THIRD DIVISION
August 2, 2017
G.R. No. 185597
JOHN E.R. REYES and MERWIN JOSEPH REYES, Petitioners,
vs.
ORICO DOCTOLERO, ROMEO A VILA, GRANDEUR SECURITY AND SERVICES CORPORATION, and MAKATI CINEMA SQUARE, Respondents.
D E C I S I O N
JARDELEZA, J.:
This is a petition for review on certiorari 1 under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court challenging the Decision2 dated July 25, 2008 and the Resolution3 dated December 5, 2008 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 88101.
The case arose from an altercation between respondent Orico Doctolero (Doctolero ), a security guard of respondent Grandeur Security and Services Corporation (Grandeur) and petitioners John E.R. Reyes (John) and Mervin Joseph Reyes (Mervin) in the parking area of respondent Makati Cinema Square (MCS).4
Grandeur advances a different version, one based on the Initial Report6 conducted by Investigator Cosme Giron. While Doctolero was on duty at the ramp of the exit driveway of MCS's basement parking, John took over the left lane and insisted entry through the basement parking's exit driveway. Knowing that this is against traffic rules, Doctolero stopped John, prompting the latter to alight from his vehicle and confront Doctolero. With his wife unable to pacify him, John punched and kicked Doctolero, hitting the latter on his left face and stomach. Doctolero tried to step back to avoid his aggressor but John persisted, causing Doctolero to draw his service firearm and fire a warning shot. John ignored this and continued his attack.
He caught up with Doctolero and wrestled with him to get the firearm. This caused the gun to fire off and hit John's leg. Mervin then ran after Doctolero but was shot on the stomach by security guard Avila. 7
Petitioners filed with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati a complaint for damages against respondents Doctolero and Avila and their employer Grandeur, charging the latter with negligence in the selection and supervision of its employees. They likewise impleaded MCS on the ground that it was negligent in getting Grandeur's services. In their complaint, petitioners prayed that respondents be ordered, jointly and severally, to pay them actual, moral, and exemplary damages, attorney's fees and litigation 8 costs.
Respondents Doctolero and Avila failed to file an answer despite service of summons upon them. Thus, they were declared in default in an Order dated December 12, 1997.9
For its part, Grandeur asserted that it exercised the required diligence in the selection and supervision of its employees. It likewise averred that the shooting incident was caused by the unlawful aggression of petitioners who took advantage of their "martial arts" skills. 10
On the other hand, MCS contends that it cannot be held liable for damages simply because of its ownership of the premises where the shooting incident occurred. It argued that the injuries sustained by petitioners were caused by the acts of respondents Doctolero and Avila, for whom respondent Grandeur should be solely responsible. It further argued that the carpark was, at that time, being managed by Park Asia Philippines and MCS had no control over the carpark when the shooting incident occurred on January 26, 1996. It likewise denied liability for the items lost in petitioners' vehicle. 11
On January 18, 1999, the RTC rendered judgment 12 against respondents Doctolero and Avila, finding them responsible for the injuries sustained by petitioners. The RTC ordered them to jointly and severally pay petitioners the following: ₱344,898.73 as actual damages; ₱360,000.00 as lost income; ₱20,000.00 as school expenses; ₱300,000.00 as moral damages; ₱100,000.00 as exemplary damages; ₱75,000.00 as attorney's fees; and costs of suit. 13 The trial thereafter continued with respect to Grandeur and MCS.
