Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Baguio City

FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 161909, April 25, 2012
PHILTRANCO SERVICE ENTERPRISES, INC., Petitioner,
vs.
FELIX PARAS AND INLAND TRAILWAYS, INC., AND HON. COURT OF APPEALS, Respondents.

DECISION
BERSAMIN, J.:
In an action for breach of contract of carriage commenced by a passenger against his common carrier, the plaintiff can
recover damages from a third-party defendant brought into the suit by the common carrier upon a claim based on tort or
quasi-delict. The liability of the third-party defendant is independent from the liability of the common carrier to the
passenger.
Philtranco Service Enterprises, Inc. (Philtranco) appeals the affirmance with modifications by the Court of Appeals (CA)
of the decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) awarding moral, actual and temperate damages, as well as attorney’s
fees and costs of suit, to respondent Felix Paras (Paras), and temperate damages to respondent Inland Trailways, Inc.
(Inland), respectively the plaintiff and the defendant/third-party plaintiff in this action for breach of contract of carriage,
upon a finding that the negligence of the petitioner and its driver had caused the serious physical injuries Paras sustained
and the material damage Inland’s bus suffered in a vehicular accident.
Antecedents
The antecedent facts, as summarized by the CA, are as follows:
Plaintiff-appellant [respondent] Felix Paras (Paras for brevity), who hails from Cainta, Rizal is engaged in the buy and sell
of fish products. Sometime on 08 February 1987, on his way home to Manila from Bicol Region, he boarded a bus with
Body No. 101 and Plate No. EVE 508, owned and operated by Inland Trailways, Inc. (Inland for brevity) and driven by its
driver Calvin Coner (Coner for brevity).
At approximately 3:50 o’clock in the morning of 09 February 1987, while the said bus was travelling along Maharlika
Highway, Tiaong, Quezon, it was bumped at the rear by another bus with Plate No. EVB 259, owned and operated by
Philtranco Service Enterprises, Inc. (Philtranco for brevity). As a result of the strong and violent impact, the Inland bus
was pushed forward and smashed into a cargo truck parked along the outer right portion of the highway and the shoulder
thereof. Consequently, the said accident bought considerable damage to the vehicles involved and caused physical injuries
to the passengers and crew of the two buses, including the death of Coner who was the driver of the Inland Bus at the time
of the incident.
Paras was not spared from the pernicious effects of the accident. After an emergency treatment at the San Pablo Medical
Center, San Pablo City, Laguna, Paras was taken to the National Orthopedic Hospital. At the latter hospital, he was found
and diagnosed by Dr. Antonio Tanchuling, Jr. to be affected with the following injuries: a) contusion/hematoma; b)
dislocation of hip upon fracture of the fibula on the right leg; c) fractured small bone on the right leg; and d) close fracture
on the tibial plateau of the left leg. (Exh. "A", p. 157, record)
On 04 March 1987 and 15 April 1987, Paras underwent two (2) operations affecting the fractured portions of his body.
(Exhs. "A-2" and "A-3", pp. 159 and 160 respectively, record)
Unable to obtain sufficient financial assistance from Inland for the costs of his operations, hospitalization, doctors’ fees
and other miscellaneous expenses, on 31 July 1989, Paras filed a complaint for damages based on breach of contract of
carriage against Inland.
In its answer, defendant Inland denied responsibility, by alleging, among others, that its driver Coner had observed an
utmost and extraordinary care and diligence to ensure the safety of its passengers. In support of its disclaimer of
responsibility, Inland invoked the Police Investigation Report which established the fact that the Philtranco bus driver of
[sic] Apolinar Miralles was the one which violently bumped the rear portion of the Inland bus, and therefore, the direct
and proximate cause of Paras’ injuries.
On 02 March 1990, upon leave of court, Inland filed a third-party complaint against Philtranco and Apolinar Miralles
(Third Party defendants). In this third-party complaint, Inland, sought for exoneration of its liabilities to Paras, asserting
that the latter’s cause of action should be directed against Philtranco considering that the accident was caused by Miralles’
lack of care, negligence and reckless imprudence. (pp. 50 to 56, records).
After trial, the RTC (Branch 71) in Antipolo, Rizal rendered its judgment on July 18, 1997, viz:
WHEREFORE, third-party defendant Philtranco and Apolinar Miralles are hereby ordered to pay plaintiff jointly and
severally, the following amounts:
1.₱54,000.00 as actual damages;
2.₱50,000.00 as moral damages;
3.₱20,000.00 as attorney’s fees and costs.
SO ORDERED.
All the parties appealed to the CA on different grounds.
On his part, Paras ascribed the following errors to the RTC, to wit:
 I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN HOLDING THAT ONLY THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
PHILTRANCO IS LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGES SUFFERED BY APPELLANT PARAS.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT HOLDING APPELLANT INLAND TRAILWAYS INC. TO BE
JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGES SUFFERED BY PARAS.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT AWARDING UNEARNED INCOME AS ADDITIONAL ACTUAL
DAMAGES SUFFERED BY APPELLANT PARAS AS HIS PHYSICAL DISABILITY IS PERMANENT IN
NATURE.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT AWARDING EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN FAVOR OF
APPELLANT PARAS.
On the other hand, Inland assigned the following errors to the RTC, namely:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO AWARD DAMAGES UNTO THE THIRD PARTY PLAINTIFF
NOTWITHSTANDING CLEAR FINDING THAT:
‘It is clear from the evidence that the plaintiff sustained injuries because of the reckless, negligence, and lack of
precaution of third party defendant Apolinar Miralles, an employee of Philtranco.’
AND, COMPLETELY DISREGARDED THE UNCONTROVERTED ORAL AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCES
ESTABLISHING THE EXTENT AND DEGREE OF DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY THE THIRD PARTY PLAINTIFF.
Lastly, Philtranco stated that the RTC erred thuswise:
I
THE COURT A QUO MISERABLY ERRED IN AWARDING ACTUAL DAMAGES GREATER THAN WHAT
WAS ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT ITSELF, AND EVEN MUCH MORE GREATER THAN WHAT WERE
PROVED DURING THE TRIAL, HENCE, PERPETUATING UNJUST ENRICHMENT.
II
THE COURT A QUO SERIOUSLY ERRED IN AWARDING MORAL DAMAGES TO A CAUSE OF ACTION
OF CULPA-CONTRACTUAL EVEN WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OF GROSS BAD FAITH; HENCE,
CONTRARY TO THE ESTABLISHED DOCTRINE IN THE CASES OF PHIL. RABBIT BUS LINES VS.
ESGUERRA; SOBERANO VS. BENGUET AUTO LINE AND FLORES VS. MIRANDA.
III
THE COURT A QUO MISERABLY ERRED IN HOLDING THAT MIRALLES WAS THE ONE AT FAULT
MERELY ON THE STRENGHT OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATOR WHICH IS IN
TURN BASED ON THE STATEMENTS OF ALLEGED WITNESSES WHO WERE NEVER PRESENTED ON
THE WITNESS STAND.
IV
THE COURT A QUO COMMITTED A GRIEVOUS ERROR IN DISREGARDING THE TESTIMONY OF
APPELLANTS’ WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED AS TO THE DEFENSE OF EXERCISE OF DUE DILIGENCE
IN THE SELECTION AND SUPERVISION OF EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO ART. 2180, LAST
PARAGRAPH, NEW CIVIL CODE.
On September 25, 2002, the CA promulgated its decision, disposing:
WHEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the assailed decision dated 18 July 19(9)7 is perforce affirmed
with the following modifications:
Third party defendants-appellants Philtranco and Apolinar Miralles are ordered to pay plaintiff-appellant Felix Paras
jointly and severally the following amounts:
a) ₱1,397.95 as actual damages;
b) ₱50,000.00 as temperate damages;
c) ₱50,000.00 as moral damages; and
d) ₱20,000.00 as attorney’s fees and costs of suit.
On the third party plaintiff-appellant Inland’s claims, the third party defendant-appellants Philtranco and Apolinar Miralles
are hereby ordered to pay the former (Inland) jointly and severally the amount of ₱250,000.00 as and by way of temperate
damages.
SO ORDERED.
The CA agreed with the RTC’s finding that no trace of negligence at the time of the accident was attributable to Inland’s
driver, rendering Inland not guilty of breach of contract of carriage; that faulty brakes had caused Philtranco’s bus to
forcefully bump Inland’s bus from behind, making it hit the rear portion of a parked cargo truck; that the impact had
resulted in considerable material damage to the three vehicles; and that Paras and others had sustained various physical
injuries.
Accordingly, the CA:– (a) sustained the award of moral damages of ₱50,000.00 in favor of Paras pursuant to Article 2219
of the Civil Code based on quasi-delict committed by Philtranco and its driver; (b) reduced the actual damages to be paid
by Philtranco to Paras from ₱54,000.00 to ₱1,397.95 because only the latter amount had been duly supported by receipts;
(c) granted temperate damages of ₱50,000.00 (in lieu of actual damages in view of the absence of competent proof of
actual damages for his hospitalization and therapy) to be paid by Philtranco to Paras; and (d) awarded temperate damages
of ₱250,000.00 under the same premise to be paid by Philtranco to Inland for the material damage caused to Inland’s bus.
Philtranco moved for reconsideration, but the CA denied its motion for reconsideration on January 21, 2004.
Issues
Hence, this appeal, in which the petitioner submits that the CA committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of
jurisdiction in awarding moral damages to Paras despite the fact that the complaint had been anchored on breach of
contract of carriage; and that the CA committed a reversible error in substituting its own judgment by motu proprio
awarding temperate damages of ₱250,000.00 to Inland and ₱50,000.00 to Paras despite the clear fact that temperate
damages were not raised on appeal by Paras and Inland.
Ruling
The appeal lacks merit.
The Court does not disturb the unanimous findings by the CA and the RTC on the negligence of Philtranco and its driver
being the direct cause of the physical injuries of Paras and the material damage of Inland.
Nonetheless, we feel bound to pass upon the disparate results the CA and the RTC reached on the liabilities of Philtranco
and its driver.

