (rti-a ",en$e on e#on% -ear an%
+a -oin- at aro$n% 2*<30 0&'. ;e +a mo,in- lo+ly )e#a$e 'e
2$t &ae% anot'er to&li-'t. ;e tetifie% t'at it +a "rnol%8 #ar +'o
)$m&e% into 'i.
6'e trial #o$rt r$le% in fa,or of "rnol% an% #on,i#te% &etitioner. 7t alo or%ere% t'e &etitioner to &ay t'e amo$nt ne#eary to re&air "rnol%8
,e'i#le. 7t fo$n% t'at t'e tetimony of "rnol% +a more #onitent +it' t'e &'yi#al e,i%en#e a +ell a t'e 0et#' an% 6"7R. C" affirme% t'e
%e#iion of t'e trial #o$rt )$t mo%ifie% t'e %ama-e a+ar%e% to "rnol%. 6'e a&&ellate #o$rt ai% t'at "rnol% +a re#0le a 'e ne-le#te% to loo0
o$t )efore enterin- t'e lane. ;i #ontri)$tory ne-li-en#e +arrante% miti-ation of t'e #i,il &enalty.
Isse: A'et'er or not C" erre% in affirmin- R6C %e#iion fin%in- &etitioner -$ilty for re#0le im&r$%en#eB N(
!eld: Petition i D9N79D.
Rationale:
Evidence showed that petitioner was speeding when the incident occurred. Speeding is indicative of imprudent behavior.
Re#0le im&r$%en#e -enerally %efine% )y o$r &enal la+ #onit in ,ol$ntarily )$t +it'o$t mali#e, %oin- or failin- to %o an a#t from +'i#'
material %ama-e re$lt )y reaon of ine@#$a)le la#0 of &re#a$tion on t'e &art of t'e &eron &erformin- or failin- to &erform $#' a#t, ta0in-
into #oni%eration 'i em&loyment or o##$&ation, %e-ree of intelli-en#e, &'yi#al #on%ition an% ot'er #ir#$mtan#e re-ar%in- &eron, time an%
&la#e. 7m&r$%en#e #onnote a %efi#ien#y of a#tion. 7t im&lie a fail$re in &re#a$tion or a fail$re to ta0e t'e ne#eary &re#a$tion on#e t'e %an-er
or &eril )e#ome foreeen.
7n &roe#$tion for re#0le im&r$%en#e re$ltin- in %ama-e to &ro&erty, +'et'er or not one of t'e %ri,er of t'e #olli%in- a$tomo)ile i -$ilty of
t'e offene i a C$etion t'at lie in t'e manner an% #ir#$mtan#e of t'e o&eration of t'e motor ,e'i#le, an% a fin%in- of -$ilt )eyon%
reaona)le %o$)t reC$ire t'e #on#$rren#e of t'e follo+in- element, namely:
3a4 t'at t'e offen%er 'a %one or faile% to %o an a#tD
3)4 t'at t'e a#t i ,ol$ntaryD
3#4 t'at t'e ame i +it'o$t mali#eD
3%4 t'at material %ama-e re$ltD an%
3e4 t'at t'ere 'a )een ine@#$a)le la#0 of &re#a$tion on t'e &art of t'e offen%er.
"i%e from t'e entry in t'e 6"7R, +'i#' note% &etitioner8 &ee% to )e )eyon% +'at i la+f$l, t'e &'yi#al e,i%en#e on re#or% li0e+ie eem to
ne-ate &etitioner8 #ontention. 6'e &'oto-ra&' ta0en of "rnol%8 #ar #learly 'o+ t'at t'e e@tent of t'e %ama-e. 6'e fa#t t'at t'e 'oo% of
"rnol%8 #ar +a ,iolently +ren#'e% a +ell a t'e fa#t t'at on im&a#t t'e #ar e,en t$rne% aro$n% 180 %e-ree an% +a '$rle% e,eral feet a+ay
from t'e 2$n#tion to t'e o$ter lane of (rti-a ",en$eE+'en in fa#t "rnol% 'a% alrea%y eta)li'e% 'i t$rn to t'e left on t'e inner lane an% into
t'e o&&oite laneE#learly %emontrate t'at t'e for#e of t'e #olliion 'a% )een #reate% )y a &ee% +ay )eyon% +'at &etitioner8 etimation.
.&ee%in-, i in%i#ati,e of im&r$%ent )e'a,ior )e#a$e a motorit i )o$n% to e@er#ie $#' or%inary #are an% %ri,e at a reaona)le rate of
&ee% #ommen$rate +it' t'e #on%ition en#o$ntere% on t'e roa%. (r%inary or reaona)le #are in t'e o&eration of a motor ,e'i#le at an
intere#tion +o$l% nat$rally reC$ire more &re#a$tion t'an i ne#eary +'en %ri,in- ele+'ere in a treet or 'i-'+ay.