On April 15, 2005, the RTC rendered a decision dismissing the complaint against MCS. It, however, held Grandeur solidarily liable with respondents Doctolero and Avila. According to the RTC, Grandeur was unable to prove that it exercised the diligence of a good father of a family in the supervision of its employees because it failed to prove strict implementation of its rules, regulations, guidelines, issuances and instructions, and to monitor consistent compliance by respondents. 14
On September 19, 2005, upon Grandeur's motion for reconsideration, the RTC issued an Order modifying its April 15, 2005 Decision, to wit:
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Motion for Reconsideration is hereby GRANTED, and the decision dated 15 April 2005 is hereby modified, as follows:
The Court renders judgment in favor of plaintiffs finding defendants Orico Doctolero and [Romeo] Avila liable for negligence and to pay plaintiffs, the following amounts:
1. [P]344,898. 73 as actual damages;
2. [P]360,000.00 as the reasonable lost (sic) or income and P20,000.00 in the form or tuition fees, books, and other school incidental expenses;
3. [P]300,000 as moral damages;
4. [P] 100,000.00 as exemplary damages;
5. [P]75,000.00 as attorney's fees;
6. costs of suit.
The Court, however, orders the DISMISSAL of the complaint filed against defendants Grandeur Security and Services Corporation and [MCS].1âwphi1 It is likewise ordered the Dismissal or both the Counterclaims filed by defendants Grandeur Security and Services Corp., and [MCS] for the right to litigate is the price we pay in a civil society.
SO ORDERED. 15 (Emphasis in the original.)
In reconsidering its Decision, the RTC held that it re-evaluated the facts and the attending circumstances of the present case and was convinced that Grandeur has sufficiently overcome the presumption of negligence. It gave credence to the testimony of Grandeur's witness, Eduardo Ungui, the head of the Human Resources Department (HRD) of Grandeur, as regards the various procedures in its selection from and hiring of security guards. Ungui testified that Grandeur's hiring procedure included, among others, several rounds of interview, submission of various clearances from different government agencies, such as the NBI clearance and PNP clearance, undergoing neuro-psychiatric examinations, drug testing and physical examinations, attending pre-licensing training and seminars, securing a security license, and undergoing on the job training for seven days. 16
Furthermore, the RTC held that Grandeur was able to show that it observed diligence of a good father of the family during the existence of the employment when it conducted regular and close supervision of its security guards assigned to various clients. In this regard, the RTC cited Grandeur's standard operational procedures, as testified to by Ungui, which include: (1) daily marking before the security guards are posted; (2) post-to-post station conducted by the branch supervisor and vice-supervisor; (3) round the clock inspection by the company inspector to determine the efficiency and fulfilment by the security guards of their respective duties; (4) a monthly area formation conducted by the operation officer; (5) a quarterly area formation conducted by the operation officer; (6) a general formation conducted every six months by the president, vice-president, operation officer and HRD head; (7) a yearly neuro-psychiatric test; (8) a special seminar conducted every two years; (9) re-training course also held every two years; and (10) monthly briefing or orientation to those security guards who committed violations. 17 The RTC likewise gave weight to the memorandum/certificates submitted by Grandeur as proof of its diligence in the supervision of the actual work performances of its employees. 18
Petitioners assailed the RTC Order dated September 19, 2005 before the CA.
The CA dismissed petitioners' appeal and affirmed the RTC's Order. It agreed that Grandeur was able to prove with preponderant evidence that it observed the degree of diligence required in both selection and supervision of its security guards. 19
The CA likewise rejected petitioners' arguments against the additional evidence belatedly adduced by Grandeur in support of its motion for reconsideration before the RTC. It ruled that the additional memoranda and certificate of attendance to seminars which Grandeur attached to its motion for reconsideration can be considered as they are related to the testimonial evidence adduced during trial. 20
Finally, the CA rejected petitioners' argument that MCS should be held liable as indirect employers of respondents. According to the CA, the concept of indirect employer only relates to the liability for unpaid wages and, as such, finds no application to this case involving "imputed negligence" under Article 2180 of the Civil Code. It held that the lack of employer-employee relationship between respondents Doctolero and Avila and respondent MCS bars petitioners' claim against MCS for the former's acts. [[21]
Petitioners filed a motion for reconsideration which the CA denied in its Resolution dated December 5, 2008.22
Hence, the present petition.
The sole issue for the consideration of this Court is whether Grandeur and MCS may be held vicariously liable for the damages caused by respondents Doctolero and Avila to petitioners John and Mervin Reyes.