1.

Paras can recover moral damages in this suit based on quasi-delict

Philtranco contends that Paras could not recover moral damages because his suit was based on breach of contract of
carriage, pursuant to which moral damages could be recovered only if he had died, or if the common carrier had been
guilty of fraud or bad faith. It argues that Paras had suffered only physical injuries; that he had not adduced evidence of
fraud or bad faith on the part of the common carrier; and that, consequently, Paras could not recover moral damages
directly from it (Philtranco), considering that it was only being subrogated for Inland.
The Court cannot uphold the petitioner’s contention.
As a general rule, indeed, moral damages are not recoverable in an action predicated on a breach of contract. This is
because such action is not included in Article 2219 of the Civil Code as one of the actions in which moral damages may
be recovered. By way of exception, moral damages are recoverable in an action predicated on a breach of contract: (a)
where the mishap results in the death of a passenger, as provided in Article 1764, in relation to Article 2206, (3), of the
Civil Code; and (b) where the common carrier has been guilty of fraud or bad faith, as provided in Article 2220 of the
Civil Code.
Although this action does not fall under either of the exceptions, the award of moral damages to Paras was nonetheless
proper and valid. There is no question that Inland filed its third-party complaint against Philtranco and its driver in order
to establish in this action that they, instead of Inland, should be directly liable to Paras for the physical injuries he had
sustained because of their negligence. To be precise, Philtranco and its driver were brought into the action on the theory of
liability that the proximate cause of the collision between Inland’s bus and Philtranco’s bus had been "the negligent,
reckless and imprudent manner defendant Apolinar Miralles drove and operated his driven unit, the Philtranco Bus with
Plate No. 259, owned and operated by third-party defendant Philtranco Service Enterprises, Inc." The apparent objective
of Inland was not to merely subrogate the third-party defendants for itself, as Philtranco appears to suggest, but, rather, to
obtain a different relief whereby the third-party defendants would be held directly, fully and solely liable to Paras and
Inland for whatever damages each had suffered from the negligence committed by Philtranco and its driver. In other
words, Philtranco and its driver were charged here as joint tortfeasors who would be jointly and severally be liable to
Paras and Inland.
Impleading Philtranco and its driver through the third-party complaint filed on March 2, 1990 was correct. The device of
the third-party action, also known as impleader, was in accord with Section 12, Rule 6 of the Revised Rules of Court, the
rule then applicable, viz:
Section 12. Third-party complaint. – A third-party complaint is a claim that a defending party may, with leave of
court, file against a person not a party to the action, called the third-party defendant, for contribution, indemnity,
subrogation or any other relief, in respect of his opponent’s claim.
Explaining the application of Section 12, Rule 6, supra, the Court said in Balbastro v. Court of Appeals, to wit:
Section 12 of Rule 6 of the Revised Rules of Court authorizes a defendant to bring into a lawsuit any person "not
a party to the action . . . for contribution, indemnity, subrogation or any other relief in respect of his opponent's
claim." From its explicit language it does not compel the defendant to bring the third-parties into the litigation,
rather it simply permits the inclusion of anyone who meets the standard set forth in the rule. The secondary or
derivative liability of the third-party is central — whether the basis is indemnity, subrogation, contribution,
express or implied warranty or some other theory. The impleader of new parties under this rule is proper only
when a right to relief exists under the applicable substantive law. This rule is merely a procedural mechanism, and
cannot be utilized unless there is some substantive basis under applicable law.
Apart from the requirement that the third-party complainant should assert a derivative or secondary claim for relief from
the third-party defendant there are other limitations on said party’s ability to implead. The rule requires that the third-party
defendant is "not a party to the action" for otherwise the proper procedure for asserting a claim against one who is already
