!"#" %&" '(')'* +,-.

,/0 *12 *111

34%5 6#4%789#646:9% 9;;:<= >369?2 /@A/@B@-C@D E0 4BBFBC,-C 7@G/@C,/0 H,-.@I ;" J/.,-2
369 #@KF&-,I 9LLFG@2 #@KF&- M /@A/@B@-C@D E0 FCB #@KF&-,I 5F/@GC&/2 6FN&C@& 4" !,/GF,O ,-D
369 J.C.,- /@A/@B@-C@D E0 #&BFC, !" 7,DF,K,2 FCB #@KFBC/,/2 peLlLloners,
vs.
<:6P 9; JQ6Q4%2 /@A/@B@-C@D F- CRFB G,B@ E0 5@N&G/FC& 5" 8I,S, ::2 <FC0 H,0&/2 respondenLs.

T:6Q!2 !"#
1he 1987 ConsLlLuLlon enunclaLes Lhe pollcy LhaL Lhe LerrlLorlal and pollLlcal subdlvlslons shall
en[oy local auLonomy.
1
ln obedlence Lo LhaL mandaLe of Lhe fundamenLal law, 8epubllc AcL
("8.A.") no. 7160, oLherwlse known as Lhe Local CovernmenL Code,
2
expresses LhaL Lhe
LerrlLorlal and pollLlcal subdlvlslons of Lhe SLaLe shall en[oy genulne and meanlngful local
auLonomy ln order Lo enable Lhem Lo aLLaln Lhelr fullesL developmenL as self-rellanL
communlLles and make Lhem more effecLlve parLners ln Lhe aLLalnmenL of naLlonal goals, and
LhaL lL ls a baslc alm of Lhe SLaLe Lo provlde for a more responslve and accounLable local
governmenL sLrucLure lnsLlLuLed Lhrough a sysLem of decenLrallzaLlon whereby local
governmenL unlLs shall be glven more powers, auLhorlLy, responslblllLles and resources.
Whlle Lhe ConsLlLuLlon seeks Lo sLrengLhen local unlLs and ensure Lhelr vlablllLy, clearly,
however, lL has never been Lhe lnLenLlon of LhaL organlc law Lo creaLe an !"#$%&!" !(
!"#$%!) and lnsLall an !(*%+ soverelgn pollLlcal subdlvlslon lndependenL of a slngle soverelgn
sLaLe.
1he CourL ls asked ln Lhls lnsLance Lo resolve Lhe lssue of wheLher under Lhe presenL seL up Lhe
power of Lhe Land 8eglsLraLlon Cfflce ("L1C") Lo reglsLer, Lrlcycles ln parLlcular, as well as Lo
lssue llcenses for Lhe drlvlng Lhereof, has llkewlse devolved Lo local governmenL unlLs.
1he 8eglonal 1rlal CourL (8ranch 2) of 8uLuan ClLy held
3
LhaL Lhe auLhorlLy Lo reglsLer Lrlcycles,
Lhe granL of Lhe correspondlng franchlse, Lhe lssuance of Lrlcycle drlvers' llcense, and Lhe
collecLlon of fees Lherefor had all been vesLed ln Lhe Local CovernmenL unlLs ("LCus").
Accordlngly, lL decreed Lhe lssuance of a permanenL wrlL of ln[uncLlon agalnsL L1C, prohlblLlng
and en[olnlng L1C, as well as lLs employees and oLher persons acLlng ln lLs behalf, from (a)
reglsLerlng Lrlcycles and (b) lssulng llcenses Lo drlvers of Lrlcycles. 1he CourL of Appeals, on
appeal Lo lL, susLalned Lhe Lrlal courL.,-.#/!,0(12
1he adverse rullngs of boLh Lhe courL + 3&) and Lhe appellaLe courL prompLed Lhe L1C Lo flle
Lhe lnsLanL peLlLlon for revlew on 4$%2!)%+%! Lo annul and seL aslde Lhe declslon,
4
daLed 17
november 1997, of Lhe CourL of Appeals afflrmlng Lhe permanenL ln[uncLlve wrlL order of Lhe
8eglonal 1rlal CourL (8ranch 2) of 8uLuan ClLy.