We deny the petition.
Petitioner contends that MCS should be held liable for the negligence of respondents Avila and Doctolero. According to petitioners, since the act or omission complained of took place in the vicinity of MCS, it is liable for all damages which are the natural and probable consequences of the act or omission complained of. They reasoned that MCS hired the services of Grandeur, whose employees (the security guards), in turn, committed harmful acts that caused the damages suffered by petitioners. MCS should thus be declared as joint tortfeasor with Grandeur and respondent security guards. 23
We cannot agree. MCS is not liable to petitioners.
As a general rule, one is only responsible for his own act or omission. 24 This general rule is laid down in Article 2176 of the Civil Code, which provides:
Art. 2176. Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another, there being fault or negligence, is obliged to pay for the damage clone. 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 or this Chapter.
The law, however, provides for exceptions when it makes certain persons liable for the act or omission of another.1âwphi1 One exception is an employer who is made vicariously liable for the tort committed by his employee under paragraph 5 of Article 2180.25 Here, although the employer is not the actual tortfeasor, the law makes him vicariously liable on the basis of the civil law principle of paterfamilias for failure to exercise due care and vigilance over the acts of one's subordinates to prevent damage to another.26
It must be stressed, however, that the above rule is applicable only if there is an employer-employee relationship. 27 This employer-employee relationship cannot be presumed but must be sufficiently proven by the plaintiff.28 The plaintiff must also show that the employee was acting within the scope of his assigned task when the tort complained of was committed. It is only then that the defendant, as employer, may find it necessary to interpose the defense of due diligence in the selection and supervision of 29 employees.
In Mamaril v. The Boy Scout of the Philippines,30 we found that there was no employer-employee relationship between Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) and the security guards assigned to it by an agency pursuant to a Guard Service Contract. In the absence of such relationship, vicarious liability under Article 2180 of the Civil Code cannot apply as against BSP. 31 Similarly, we find no employer-employee relationship between MCS and respondent guards. The guards were merely assigned by Grandeur to secure MCS' premises pursuant to their Contract of Guard Services. Thus, MCS cannot be held vicariously liable for damages caused by these guards' acts or omissions.
Neither can it be said that a principal-agency relationship existed between MCS and Grandeur. Section 8 of the Contract for Guard Services between them explicitly states:
8. LIABILITY TO GUARDS AND THIRD PARTIES
The SECURITY COMPANY is NOT an agent or employees (sic) of the CLIENT and the guards to be assigned by the SECURITY COMP ANY to the CLIENT are in no sense employees of the latter as they arc for all intents and purposes under contract with the SECURITY COMPANY. Accordingly, the CLIENT shall not be responsible for any and all claims for personal injury or death that arises of or in the course of the performance of guard duties. 32 (Emphasis in the original.)
II
On the other hand, paragraph 5 of Article 218033 of the Civil Code may be applicable to Grandeur, it being undisputed that respondent guards were its employees. When the employee causes damage due to his own negligence while performing his own duties, there arises the Juris tantum presumption that the employer is negligent, rebuttable only by proof of observance of the diligence of a good father of a family. 34 The "diligence of a good father" referred to in the last paragraph of Article 2180 means diligence in the selection and supervision of employees. 35
To rebut the presumption of negligence, Grandeur must prove two things: first, that it had exercised due diligence in the selection of respondents Doctolero and Avila, and second, that after hiring Doctolero and Avila, Grandeur had exercised due diligence in supervising them.
In Metro Manila Transit Corporation v. Court of Appeals, we held:
On the matter of selection of employees, Campo vs. Camarote, supra, lays down this admonition:
x x x In order that the owner of a vehicle may be considered as having exercised all diligence of a good father of a family, he should not have been satisfied with the mere possession of a professional driver's license; he should have carefully examined the applicant for employment as to his qualifications, his experience and record of service. These steps appellant failed to observe; he has therefore, failed to exercise all due diligence required of a good father of a family in the choice or selection of driver.
