Antonio Ramon Ongsiako vs.

INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT

GR. No. L-69901, 31 July 1987
Cruz, J.:

FACTS:
Antonio Ramon Ongsiako was prosecuted for reckless imprudence by the trial court for
colliding with a jeep owned by Robert Ha when he lost control in avoiding a bus owned by the
Philippine Rabbit Bus corporation. The Trial Court sentenced him to 2 months of arresto mayor
and pay PHP 143,131.04 for damages. The petitioner appealed and the IAC decreasing the
liability to PHP 61,131.04.
However, Ongsiako filed to the Supreme Court claiming that the Lower courts erred in
their decision since there was errors in the measurements the court recorded and such errors are
important to prove that the petitioner is not negligent. Ongsiako claimed that 150 feet is the
distance and not 150 meters thus the actual measurement did not give him ample time to avoid
the collision.


ISSUE:
Whether the lower courts have committed errors in relation to the decision they rendered.



RULING:
Yes, by carefully analyzing the records, it is clear that the lower courts are wrong to
prosecute the petitioner since the petitioner was not at all negligent. The lower court claims that
Ongsiako has adequate time to avoid the jeep but actually that is not the case since 150 feet is not
enough to avoid such collision. Also, the Supreme Court also proclaimed that the remark the
lower courts said that Ongsiako was stupid for controlling the car to go back to the road was
uncalled for since it was clear in the situation and in the records that the petitioner has actually
no control and that if there were anyone to blame it would be the driver of the Philippine Rabbit
Bus.
The Supreme Court reversed and acquitted Ongsiako of his criminal liability but still the
latter is compelled to pay civil liability amounting to PHP46,131.04 for the damages.