8espondenL ClLy of 8uLuan asserLs LhaL one of Lhe sallenL provlslons lnLroduced by Lhe Local
CovernmenL Code ls ln Lhe area of local LaxaLlon whlch allows LCus Lo collecL reglsLraLlon fees
or charges along wlLh, ln lLs vlew, Lhe correspondlng lssuance of all klnds of llcenses or permlLs
for Lhe drlvlng of Lrlcycles.
1he 1987 ConsLlLuLlon provldes:
Lach local governmenL unlL shall have Lhe power Lo creaLe lLs own sources of revenues
and Lo levy Laxes, fees, and charges sub[ecL Lo such guldellnes and llmlLaLlons as Lhe
Congress may provlde, conslsLenL wlLh Lhe baslc pollcy of local auLonomy. Such Laxes,
fees, and charges shall accrue excluslvely Lo Lhe local governmenLs.
3

Sec. 129 and SecLlon 133 of Lhe Local CovernmenL Code read:
Sec. 129. 5).$% 2) 6%$+2$ 7)&%4$8 )% 9$:$(&$. - Lach local governmenL unlL shall
exerclse lLs power Lo creaLe lLs own sources of revenue and Lo levy Laxes, fees, and
charges sub[ecL Lo Lhe provlslons hereln, conslsLenL wlLh Lhe baslc pollcy of local
auLonomy. Such Laxes, fees, and charges shall accrue excluslvely Lo Lhe local
governmenL unlLs.
Sec. 133. 6)"")( ;!"!2+2!)(8 )( 2/$ <+=!(> 5).$%8 )* ;)4+? @):$%("$(2 A(!28. -
unless oLherwlse provlded hereln, Lhe exerclse of Lhe Laxlng powers of provlnces, clLles,
munlclpallLles, and barangays shall noL exLend Lo Lhe levy of Lhe followlng:
x x x x x x x x x
(l) 1axes, fees or charges for Lhe reglsLraLlon of moLor vehlcles and for Lhe lssuance of
all klnds of llcenses or permlLs for Lhe drlvlng Lhereof, excepL Lrlcycles.
8elylng on Lhe foregolng provlslons of Lhe law, Lhe Sanggunlang anglungsod ("S") of 8uLuan,
on 16 AugusL 1992, passed S Crdlnance no. 916-92 enLlLled "An Crdlnance 8egulaLlng Lhe
CperaLlon of 1rlcycles-for-Plre, provldlng mechanlsm for Lhe lssuance of lranchlse,
8eglsLraLlon and ermlL, and lmposlng enalLles for vlolaLlons Lhereof and for oLher urposes."
1he ordlnance provlded for, among oLher Lhlngs, Lhe paymenL of franchlse fees for Lhe granL of
Lhe franchlse of Lrlcycles-for-hlre, fees for Lhe reglsLraLlon of Lhe vehlcle, and fees for Lhe
lssuance of a permlL for Lhe drlvlng Lhereof.
eLlLloner L1C explalns LhaL one of Lhe funcLlons of Lhe naLlonal governmenL LhaL, lndeed, has
been Lransferred Lo local governmenL unlLs ls Lhe franchlslng auLhorlLy over Lrlcycles-for-hlre
of Lhe Land 1ransporLaLlon lranchlslng and 8egulaLory 8oard ("L1l88") buL noL, lL asseveraLes,
Lhe auLhorlLy of L1C Lo reglsLer all moLor vehlcles and Lo lssue Lo quallfled persons of llcenses
Lo drlve such vehlcles.
ln order Lo seLLle Lhe varlanL poslLlons of Lhe parLles, Lhe ClLy of 8uLuan, represenLed by lLs ClLy
Mayor uemocrlLo u. laza, flled on 28 !une 1994 wlLh Lhe Lrlal courL a peLlLlon for
"prohlblLlon, "+(B+"&8, ln[uncLlon wlLh a prayer for prellmlnary resLralnlng order $=C#+%2$"
seeklng Lhe declaraLlon of Lhe valldlLy of S Crdlnance no. 962-93 and Lhe prohlblLlon of Lhe
reglsLraLlon of Lrlcycles-for-hlre and Lhe lssuance of llcenses for Lhe drlvlng Lhereof by Lhe L1C.