Due diligence in the supervision of employees, on the other hand, includes the formulation of suitable rules and regulations for the guidance of employees and the issuance of proper instructions intended for the protection of the public and persons with whom the employer has relations through his or its employees and the imposition of necessary disciplinary measures upon employees in case of breach or as may be warranted to ensure the performance of acts indispensable to the business of and beneficial to their employer. To this, we add that actual implementation and monitoring of consistent compliance with said rules should be the constant concern of the employer, acting through dependable supervisors who should regularly report on their supervisory functions. 36 (Emphasis supplied; citations omitted.)
In the earlier case of Central Taxicab Corp. v. Ex-Meralco Employees Transportation Co.,37 the Court held that there was no hard-and-fast rule on the quantum of evidence needed to prove due observance of all the diligence of a good father of a family as would constitute a valid defense to the legal presumption of negligence on the part of an employer or master whose employee has, by his negligence, caused damage to another. Jurisprudence nevertheless shows that testimonial evidence, without more, is insufficient to meet the required quantum of proof.38
In Metro Manila Transit Corporation v. Court of Appeals, the Court found that "[p]etitioner's attempt to prove its diligentissimi patris familias in the selection and supervision of employees through oral evidence must fail as it was unable to buttress the same with any other evidence, object or documentary, which might obviate the apparent biased nature of the testimony."39 There, the supposed clearances, results of seminars and tests which Leonardo allegedly submitted and complied with were never presented in court despite the fact that, if true, then they were obviously in the possession and control of Metro Manila Transit Corporation (MMTC). Subsequently, in a different case also involving MMTC, the Court held that "in a trial involving the issue of vicarious liability, employers must submit concrete proof, including documentary evidence." 40
A
Here, both the R TC and the CA found that Grandeur was able to sufficiently prove, through testimonial and documentary evidence, that it had exercised the diligence of a good father of a family in the selection and hiring of its security guards. As testified to by its HRD head Ungui, and corroborated by documentary evidence including clearances from various government agencies, certificates, and favorable test results in medical and psychiatric examinations, Grandeur's selection and hiring procedure was outlined as follows:
1. Initial screening;
2. Submission of personal bio-data;
3. Submission of the following documents and clearances: (1) NBI Clearance; (2) PDICE Clearance; (3) Barangay Clearance; (4) PNP Clearance; (5) Birth Certificate; (6) High School Diploma/Transcript/College Diploma; (7) Reserved Officers Training Corps or Citizens Army Training ce1iificate; (8) Court Clearances; and (9) resignation or clearance from previous employment;
4. Pre-licensing training (15 days or 150 hours) for those without experience or pre-training course (56 hours) for applicants with working experience as security guard;
5. Undergo neuro-psychiatric examination, drug testing and physical examination;
6. Submit and secure a security license before being given an application form;
7. Series of Interviews by Grandeur's Recruiting Officer, Personnel Clerk, Head of Human Resources Department, Operation Department or Security Officer, Senior Security Officer, Chief Security Officer, Assistant Vice President for Operations, Assistant Vice President for Accounting, and recommending approval by the Vice President and the President.