a party to the suit is by means of counterclaim or cross-claim under sections 6 and 7 of Rule 6. In addition to the
aforecited requirement, the claim against the third-party defendant must be based upon plaintiff's claim against the
original defendant (third-party claimant). The crucial characteristic of a claim under section 12 of Rule 6, is that the
original "defendant is attempting to transfer to the third-party defendant the liability asserted against him by the original
plaintiff."
Accordingly, the requisites for a third-party action are, firstly, that the party to be impleaded must not yet be a party to the
action; secondly, that the claim against the third-party defendant must belong to the original defendant; thirdly, the claim
of the original defendant against the third-party defendant must be based upon the plaintiff’s claim against the original
defendant; and, fourthly, the defendant is attempting to transfer to the third-party defendant the liability asserted against
him by the original plaintiff.
As the foregoing indicates, the claim that the third-party complaint asserts against the third-party defendant must be
predicated on substantive law. Here, the substantive law on which the right of Inland to seek such other relief through its
third-party complaint rested were Article 2176 and Article 2180 of the Civil Code, which read:
Article 2176. Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another, there being fault or negligence, is obliged to pay for
the damage done. Such fault or negligence, if there is no pre-existing contractual relation between the parties, is called a
quasi-delict and is governed by the provisions of this chapter. (1902a)
Article 2180. The obligation imposed by article 2176 is demandable not only for one’s own acts or omissions, but also for
those of persons for whom one is responsible.
xxx
Employers shall be liable for the damages caused by their employees and household helpers acting within the
scope of their assigned tasks, even though the former are not engaged in any business or industry.
xxx
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. (1903a)
Paras’ cause of action against Inland (breach of contract of carriage) did not need to be the same as the cause of action of
Inland against Philtranco and its driver (tort or quasi-delict) in the impleader. It is settled that a defendant in a contract
action may join as third-party defendants those who may be liable to him in tort for the plaintiff’s claim against him, or
even directly to the plaintiff. Indeed, Prof. Wright, et al., commenting on the provision of the Federal Rules of Procedure
of the United States from which Section 12, supra, was derived, observed so, to wit:
The third-party claim need not be based on the same theory as the main claim. For example, there are cases in
which the third-party claim is based on an express indemnity contract and the original complaint is framed in
terms of negligence. Similarly, there need not be any legal relationship between the third-party defendant and any
of the other parties to the action. Impleader also is proper even though the third party’s liability is contingent, and
technically does not come into existence until the original defendant’s liability has been established. In addition,
the words ‘is or may be liable’ in Rule 14(a) make it clear that impleader is proper even though the third-party
defendant’s liability is not automatically established once the third-party plaintiff’s liability to the original plaintiff
has been determined.
Nor was it a pre-requisite for attachment of the liability to Philtranco and its driver that Inland be first declared and found
liable to Paras for the breach of its contract of carriage with him. As the Court has cogently discoursed in Samala v. Judge
Victor:
Appellants argue that since plaintiffs filed a complaint for damages against the defendants on a breach of contract of
carriage, they cannot recover from the third-party defendants on a cause of action based on quasi-delict. The third party
defendants, they allege, are never parties liable with respect to plaintiff s claim although they are with respect to the
defendants for indemnification, subrogation, contribution or other reliefs. Consequently, they are not directly liable to the
plaintiffs. Their liability commences only when the defendants are adjudged liable and not when they are absolved from
liability as in the case at bar.
Quite apparent from these arguments is the misconception entertained by appellants with respect to the nature and office
of a third party complaint.