L1C opposed Lhe prayer ln Lhe peLlLlon.
Cn 20 March 1993, Lhe Lrlal courL rendered a resoluLlon, Lhe dlsposlLlve porLlon read:
ln vlew of Lhe foregolng, leL a permanenL ln[uncLlve wrlL be lssued agalnsL Lhe
respondenL Land 1ransporLaLlon Cfflce and Lhe oLher respondenLs, prohlblLlng and
en[olnlng Lhem, Lhelr employees, offlcers, aLLorney's or oLher persons acLlng ln Lhelr
behalf from forclng or compelllng 1rlcycles Lo be reglsLered wlLh, and drlvers Lo secure
Lhelr llcenses from respondenL L1C or secure franchlse from L1l88 and from collecLlng
fees Lhereon. lL should be undersLood LhaL Lhe reglsLraLlon, franchlse of Lrlcycles and
drlver's llcense/permlL granLed or lssued by Lhe ClLy of 8uLuan are valld only wlLhln Lhe
LerrlLorlal llmlLs of 8uLuan ClLy.
no pronouncemenL as Lo cosLs.
6

eLlLloners Llmely moved for a reconslderaLlon of Lhe above resoluLlon buL lL was Lo no avall.
eLlLloners Lhen appealed Lo Lhe CourL of Appeals. ln lLs now assalled declslon, Lhe appellaLe
courL, on 17 november 1997, susLalned Lhe Lrlal courL. lL ruled:
WPL8LlC8L, Lhe peLlLlon ls hereby ulSMlSSLu and Lhe quesLloned permanenL
ln[uncLlve wrlL lssued by Lhe courL + 3&) daLed March 20, 1993 Alll8MLu.
7

Comlng up Lo Lhls CourL, peLlLloners ralse Lhls sole asslgnmenL of error, Lo wlL:
1he CourL of Appeals [has] erred ln susLalnlng Lhe valldlLy of Lhe wrlL of ln[uncLlon
lssued by Lhe Lrlal courL whlch en[olned L1C from (1) reglsLerlng Lrlcycles-for-hlre and
(2) lssulng llcenses for Lhe drlvlng Lhereof slnce Lhe Local CovernmenL Code devolved
only Lhe franchlslng auLhorlLy of Lhe L1l88. luncLlons of Lhe L1C were noL devolved Lo
Lhe LCu's.
8

1he peLlLlon ls lmpressed wlLh merlL.
1he ueparLmenL of 1ransporLaLlon and CommunlcaLlons
9
("uC1C"), Lhrough Lhe L1C and Lhe
L1l88, has slnce been Lasked wlLh lmplemenLlng laws perLalnlng Lo land LransporLaLlon. 1he
L1C ls a llne agency under Lhe uC1C whose powers and funcLlons, pursuanL Lo ArLlcle lll,
SecLlon 4 (d) [1],
10
of 8.A. no. 4136, oLherwlse known as Land 1ransporLaLlon and 1rafflc Code,
as amended, deal prlmarlly wlLh Lhe reglsLraLlon of all moLor vehlcles and Lhe llcenslng of
drlvers Lhereof. 1he L1l88, upon Lhe oLher hand, ls Lhe governlng body Lasked by L.C. no. 202,
daLed 19 !une 1987, Lo regulaLe Lhe operaLlon of publlc uLlllLy or "for hlre" vehlcles and Lo
granL franchlses or cerLlflcaLes of publlc convenlence ("CC").