A'ere t'e ,ie+ at an
intere#tion i o)tr$#te% an% an a&&roa#'in- motorit #annot -et a -oo% ,ie+ to t'e ri-'t or left $ntil 'e i #loe to t'e intere#tion, &r$%en#e
+o$l% %i#tate t'at 'e ta0e &arti#$lar #are to o)er,e t'e traffi# )efore enterin- t'e intere#tion or ot'er+ie $e reaona)le #are to a,oi% a
!oem :aloro 34"4 "rt. 11F1 Ci,il ()li-ation ariin- from Criminal (ffene
Civil Law Review II
#olliion, +'i#' mean t'at 'e i )o$n% i to mo,e +it' t'e $tmot #a$tion $ntil it i %etermina)le t'at 'e #an &ro#ee% afely an% at t'e lo+et
&ee% &oi)le

o t'at t'e ,e'i#le #o$l% )e to&&e% +it'in t'e %itan#e t'e %ri,er #an ee a'ea%.
Right of way NOT determined by who first approached the intersection. It is determined by the imminence of collision when distance and speed
of vehicles are considered.
7n traffi# la+ &arlan#e, t'e term Gri-'t of +ayG i $n%ertoo% a t'e ri-'t of one ,e'i#le to &ro#ee% in a la+f$l manner in &referen#e to anot'er
a&&roa#'in- ,e'i#le $n%er $#' #ir#$mtan#e of %ire#tion, &ee% an% &ro@imity a to -i,e rie to a %an-er of #olliion $nle one of t'e
,e'i#le -rant &re#e%en#e to t'e ot'er.

"lt'o$-' t'ere i a$t'ority to t'e effe#t t'at t'e ri-'t of +ay i merely of tat$tory #reation an% e@it
only a##or%in- to e@&re tat$tory &ro,iion, it i -enerally re#o-niHe%, +'ere no tat$te or or%inan#e -o,ern t'e matter, t'at t'e ,e'i#le firt
enterin- an intere#tion i entitle% to t'e ri-'t of +ay, an% it )e#ome t'e %$ty of t'e ot'er ,e'i#le li0e+ie a&&roa#'in- t'e intere#tion to
&ro#ee% +it' $ffi#ient #are to &ermit t'e e@er#ie of $#' ri-'t +it'o$t %an-er of #olliion.

7n o$r ettin-, t'e ri-'t of +ay r$le i -o,erne% )y .e#tion 42 of Re&$)li# "#t 3R.".4 No. 413F,