Section 16, Rule 6 of the Revised Rules of Court defines a third party complaint as a "claim that a defending party may,
with leave of court, file against a person not a party to the action, called the third-party defendant, for contribution,
indemnification, subrogation, or any other relief, in respect of his opponent’s claim." In the case of Viluan vs. Court of
Appeals, et al., 16 SCRA 742 [1966], this Court had occasion to elucidate on the subjects covered by this Rule, thus:
… As explained in the Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. vs. U.S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 52 F. Supp. 177 (1943:)
‘From the sources of Rule 14 and the decisions herein cited, it is clear that this rule, like the admiralty rule,
‘covers two distinct subjects, the addition of parties defendant to the main cause of action, and the bringing in of a
third party for a defendant’s remedy over’.
xxx
‘If the third party complaint alleges facts showing a third party’s direct liability to plaintiff on the claim set out in
plaintiff’s petition, then third party ‘shall’ make his defenses as provided in Rule 12 and his counterclaims against
plaintiff as provided in Rule 13. In the case of alleged direct liability, no amendment (to the complaint) is
necessary or required. The subject-matter of the claim is contained in plaintiff's complaint, the ground of third
party’s liability on that claim is alleged in third party complaint, and third party’s defense to set up in his answer
to plaintiff's complaint. At that point and without amendment, the plaintiff and third party are at issue as to their
rights respecting the claim.
The provision in the rule that, ‘The third-party defendant may assert any defense which the third-party plaintiff
may assert to the plaintiffs claim,’ applies to the other subject, namely, the alleged liability of third party
defendant. The next sentence in the rule, ‘The third-party defendant is bound by the adjudication of the third party
plaintiffs liability to the plaintiff, as well as of his own to the plaintiff or to the third-party plaintiff applies to both
subjects. If third party is brought in as liable only to defendant and judgment is rendered adjudicating plaintiff's
right to recover against defendant and defendant’s rights to recover against third party, he is bound by both
adjudications.That part of the sentence refers to the second subject. If third party is brought in as liable to plaintiff,
then third party is bound by the adjudication as between him and plaintiff. That refers to the first subject. If third
 party is brought in as liable to plaintiff and also over to defendant, then third party is bound by both adjudications.
xxx
Under this Rule, a person not a party to an action may be impleaded by the defendant either (a) on an allegation of
liability to the latter; (b) on the ground of direct liability to the plaintiff-; or, (c) both (a) and (b). The situation in (a) is
covered by the phrase "for contribution, indemnity or subrogation;" while (b) and (c) are subsumed under the catch all "or
any other relief, in respect of his opponent’s claim."
The case at bar is one in which the third party defendants are brought into the action as directly liable to the plaintiffs
upon the allegation that "the primary and immediate cause as shown by the police investigation of said vehicular collision
between (sic) the above-mentioned three vehicles was the recklessness and negligence and lack of imprudence (sic) of the
third-party defendant Virgilio (should be Leonardo) Esguerra y Ledesma then driver of the passenger bus." The effects are
that "plaintiff and third party are at issue as to their rights respecting the claim" and "the third party is bound by the
adjudication as between him and plaintiff." It is not indispensable in the premises that the defendant be first adjudged
liable to plaintiff before the third-party defendant may be held liable to the plaintiff, as precisely, the theory of defendant
is that it is the third party defendant, and not he, who is directly liable to plaintiff. The situation contemplated by
appellants would properly pertain to situation (a) above wherein the third party defendant is being sued for contribution,
indemnity or subrogation, or simply stated, for a defendant's "remedy over".
It is worth adding that allowing the recovery of damages by Paras based on quasi-delict, despite his complaint being upon
contractual breach, served the judicial policy of avoiding multiplicity of suits and circuity of actions by disposing of the
entire subject matter in a single litigation.