11
llnely puL, reglsLraLlon and
llcenslng funcLlons are vesLed ln Lhe L1C whlle franchlslng and regulaLory responslblllLles had
been vesLed ln Lhe L1l88.
under Lhe Local CovernmenL Code, cerLaln funcLlons of Lhe uC1C were Lransferred Lo Lhe
LCus, Lhusly:
Sec. 438. 5).$%8D E&2!$8D F&(42!)(8 +(B 6)"#$(8+2!)(. -
x x x x x x x x x
(3) Sub[ecL Lo Lhe provlslons of 8ook ll of Lhls Code, enacL ordlnances granLlng
franchlses and auLhorlzlng Lhe lssuance of permlLs or llcenses, upon such condlLlons
and for such purposes lnLended Lo promoLe Lhe general welfare of Lhe lnhablLanLs of
Lhe clLy and pursuanL Lo Lhls leglslaLlve auLhorlLy shall:
x x x x x x x x x
(vl) Sub[ecL Lo Lhe guldellnes prescrlbed by Lhe ueparLmenL of 1ransporLaLlon and
CommunlcaLlons,%$>&?+2$ 2/$ )#$%+2!)( )* 2%!4G4?$8 +(B >%+(2 *%+(4/!8$8 *)% 2/$
)#$%+2!)( Lhereof wlLhln Lhe LerrlLorlal [urlsdlcLlon of Lhe clLy. (Lmphasls supplled).
LCus lndublLably now have Lhe power Lo regulaLe Lhe operaLlon of Lrlcycles-for-hlre and Lo
granL franchlses for Lhe operaLlon Lhereof. "1o regulaLe" means Lo flx, esLabllsh, or conLrol, Lo
ad[usL by rule, meLhod, or esLabllshed mode, Lo dlrecL by rule or resLrlcLlon, or Lo sub[ecL Lo
governlng prlnclples or laws.
12
A franchlse ls deflned Lo be a speclal prlvllege Lo do cerLaln
Lhlngs conferred by governmenL on an lndlvldual or corporaLlon, and whlch does noL belong Lo
clLlzens generally of common rlghL.
13
Cn Lhe oLher hand, "Lo reglsLer" means Lo record
formally and exacLly, Lo enroll, or Lo enLer preclsely ln a llsL or Lhe llke,
14
and a "drlver's
llcense" ls Lhe cerLlflcaLe or llcense lssued by Lhe governmenL whlch auLhorlzes a person Lo
operaLe a moLor vehlcle.
13
1he devoluLlon of Lhe funcLlons of Lhe uC1C, performed by Lhe
L1l88, Lo Lhe LCus, as so apLly observed by Lhe SollclLor Ceneral, ls almed aL curblng Lhe
alarmlng lncrease of accldenLs ln naLlonal hlghways lnvolvlng Lrlcycles. lL has been Lhe
percepLlon LhaL local governmenLs are ln good poslLlon Lo achleve Lhe end deslred by Lhe law-
maklng body because of Lhelr proxlmlLy Lo Lhe slLuaLlon LhaL can enable Lhem Lo address LhaL
serlous concern beLLer Lhan Lhe naLlonal governmenL.
lL may noL be amlss Lo sLaLe, neverLheless, LhaL under ArLlcle 438 (a)[3-vl] of Lhe Local
CovernmenL Code, Lhe power of LCus Lo regulaLe Lhe operaLlon of Lrlcycles and Lo granL
franchlses for Lhe operaLlon Lhereof ls sLlll sub[ecL Lo Lhe guldellnes prescrlbed by Lhe uC1C. ln
compllance LherewlLh, Lhe ueparLmenL of 1ransporLaLlon and CommunlcaLlons ("uC1C")
lssued "Culdellnes Lo lmplemenL Lhe uevoluLlon of L1l88s lranchlslng AuLhorlLy over 1rlcycles-
lor-Plre Lo Local CovernmenL unlLs pursuanL Lo Lhe Local CovernmenL Code." erLlnenL
provlslons of Lhe guldellnes sLaLe:
ln lleu of Lhe Land 1ransporLaLlon lranchlslng and 8egulaLory 8oard (L1l88) ln Lhe
uC1C, Lhe Sanggunlang 8ayan/Sanggunlang anglungsod (S8/S) shall perform Lhe
followlng:
(a) lssue, amend, revlse, renew, suspend, or cancel M1C and prescrlbe Lhe
approprlaLe Lerms and condlLlons Lherefor,
x x x x x x x x x
CperaLlng CondlLlons:
1. lor safeLy reasons, no Lrlcycles should operaLe on naLlonal hlghways uLlllzed
by 4 wheel vehlcles greaLer Lhan 4 Lons and where normal speed exceed 40 kP.
