MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered a jeepney driver and its operator to pay PHP340,000 “the heirs” of a woman who died after being bumped 14 years ago.
In a decision posted on the SC website on July 11, the high court ordered jeepney driver Gerry S. Fegarido and jeepney operator Linalie A. Milan to pay the heirs of Cristina S. Alcantara PHP138,591 in actual damages; PHP100,000 in moral damages; exemplary damages worth PHP50,000; and attorney's fees amounting to PHP40,000 with interest.
The decision denied the petition filed by Fegarido and Milan and affirmed the resolution of the Court of Appeals against them.
Alcantara was hit by a jeepney driven by Fegarido while she was crossing 25th Street in East Bajac-bajac, Olongapo City.
The impact threw her off a few meters before hitting the pavement. She died three days later in the hospital.
The lower court had found the driver and operator civilly liable even as a court said there was insufficient evidence to convict them for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
The courts ruled that while the accused was acquitted, it "did not preclude a finding of liability for damages based on negligence." (PNA)