8. The applicant undergoes on-the-job training (OJT) for seven days assigned in the field or within Grandeur's office; and
9. The applicant then undergoes a probationary period of six months after which the employee automatically becomes regular upon meeting the company standards. 41
Unlike in the aforecited MMTC cases, the evidence presented by Grandeur consists not only in the testimony of its HRD head but also by documentary evidence showing respondents Doctolero's and Avila's compliance with the above hiring and selection process consisting of their respective: (1) private security licenses; 42 (2) NBI Clearances;43 (3) Medical Certificates; 44 (4) Police Clearances; 45 (5) Certificate of Live Birth46/Certification issued by the Local Civil Registrar appertaining to date of birth; 47 (6) Certificates issued by the Safety Vocational and Training Center for satisfactory completion of the Pre-Licensing Training Course;48 (7) High School Diplomas;49 (8) SSS Personal Data Records;50 (9) Barangay Clearances;51 (10) Court Clearance; 52 (11) Neuro-psychiatric result issued by Goodwill Medical Center, Inc. for Doctolero's pre-employment screening as Security Guard 53 /Evaluation Report by Office Chief Surgeon Army, Headquarters, Phil. Army, Fort Bonifacio Metro-Manila for Avila showing an above-average result and no psychotic ideations;54 (12) Certification from Varsitarian Security and Investigation Agency, Inc. that Doctolero has been employed with said agency; 55 (13) Ce1iificate issued by Cordova High School showing that Doctolero had completed the requirements of the courts of Institution in Citizen Army Training-I ; 56 (14) Certification by Grandeur that Doctolero has submitted the requirements for his application for the post of Security Guard. 57 Thus, we agree with the RTC and CA's evaluation that Grandeur was able to satisfactorily prove that it had exercised due diligence in the selection of respondents Doctolero and Avila.
Once evidence is introduced showing that the employer exercised the required amount of care in selecting its employees, half of the employer's burden is overcome.58
B
The question of diligent supervision, however, depends on the circumstances of employment.1âwphi1 Ordinarily, evidence demonstrating that the employer has exercised diligent supervision of its employee during the performance of the latter's assigned tasks would be enough to relieve him of the liability imposed by Article 2180 in relation to Article 2176 of the Civil Code 59
Here, Grandeur's HRD head, Ungui, likewise testified on Grandeur's standard operational procedures, showing the means by which Grandeur conducts close and regular supervision over the security guards assigned to their various clients. 60 Grandeur also submitted as evidence certificates of the 62 attendance to various seminars and the memoranda both those commending respondents for their good works63 and reprimanding them for violations of various company policies.64 We agree with the CA that these may be considered, as they are related to the documents and testimonies adduced during trial to show Grandeur's diligence in the supervision of the actual work performance of its employees.
Considering all the evidence borne by the records, we find that Grandeur has sufficiently exercised the diligence of a good father of a family in the selection and supervision of its employees. Hence, having successfully overcome the legal presumption of negligence, it is relieved of liability from the negligent acts of its employees, respondents Doctolero and Avila.
WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED. The Decision dated July 25, 2008 and the Resolution dated December 5, 2008 of the Court of Appeals are AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED.
FRANCIS H. JARDELEZA,
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.
Associate Justice
Chairperson
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Associate Justice |
NOEL GIMENEZ TIJAM
Associate Justice |
ANDRES B. REYES, JR.
Associate Justice
A T T E S T A T I O N
I attest 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.
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.
Associate Justice
Chairperson, Third Division
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
Pursuant to the Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, 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.
MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO
Chief Justice
Footnotes
1 Rollo, pp. 10-32.
2 Id at 112-123; penned by Associate Justice Hakim S. Abdulwahib and concurred in by Associate Justices Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Myrna Dimaranan Vidal.
3 Id at 137-138
4 Id. at 112.
5 Id at 112-113.
6 Records, Exh. "28."
7 Rollo, pp. 113-114
8 Id. al 114.
9 Id al 114-115.
10 Id at 114.
11 Id. at 115.
12 CA rollo, pp. 63-86
13 Rollo, p. 118.
14 Id. at 117-118.
15 Id at 79-80.
16 Id. at 76-77.
17 Id. at 78-79; TSN, January 18. 2002. pp. 15-26.
18 Rollo, p.79.
19 Id. at 122
20 Id.
21 Rollo, pp. 122-123
22 Id. at 137-138.
23 Id. at 273-274.
24 Filcar Transport Services v. Espinas, GR. No. 174156, June 20, 2012, 674 SCRA 117, 127.
25 CIVIL CODE, Art. 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.
The father and, in case or his death or incapacity, the mother, are responsible for the damages caused by the minor children who live in their company.
Guardians are liable for damages caused by the minors or incapacitated persons who are under their authority and live in their company.