Powever, Lhe S8/S may provlde excepLlons lf Lhere ls no alLernaLlve rouLe.
2. Zones musL be wlLhln Lhe boundarles of Lhe munlclpallLy/clLy. Powever,
exlsLlng zones wlLhln more Lhan one munlclpallLy/clLy shall be malnLalned,
provlded LhaL operaLors servlng sald zone shall secure M1C's from each of Lhe
munlclpallLles/clLles havlng [urlsdlcLlon over Lhe areas covered by Lhe zone.
3. A common color for Lrlcycles-for-hlre operaLlng ln Lhe same zone may be
lmposed. Lach unlL shall be asslgned and bear an ldenLlflcaLlon number, aslde
from lLs L1C llcense plaLe number.
4. An operaLor wlshlng Lo sLop servlce compleLely, or Lo suspend servlce for
more Lhan one monLh, should reporL ln wrlLlng such LermlnaLlon or suspenslon
Lo Lhe S8/S whlch orlglnally granLed Lhe M1C prlor LhereLo. 1ransfer Lo
anoLher zone may be permlLLed upon appllcaLlon.
3. 1he M1C shall be valld for Lhree (3) years, renewable for Lhe same perlod.
1ransfer Lo anoLher zone, change of ownershlp of unlL or Lransfer of M1C shall
be consLrued as an amendmenL Lo an M1C and shall requlre approprlaLe
approval of Lhe S8/S.
6. CperaLors shall employ only drlvers duly llcensed by L1C for Lrlcycles-for-hlre.
7. no Lrlcycle-for-hlre shall be allowed Lo carry more passengers and/or goods
Lhan lL ls deslgned for.
8. A Lrlcycle-for-hlre shall be allowed Lo operaLe llke a Laxl servlce, !.$., servlce ls
rendered upon demand and wlLhouL a flxed rouLe wlLhln a zone.
16

Such as can be gleaned from Lhe expllclL language of Lhe sLaLuLe, as well as Lhe correspondlng
guldellnes lssued by uC1C, Lhe newly delegaLed powers perLaln Lo Lhe franchlslng and
regulaLory powers LhereLofore exerclsed by Lhe L1l88 and noL Lo Lhe funcLlons of Lhe L1C
relaLlve Lo Lhe reglsLraLlon of moLor vehlcles and lssuance of llcenses for Lhe drlvlng Lhereof.
Clearly unaffecLed by Lhe Local CovernmenL Code are Lhe powers of L1C under 8.A. no. 4136
requlrlng Lhe reglsLraLlon of all klnds of moLor vehlcles "used or operaLed on or upon any
publlc hlghway" ln Lhe counLry. 1hus -
Sec. 3. H?? ")2)% :$/!4?$8 +(B )2/$% :$/!4?$8 "&82 I$ %$>!82$%$B. - (a) no moLor vehlcle
shall be used or operaLed on or upon any publlc hlghway of Lhe hlllpplnes unless Lhe
same ls properly reglsLered for Lhe currenL year ln accordance wlLh Lhe provlslons of
Lhls AcL (ArLlcle 1, ChapLer ll, 8.A. no. 4136).
1he Commlssloner of Land 1ransporLaLlon and hls depuLles are empowered aL anyLlme
Lo examlne and lnspecL such moLor vehlcles Lo deLermlne wheLher sald vehlcles are
reglsLered, or are unslghLly, unsafe, lmproperly marked or equlpped, or oLherwlse unflL
Lo be operaLed on because of posslble excesslve damage Lo hlghways, brldges and
oLher lnfrasLrucLures.
17
1he L1C ls addlLlonally charged wlLh belng Lhe cenLral
reposlLory and cusLodlan of all records of all moLor vehlcles.