2.

Award of temperate damages was in order

Philtranco assails the award of temperate damages by the CA considering that, firstly, Paras and Inland had not raised the
matter in the trial court and in their respective appeals; secondly, the CA could not substitute the temperate damages
granted to Paras if Paras could not properly establish his actual damages despite evidence of his actual expenses being
easily available to him; and, thirdly, the CA gravely abused its discretion in granting motu proprio the temperate damages
of ₱250,000.00 to Inland although Inland had not claimed temperate damages in its pleading or during trial and even on
appeal.
The Court cannot side with Philtranco.
Actual damages, to be recoverable, must not only be capable of proof, but must actually be proved with a reasonable
degree of certainty. The reason is that the court "cannot simply rely on speculation, conjecture or guesswork in
determining the fact and amount of damages," but "there must be competent proof of the actual amount of loss, credence
can be given only to claims which are duly supported by receipts."
The receipts formally submitted and offered by Paras were limited to the costs of medicines purchased on various times in
the period from February 1987 to July 1989 (Exhibits E to E-35, inclusive) totaling only ₱1,397.95. The receipts by no
means included hospital and medical expenses, or the costs of at least two surgeries as well as rehabilitative therapy.
Consequently, the CA fixed actual damages only at that small sum of ₱1,397.95. On its part, Inland offered no definite
proof on the repairs done on its vehicle, or the extent of the material damage except the testimony of its witness,
Emerlinda Maravilla, to the effect that the bus had been damaged beyond economic repair. The CA rejected Inland’s
showing of unrealized income worth ₱3,945,858.50 for 30 months (based on alleged average weekly income of
₱239,143.02 multiplied by its guaranteed revenue amounting to 55% thereof, then spread over a period of 30 months, the
equivalent to the remaining 40% of the vehicle’s un-depreciated or net book value), finding such showing arbitrary,
uncertain and speculative. As a result, the CA allowed no compensation to Inland for unrealized income.
Nonetheless, the CA was convinced that Paras should not suffer from the lack of definite proof of his actual expenses for
the surgeries and rehabilitative therapy; and that Inland should not be deprived of recourse to recover its loss of the
economic value of its damaged vehicle. As the records indicated, Paras was first rushed for emergency treatment to the
San Pablo Medical Center in San Pablo City, Laguna, and was later brought to the National Orthopedic Hospital in
Quezon City where he was diagnosed to have suffered a dislocated hip, fracture of the fibula on the right leg, fracture of
the small bone of the right leg, and closed fracture on the tibial plateau of the left leg. He underwent surgeries on March 4,
1987 and April 15, 1987 to repair the fractures. Thus, the CA awarded to him temperate damages of ₱50,000.00 in the
absence of definite proof of his actual expenses towards that end. As to Inland, Maravilla’s testimony of the bus having
been damaged beyond economic repair showed a definitely substantial pecuniary loss, for which the CA fixed temperate
damages of ₱250,000.00. We cannot disturb the CA’s determination, for we are in no position today to judge its
reasonableness on account of the lapse of a long time from when the accident occurred .
In awarding temperate damages in lieu of actual damages, the CA did not err, because Paras and Inland were definitely
shown to have sustained substantial pecuniary losses. It would really be a travesty of justice were the CA now to be held
bereft of the discretion to calculate moderate or temperate damages, and thereby leave Paras and Inland without redress
from the wrongful act of Philtranco and its driver. We are satisfied that the CA exerted effort and practiced great care to
ensure that the causal link between the physical injuries of Paras and the material loss of Inland, on the one hand, and the
negligence of Philtranco and its driver, on the other hand, existed in fact. It also rejected arbitrary or speculative proof of
loss. Clearly, the costs of Paras’ surgeries and consequential rehabilitation, as well as the fact that repairing Inland’s
vehicle would no longer be economical justly warranted the CA to calculate temperate damages of ₱50,000.00 and
₱250,000.00 respectively for Paras and Inland.
There is no question that Article 2224 of the Civil Code expressly authorizes the courts to award temperate damages
despite the lack of certain proof of actual damages, to wit:
Article 2224. Temperate or moderate damages, which are more than nominal but less than compensatory damages, may be
recovered when the court finds that some pecuniary loss has been suffered but its amount cannot, from the nature of the
case, be proved with certainty.
The rationale for Article 2224 has been stated in Premiere Development Bank v. Court of Appeals in the following
manner:
Even if not recoverable as compensatory damages, Panacor may still be awarded damages in the concept of temperate or
moderate damages. When the court finds that some pecuniary loss has been suffered but the amount cannot, from the
nature of the case, be proved with certainty, temperate damages may be recovered. Temperate damages may be allowed in
cases where from the nature of the case, definite proof of pecuniary loss cannot be adduced, although the court is
convinced that the aggrieved party suffered some pecuniary loss.
The Code Commission, in explaining the concept of temperate damages under Article 2224, makes the following
comment:
In some States of the American Union, temperate damages are allowed. There are cases where from the nature of the case,
definite proof of pecuniary loss cannot be offered, although the court is convinced that there has been such loss. For
instance, injury to one’s commercial credit or to the goodwill of a business firm is often hard to show with certainty in
terms of money. Should damages be denied for that reason? The judge should be empowered to calculate moderate
damages in such cases, rather than that the plaintiff should suffer, without redress from the defendant’s wrongful act.

