Ernesto Syki v. Salvador Begasa

Summary

This Supreme Court case involves liability for damages from a vehicular accident where a truck rear-ended a passenger jeepney, injuring a boarding passenger. The main legal issue was whether the truck owner exercised due diligence in selecting and supervising his driver under Article 2180 of the Civil Code. The Supreme Court affirmed lower court rulings holding the truck owner liable, emphasizing that employers must present concrete documentary evidence, not merely testimonial evidence, to overcome the legal presumption of negligence in employee selection and supervision. The Court also rejected the defense of contributory negligence, finding that the passenger's act of boarding the jeepney in a normal manner did not contribute to the accident. The case establishes important precedent on the evidentiary requirements for proving due diligence in employer liability cases.