18

1he CourL shares Lhe apprehenslon of Lhe SollclLor Ceneral lf Lhe above funcLlons were
Lo llkewlse devolve Lo local governmenL unlLs, he sLaLes:
lf Lhe Lrlcycle reglsLraLlon funcLlon of respondenL L1C ls decenLrallzed, Lhe
lncldence of LhefL of Lrlcycles wlll mosL cerLalnly go up, and sLolen Lrlcycles
reglsLered ln one local governmenL could be reglsLered ln anoLher wlLh ease.
1he deLermlnaLlon of ownershlp Lhereof wlll also become very dlfflculL.
lake drlver's llcenses wlll llkewlse prollferaLe. 1hls llkely scenarlo unfolds where
a Lrlcycle drlver, noL quallfled by peLlLloner L1C's LesLlng, could secure a llcense
from one munlclpallLy, and when Lhe same ls conflscaLed, could [usL go anoLher
munlclpallLy Lo secure anoLher llcense.
uevoluLlon wlll enLall Lhe hlrlng of addlLlonal personnel charged wlLh lnspecLlng
Lrlcycles for road worLhlness, LesLlng drlvers, and documenLaLlon. 8evenues
ralsed from Lrlcycle reglsLraLlon may noL be enough Lo meeL salarles of
addlLlonal personnel and lncldenLal cosLs for Lools and equlpmenL.
19

1he rellance made by respondenLs on Lhe broad Laxlng power of local governmenL unlLs,
speclflcally under SecLlon 133 of Lhe Local CovernmenL Code, ls LangenLlal. ollce power and
LaxaLlon, along wlLh emlnenL domaln, are lnherenL powers of soverelgnLy whlch Lhe SLaLe
mlghL share wlLh local governmenL unlLs by delegaLlon glven under a consLlLuLlonal or a
sLaLuLory flaL. All Lhese lnherenL powers are for a publlc purpose and leglslaLlve ln naLure buL
Lhe slmllarlLles [usL abouL end Lhere. 1he baslc alm of pollce power ls publlc good and welfare.
1axaLlon, ln lLs case, focuses an Lhe power of governmenL Lo ralse revenue ln order Lo supporL
lLs exlsLence and carry ouL lLs leglLlmaLe ob[ecLlves. AlLhough correlaLlve Lo each oLher ln many
respecLs, Lhe granL of one does noL necessarlly carry wlLh lL Lhe granL of Lhe oLher. 1he Lwo
powers are, by LradlLlon and [urlsprudence, separaLe and dlsLlncL powers, varylng ln Lhelr
respecLlve concepLs, characLer, scopes and llmlLaLlons. 1o consLrue Lhe Lax provlslons of
SecLlon 133(1) lndlsLlncLlvely would resulL ln Lhe repeal Lo LhaL exLenL of L1C's regulaLory
power whlch evldenLly has noL been lnLended. lf lL were oLherwlse, Lhe law could have [usL
sald so ln SecLlon 447 and 438 of 8ook lll of Lhe Local CovernmenL Code ln Lhe same manner
LhaL Lhe speclflc devoluLlon of L1l88's power on franchlslng of Lrlcycles has been provlded.
8epeal by lmpllcaLlon ls noL favored.
20
1he power over Lrlcycles granLed under SecLlon
438(8)(3)(vl) of Lhe Local CovernmenL Code Lo LCus ls Lhe power Lo regulaLe Lhelr operaLlon
and Lo granL franchlses for Lhe operaLlon Lhereof. 1he excluslonary clause conLalned ln Lhe Lax
provlslons of SecLlon 133(1) of Lhe Local CovernmenL Code musL noL be held Lo have had Lhe
effecL of wlLhdrawlng Lhe express power of L1C Lo cause Lhe reglsLraLlon of all moLor vehlcles
and Lhe lssuance of llcenses for Lhe drlvlng Lhereof. 1hese funcLlons of Lhe L1C are essenLlally
regulaLory ln naLure, exerclsed pursuanL Lo Lhe pollce power of Lhe SLaLe, whose baslc
ob[ecLlves are Lo achleve road safeLy by lnsurlng Lhe road worLhlness of Lhese moLor vehlcles
and Lhe compeLence of drlvers prescrlbed by 8.A. 4136. noL lnslgnlflcanL ls Lhe rule LhaL a
sLaLuLe musL noL be consLrued ln lsolaLlon buL musL be Laken ln harmony wlLh Lhe exLanL body
of laws.