+'i#' materially &ro,i%e:
.e#tion 42. Ri-'t of Aay.
3a4 A'en t+o ,e'i#le a&&roa#' or enter an intere#tion at a&&ro@imately t'e ame time, t'e %ri,er of t'e ,e'i#le on t'e
left 'all yiel% t'e ri-'t of +ay to t'e ,e'i#le on t'e ri-'t, e@#e&t a ot'er+ie 'ereinafter &ro,i%e%. 6'e %ri,er of any
,e'i#le tra,elin- at an $nla+f$l &ee% 'all forfeit any ri-'t +'i#' 'e mi-'t ot'er+ie 'a,e 'ere$n%er.
3)4 6'e %ri,er of a ,e'i#le a&&roa#'in- )$t not 'a,in- entere% an intere#tion 'all yiel% t'e ri-'t of a +ay to a ,e'i#le
+it'in $#' intere#tion or t$rnin- t'erein to t'e left a#ro t'e line of tra,el of $#' firt<mentione% ,e'i#le, &ro,i%e%
t'e %ri,er of t'e ,e'i#le t$rnin- left 'a -i,en a &lainly ,ii)le i-nal of intention to t$rn a reC$ire% in t'i "#t. @ @ @.
6'e &ro,iion -o,ern t'e it$ation +'en t+o ,e'i#le a&&roa#' t'e intere#tion from t'e ame %ire#tion an% one of t'em inten% ma0e a t$rn
on eit'er i%e of t'e roa%. Ne,ert'ele, t'e ri-'t of +ay a##or%e% to ,e'i#le a&&roa#'in- an intere#tion i not a)ol$te in term. 7t i a#t$ally
$)2e#t to an% i affe#te% )y t'e relati,e %itan#e of t'e ,e'i#le from t'e &oint of intere#tion. A'et'er t+o ,e'i#le are a&&roa#'in- t'e
intere#tion at t'e ame time %oe not ne#earily %e&en% on +'i#' of t'e ,e'i#le enter t'e intere#tion firt. Rat'er, it i %etermine% )y t'e
imminen#e of #olliion +'en t'e relati,e %itan#e an% &ee% of t'e t+o ,e'i#le are #oni%ere%. 7t i ai% t'at t+o ,e'i#le are a&&roa#'in-
t'e intere#tion at a&&ro@imately t'e ame time +'ere it +o$l% a&&ear to a reaona)le &eron of or%inary &r$%en#e in t'e &oition of t'e %ri,er
a&&roa#'in- from t'e left of anot'er ,e'i#le t'at if t'e t+o ,e'i#le #ontin$e% on t'eir #o$re at t'eir &ee%, a #olliion +o$l% li0ely o##$r,
'en#e, t'e %ri,er of t'e ,e'i#le a&&roa#'in- from t'e left m$t -i,e t'e ri-'t of &re#e%en#e to t'e %ri,er of t'e ,e'i#le on 'i ri-'t.
Negligence of the person injured does not constitute a defense.
7n a &roe#$tion for re#0le or %an-ero$ %ri,in-, t'e ne-li-en#e of t'e &eron +'o +a in2$re% or +'o +a t'e %ri,er of t'e motor ,e'i#le +it'
+'i#' t'e a##$e%8 ,e'i#le #olli%e% %oe not #ontit$te a %efene. 7n fa#t, e,en +'ere $#' %ri,er i ai% to )e -$ilty of a li0e offene, &roof
t'ereof may ne,er +or0 fa,or to t'e #ae of t'e a##$e%. 7n ot'er +or%, &roof t'at t'e offen%e% &arty +a alo ne-li-ent or im&r$%ent in t'e
o&eration of 'i a$tomo)ile )ear little +ei-'t, if at all, at leat for &$r&oe of eta)li'in- t'e a##$e%8 #$l&a)ility )eyon% reaona)le %o$)t.
;en#e, e,en if +e are to 'y&ot'eiHe t'at "rnol% +a li0e+ie ne-li-ent in ne-le#tin- to 0ee& a &ro&er loo0o$t a 'e too0 a left t$rn at t'e
intere#tion, $#' ne-li-en#e, #ontrary to &etitioner8 #ontention, +ill ne,ert'ele not $&&ort an a#C$ittal. "t )et, it +ill only %etermine t'e
a&&li#a)ility of e,eral ot'er r$le -o,ernin- it$ation +'ere #on#$rrin- ne-li-en#e e@it an% only for t'e &$r&oe of arri,in- at a &ro&er
aement of t'e a+ar% of %ama-e in fa,or of t'e &ri,ate offen%e% &arty.
7t m$t )e nee%lely em&'aiHe% t'at t'e mea$re of a motorit8 %$ty i $#' #are a i, $n%er t'e fa#t an% #ir#$mtan#e of t'e &arti#$lar
#ae, #ommen$rate +it' t'e %an-er +'i#' are to )e anti#i&ate% an% t'e in2$rie +'i#' are li0ely to re$lt from t'e $e of t'e ,e'i#le, an% in
&ro&ortion to or #ommen$rate +it' t'e &e#$liar ri0 atten%ant on t'e #ir#$mtan#e an% #on%ition in t'e &arti#$lar #ae,

t'e %ri,er )ein- $n%er
t'e %$ty to 0no+ an% to ta0e into #oni%eration t'oe #ir#$mtan#e an% fa#tor affe#tin- t'e afe o&eration of t'e ,e'i#le +'i#' +o$l% )e o&en
to or%inary o)er,ation.
etitioner did not present evidence which would disprove the damages sustained by vehicle.
(n t'e i$e of %ama-e, inam$#' a &etitioner 'a% not e@ten%e% effort to &reent #o$nter,ailin- e,i%en#e %i&ro,in- t'e e@tent an% #ot of
t'e %ama-e $taine% )y "rnol%8 #ar, t'e a+ar% aee% an% or%ere% )y t'e trial #o$rt m$t tan%.
Art. ""#". Ci,il o)li-ation ariin- from #riminal offene 'all )e -o,erne% )y t'e &enal la+, $)2e#t to t'e &ro,iion of "rti#le 2177, an% of
t'e &ertinent &ro,iion of C'a&ter 2, Preliminary 6itle, on ;$man Relation, an% of 6itle I/777 of t'i :oo0, re-$latin- %ama-e. 31092a4
!oem :aloro 34"4 "rt. 11F1 Ci,il ()li-ation ariin- from Criminal (ffene