G.R. No. 116940, June 11, 1997

IV.
General Rule on liability for loss, destruction, deterioration of goods,

presumption of negligence (Sections 1734(1) and 1735)
THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, INC. vs. CA and
FELMAN SHIPPING LINES
(G.R. No. 116940, June 11, 1997)
Facts:
On 6 July 1983 Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., loaded on board MV Asilda, a
vessel owned and operated by respondent Felman Shipping Lines (FELMAN for brevity),
7,500 cases of 1-liter Coca-Cola softdrink bottles to be transported from Zamboanga City to
Cebu City for consignee Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., Cebu. The shipment was insured
with petitioner Philippine American General Insurance Co., Inc. (PHILAMGEN for brevity).
On 7 July 1983, the vessel sank in the waters of Zamboanga del Norte.
On 15 July 1983 the consignee Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., Cebu plant, filed a
claim with respondent FELMAN for recovery of damages. FELMAN denied the claim thus
prompting the consignee to file an insurance claim with PHILAMGEN which paid its claim of
P755,250.00.
Claiming its right of subrogation, PHILAMGEN sought recourse against FELMAN which
disclaimed any liability for the loss. Consequently, on 29 November 1983 PHILAMGEN sued
the shipowner for sum of money and damages alleging that the sinking was due to the
vessels unseaworthiness.
The trial court rendered judgment in favor of FELMAN. It ruled that MV Asilda was
seaworthy, in which case, no liability should attach unless there was a stipulation to the
contrary. Upon appeal, the CA rendered judgment finding MV Asilda unseaworthy for being
top- heavy as 2,500 cases of Coca-Cola softdrink bottles were improperly stowed on deck.
Issues:
(a) Whether MV Asilda was seaworthy when it left the port of Zamboanga;
(b) Whether the limited liability under Art. 587 of the Code of Commerce should apply; and
(c) Whether PHILAMGEN was properly subrogated to the rights and legal actions which the
shipper had against FELMAN, the shipowner.
Ruling:
1. MV Asilda was unseaworthy when it left the port of Zamboanga. The SC subscribed to the
findings of the Elite Adjusters, Inc. regarding the sinking of MV Asilda that the proximate
cause of the sinking of MV Asilda was its being top-heavy. Evidence shows that
approximately 2,500 cases of softdrink bottles were stowed on deck. In this case it was
established that MV Asilda was not designed to carry substantial amount of cargo on deck.
The inordinate loading of cargo deck resulted in the decrease of the vessels metacentric
height thus making it unstable. The strong winds and waves encountered by the vessel are
but the ordinary vicissitudes of a sea voyage and as such merely contributed to its already
unstable and unseaworthy condition.
2. On the second issue, Art. 587 of the Code of Commerce is not applicable to the case at
bar. Simply put, the ship agent is liable for the negligent acts of the captain in the care of
goods loaded on the vessel. This liability however can be limited through abandonment of
the vessel, its equipment and freightage as provided in Art. 587. Nonetheless, there are
exceptional circumstances wherein the ship agent could still be held answerable despite the
abandonment, as where the loss or injury was due to the fault of the shipowner and the
captain.
It was already established at the outset that the sinking of MV Asilda was due to its
unseaworthiness. Closer supervision on the part of the shipowner could have prevented this
fatal miscalculation. As such, FELMAN was equally negligent. It cannot therefore escape
liability through the expedient of filing a notice of abandonment of the vessel by virtue of
Art. 587 of the Code of Commerce.
Under Art 1733 of the Civil Code, (c)ommon carriers, from the nature of
their business and for reasons of public policy, are bound to observe
extraordinary diligence in the vigilance over the goods and for the safety of the
passengers transported by them, according to all the circumstances of each case
x x x x" In the event of loss of goods, common carriers are presumed to have
acted negligently. FELMAN, the shipowner, was not able to rebut this
presumption.
3. In relation to the question of subrogation, CA found MV Asilda unseaworthy with reference
to the cargo and therefore ruled that there was breach of warranty of seaworthiness that
rendered the assured not entitled to the payment of is claim under the policy. Hence, when
PHILAMGEN paid the claim of the bottling firm there was in effect a voluntary payment and
no right of subrogation accrued in its favor. In other words, when PHILAMGEN paid it did so
at its own risk.
Therefore, the payment made by PHILAMGEN to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc.,
gave the former the right to bring an action as subrogee against FELMAN. Having failed to
rebut the presumption of fault, the liability of FELMAN for the loss of the 7,500 cases of 1liter Coca-Cola softdrink bottles is inevitable.

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IV.

General Rule on liability for loss, destruction, deterioration of goods,

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