21

1he CourL cannoL end Lhls declslon wlLhouL expresslng lLs own serlous concern over Lhe
seemlng laxlLy ln Lhe granL of franchlses for Lhe operaLlon of Lrlcycles-for-hlre and ln allowlng
Lhe lndlscrlmlnaLe use by such vehlcles on publlc hlghways and prlnclpal Lhoroughfares.
SenaLor Aqulllno C. lmenLel, !r., Lhe prlnclpal auLhor and sponsor of Lhe blll LhaL evenLually
has become Lo be known as Lhe Local CovernmenL Code, has apLly remarked:
1rlcycles are a popular means of LransporLaLlon, speclally ln Lhe counLryslde. 1hey are,
unforLunaLely, belng allowed Lo drlve along hlghways and prlnclpal Lhoroughfares
where Lhey pose hazards Lo Lhelr passengers arlslng from poLenLlal colllslons wlLh
buses, cars and [eepneys.
1he operaLlon of Lrlcycles wlLhln a munlclpallLy may be regulaLed by Lhe Sanggunlang
8ayan. ln Lhls connecLlon, Lhe Sanggunlang concerned would do well Lo conslder
prohlblLlng Lhe operaLlon of Lrlcycles along or across hlghways lnvlLe colllslons wlLh
fasLer and blgger vehlcles and lmpede Lhe flow of Lrafflc.
22

1he need for ensurlng publlc safeLy and convenlence Lo commuLers and pedesLrlans
allke ls paramounL. lL mlghL be well, lndeed, for publlc offlclals concerned Lo pay heed
Lo a number of provlslons ln our laws LhaL can warranL ln approprlaLe cases an
lncurrence of crlmlnal and clvll llablllLles. 1hus -
1he 8evlsed enal Code -
ArL. 208. 5%)8$4&2!)( )* )**$(8$8, ($>?!>$(4$ +(B 2)?$%+(4$. - 1he penalLy of #%!8!)(
4)%%$44!)(+? ln lLs mlnlmum perlod and suspenslon shall be lmposed upon any publlc
offlcer, or offlcer of Lhe law, who, ln derellcLlon of Lhe duLles of hls offlce, shall
mallclously refraln from lnsLlLuLlng prosecuLlon for Lhe punlshmenL of vlolaLors of Lhe
law, or shall LoleraLe Lhe commlsslon of offenses.
1he Clvll Code -
ArL. 27. Any person sufferlng maLerlal or moral loss because a publlc servanL or
employee refuses or neglecLs, wlLhouL [usL cause, Lo perform hls offlclal duLy may flle
an acLlon for damages and oLher rellef agalnsL Lhe laLLer, wlLhouL pre[udlce Lo any
dlsclpllnary admlnlsLraLlve acLlon LhaL may be Laken.,-.#/!,0(12
ArL. 34. When a member of a clLy or munlclpal pollce force refuses or falls Lo render ald
or proLecLlon Lo any person ln case of danger Lo llfe or properLy, such peace offlcer
shall be prlmarlly llable for damages, and Lhe clLy or munlclpallLy shall be subsldlarlly
responslble Lherefor. 1he clvll acLlon hereln recognlzed shall be lndependenL of any
crlmlnal proceedlngs, and a preponderance of evldence shall sufflce Lo supporL such
acLlon.
ArL. 2189. rovlnces, clLles and munlclpallLles shall be llable for damages for Lhe deaLh
of, or ln[urles suffered by, any person by reason of Lhe defecLlve condlLlon of roads,
sLreeLs, brldges, publlc bulldlngs, and oLher publlc works under Lhelr conLrol or
supervlslon.
1he Local CovernmenL Code -
Sec. 24. ;!+I!?!2G *)% E+"+>$8. - Local governmenL unlLs and Lhelr offlclals are noL
exempL from llablllLy for deaLh or ln[ury Lo persons or damage Lo properLy.
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