The owners and managers of an establishment or enterprise are likewise responsible for damages caused by their employees in the service or the branches in which the latter are employed or on the occasion or their functions.
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 arc not engaged in any business or industry.
The State is responsible in like manner when it acts through a special agent; but not when the damage has been caused by the official to whom the task clone properly pertains, in which case what is provided in Article 2176 shall be applicable.
Lastly, teachers or heads or establishments or arts and trades shall be liable for damages caused by their pupils and students or apprentices, so long as they remain in their custody.
The responsibility treated of in this article shall cease when the persons herein mentioned prove that they observed all the diligence or a good father or a family to prevent damage. (Emphasis supplied.)
26 Filcar Transport Services v. Espinas, supra at 128.
27 Metro Manila Transit Corp. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 104408, June 21, 1993, 223 SCRA 521.539; Martin v. Court of Appeals, GR. No. 82248. January 30, 1992, 205 SCRA 591, 594-595.
28 Martin v. Court of Appeals, supra at 594-596.
29 Metro Manila Transit Corp. v. Court of Appeals, supra at 539.
30 G.R. No. 179382, January 14, 2013, 688 SCRA 437.
31 Id. at 447-448. In Mamaril, the Court also reiterated its statement in Soliman, Jr: v. Tuazon, G.R. No, 66207, May 18, 1992, 209 SCRA 47, 51-52, where we held: "x x x where the security agency, as here, recruits, hires and assigns the work of its watchmen or security guards, the agency is the employer of such guards and watchmen. Liability for illegal or harmful acts committed by the security guards attaches to the employer agency, and not to the clients or customers of such agency. xxx"
32 Records, Exit "32," p.3.
33 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.
34 Metro Manila Transit Corp. v. Court of Appeals, supra at 539
35 Yambao v. Zuñiga, GR. No 146173, December 11, 2003, 418 SCRA 266, 273: Barredo v. Carcia, 73 Phil. 607 (1942).
36 Metro Manila Transit Corp. v. Court of Appeals, supra at 540-541.
37 54 O.G. No. 31, 7415 (1958).
38 Metro Manila Transit Corp. v. Court Appeals, supra at 535.
39 Id. (Emphasis supplied.)
40 Metro Manila Transit Corporation v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 116617, November 16, 1998, 298 SCRA 495, 504. (Emphasis supplied.)
41 TSN. January 4, 2002, pp. 8-23; rollo, pp. 76-77.
42 Records, Exh. "2" for Doctolero and Exh. "26" for Avila .
43 Id at Exh. "3" for Doctolero and Exh. "22" for Avila.
44 Id. at Exh. "4" for Doctolero and Exh. "18" for Avila.
45 Id. at Exh. "5" issued by the Central Police District and Exh. "14" issued by the General Headquarters of the PNP, Camp Crame for Doctolero and Exh. "20" issued by the PNP of Marinduque and Exh. "25" issued by the PNP station of Mogpog, Marinduque for Avila.
46 Id at Exh. "7' for Doctolero
47 Id at Exh. "23" for Avila
48 Id. at Exh. "8" for Doctolero and Exh. "19" for Avila.
49 Id at Exh. "9" for Doctolero and Exh. "17' for Avila.
50 Id. at Exh. "12" for Doctolero and Exh. "27" for Avila.
51 Id at Exh. "11" for Doctolero and Exh. "24" for Avila.
52 Id at Exh. "13" for Doctolero.
53 Id at Exh. "6."
54 Id at Exh. "21."
55 Id at Exh. "10" for Doctolero
56 Id at Exh. "15" for Doctolero.
57 Id. at Exh. "16" for Doctolero.
58 Valenzuela v, Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 115024, February 7, 1996, 253 SCRA 303, 324.
59 Id
60 TSN, January 18, 2002, pp. 15-·26; rollo, pp 78-79.
61 Records, pp. 508, 510.
62 Id at 506-507. 509, 511-515.
63 Id at 506, 509.
64 Id at 511-515.
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