3.

Paras’ loss of earning capacity must be compensated

In the body of its decision, the CA concluded that considering that Paras had a minimum monthly income of ₱8,000.00 as
a trader he was entitled to recover compensation for unearned income during the 3-month period of his hospital
confinement and the 6-month period of his recovery and rehabilitation; and aggregated his unearned income for those
periods to ₱72,000.00. Yet, the CA omitted the unearned income from the dispositive portion.
The omission should be rectified, for there was credible proof of Paras’ loss of income during his disability. According to
Article 2205, (1), of the Civil Code, damages may be recovered for loss or impairment of earning capacity in cases of
temporary or permanent personal injury. Indeed, indemnification for damages comprehends not only the loss suffered
(actual damages or damnum emergens) but also the claimant’s lost profits (compensatory damages or lucrum cessans).
Even so, the formula that has gained acceptance over time has limited recovery to net earning capacity; hence, the entire
amount of ₱72,000.00 is not allowable. The premise is obviously that net earning capacity is the person’s capacity to
acquire money, less the necessary expense for his own living. To simplify the determination, therefore, the net earning
capacity of Paras during the 9-month period of his confinement, surgeries and consequential therapy is pegged at only half
of his unearned monthly gross income of ₱8,000.00 as a trader, or a total of ₱36,000.00 for the 9-month period, the other
half being treated as the necessary expense for his own living in that period.
It is relevant to clarify that awarding the temperate damages (for the substantial pecuniary losses corresponding to Paras’s
surgeries and rehabilitation and for the irreparability of Inland’s damaged bus) and the actual damages to compensate lost
earnings and costs of medicines give rise to no incompatibility. These damages cover distinct pecuniary losses suffered by
Paras and Inland, and do not infringe the statutory prohibition against recovering damages twice for the same act or
omission.

4.

Increase in award of attorney’s fees

Although it is a sound policy not to set a premium on the right to litigate, we consider the grant to Paras and Inland of
reasonable attorney’s fees warranted. Their entitlement to attorney’s fees was by virtue of their having been compelled to
litigate or to incur expenses to protect their interests, as well as by virtue of the Court now further deeming attorney’s fees
to be just and equitable.
In view of the lapse of a long time in the prosecution of the claim, the Court considers it reasonable and proper to grant
attorney’s fees to each of Paras and Inland equivalent to 10% of the total amounts hereby awarded to them, in lieu of only
₱20,000.00 for that purpose granted to Paras.

5.

Legal interest on the amounts awarded

Pursuant to Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. v. Court of Appeals , legal interest at the rate of 6% per annum accrues on the
amounts adjudged reckoned from July 18, 1997, the date when the RTC rendered its judgment; and legal interest at the
rate of 12% per annum shall be imposed from the finality of the judgment until its full satisfaction, the interim period
being regarded as the equivalent of a forbearance of credit.
WHEREFORE, the Court AFFIRMS WITH MODIFICATION the decision of the Court of Appeals promulgated on
September 25, 2002, by ordering PHILTRANCO SERVICE ENTERPRISES, INC. and APOLINAR MIRALLES to pay,
jointly and severally, as follows:
1. To Felix Paras:
(a) ₱1,397.95, as reimbursement for the costs of medicines purchased between February 1987 and July 1989;
(b) ₱50,000.00 as temperate damages;
(c) ₱50,000.00 as moral damages;
(d) ₱36,000.00 for lost earnings;
 (e) 10% of the total of items (a) to (d) hereof as attorney’s fees; and
(f) Interest of 6% per annum from July 18, 1997 on the total of items (a) to (d) hereof until finality of this
decision, and 12% per annum thereafter until full payment.
2. To Inland Trailways, Inc.:
(a) ₱250,000.00 as temperate damages;
(b) 10% of item (a) hereof; and
(c) Interest of 6% per annum on item (a) hereof from July 18, 1997 until finality of this decision, and 12% per
annum thereafter until full payment.
3. The petitioner shall pay the costs of suit.
SO ORDERED.
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
RENATO C. CORONA Chief Justice Chairperson
TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO Associate Justice
MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO Associate Justice
MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR. Associate Justice
C E R TI F I CAT I O N
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been
reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
RENATO C. CORONA Chief Justice