G.R. No. 200784, August 07, 2013 - MALAYAN INSURANCE COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. PAP CO., LTD. (PHIL. BRANCH), Respondent.
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 200784, August 07, 2013
MALAYAN INSURANCE COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. PAP CO., LTD. (PHIL. BRANCH), Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
MENDOZA, J.:
On May 13, 1996, Malayan Insurance Company (Malayan) issued Fire Insurance Policy No. F-00227-000073 to PAP Co., Ltd. (PAP Co.) for the latter’s machineries and equipment located at Sanyo Precision Phils. Bldg., Phase III, Lot 4, Block 15, PEZA, Rosario, Cavite (Sanyo Building). The insurance, which was for Fifteen Million Pesos (?15,000,000.00) and effective for a period of one (1) year, was procured by PAP Co. for Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), the mortgagee of the insured machineries and equipment.
After the passage of almost a year but prior to the expiration of the insurance coverage, PAP Co. renewed the policy on an “as is” basis. Pursuant thereto, a renewal policy, Fire Insurance Policy No. F-00227-000079, was issued by Malayan to PAP Co. for the period May 13, 1997 to May 13, 1998.
On October 12, 1997 and during the subsistence of the renewal policy, the insured machineries and equipment were totally lost by fire. Hence, PAP Co. filed a fire insurance claim with Malayan in the amount insured.
In a letter, dated December 15, 1997, Malayan denied the claim upon the ground that, at the time of the loss, the insured machineries and equipment were transferred by PAP Co. to a location different from that indicated in the policy. Specifically, that the insured machineries were transferred in September 1996 from the Sanyo Building to the Pace Pacific Bldg., Lot 14, Block 14, Phase III, PEZA, Rosario, Cavite (Pace Pacific). Contesting the denial, PAP Co. argued that Malayan cannot avoid liability as it was informed of the transfer by RCBC, the party duty-bound to relay such information. However, Malayan reiterated its denial of PAP Co.’s claim. Distraught, PAP Co. filed the complaint below against Malayan.4cralaw virtualaw library
WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of the plaintiff. Defendant is hereby ordered:cralawlibraryThe RTC explained that Malayan is liable to indemnify PAP for the loss under the subject fire insurance policy because, although there was a change in the condition of the thing insured as a result of the transfer of the subject machineries to another location, said insurance company failed to show proof that such transfer resulted in the increase of the risk insured against. In the absence of proof that the alteration of the thing insured increased the risk, the contract of fire insurance is not affected per Article 169 of the Insurance Code.
a) To pay plaintiff the sum of FIFTEEN MILLION PESOS (P15,000,000.00) as and for indemnity for the loss under the fire insurance policy, plus interest thereon at the rate of 12% per annum from the time of loss on October 12, 1997 until fully paid;b) To pay plaintiff the sum of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PhP500,000.00) as and by way of attorney’s fees; [and,]c) To pay the costs of suit.
SO ORDERED.5
WHEREFORE, the assailed dispositions are MODIFIED. As modified, Malayan Insurance Company must indemnify PAP Co. Ltd the amount of Fifteen Million Pesos (PhP15,000,000.00) for the loss under the fire insurance policy, plus interest thereon at the rate of 12% per annum from the time of loss on October 12, 1997 until fully paid. However, the Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP500,000.00) awarded to PAP Co., Ltd. as attorney’s fees is DELETED. With costs.The CA wrote that Malayan failed to show proof that there was a prohibition on the transfer of the insured properties during the efficacy of the insurance policy. Malayan also failed to show that its contractual consent was needed before carrying out a transfer of the insured properties. Despite its bare claim that the original and the renewed insurance policies contained provisions on transfer limitations of the insured properties, Malayan never cited the specific provisions.
SO ORDERED.6cralaw virtualaw library
Malayan basically argues that it cannot be held liable under the insurance contract because PAP committed concealment, misrepresentation and breach of an affirmative warranty under the renewal policy when it transferred the location of the insured properties without informing it. Such transfer affected the correct estimation of the risk which should have enabled Malayan to decide whether it was willing to assume such risk and, if so, at what rate of premium. The transfer also affected Malayan’s ability to control the risk by guarding against the increase of the risk brought about by the change in conditions, specifically the change in the location of the risk.GROUNDS I
THE COURT OF APPEALS HAS DECIDED THE CASE IN A MANNER NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND APPLICABLE DECISIONS OF THE HONORABLE COURT WHEN IT AFFIRMED THE DECISION OF THE TRIAL COURT AND THUS RULING IN THE QUESTIONED DECISION AND RESOLUTION THAT PETITIONER MALAYAN IS LIABLE UNDER THE INSURANCE CONTRACT BECAUSE:
CONTRARY TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS, PETITIONER MALAYAN WAS ABLE TO PROVE AND IT IS NOT DENIED, THAT ON THE FACE OF THE RENEWAL POLICY ISSUED TO RESPONDENT PAP CO., THERE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE WARRANTY OR A REPRESENTATION MADE BY THE INSURED THAT THE “LOCATION OF THE RISK” WAS AT THE SANYO BUILDING. IT IS LIKEWISE UNDISPUTED THAT WHEN THE RENEWAL POLICY WAS ISSUED TO RESPONDENT PAP CO., THE INSURED PROPERTIES WERE NOT AT THE SANYO BUILDING BUT WERE AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION, THAT IS, AT THE PACE FACTORY AND IT WAS IN THIS DIFFERENT LOCATION WHEN THE LOSS INSURED AGAINST OCCURRED. THESE SET OF UNDISPUTED FACTS, BY ITSELF ALREADY ENTITLES PETITIONER MALAYAN TO CONSIDER THE RENEWAL POLICY AS AVOIDED OR RESCINDED BY LAW, BECAUSE OF CONCEALMENT, MISREPRESENTATION AND BREACH OF AN AFFIRMATIVE WARRANTY UNDER SECTIONS 27, 45 AND 74 IN RELATION TO SECTION 31 OF THE INSURANCE CODE, RESPECTIVELY.
RESPONDENT PAP CO. WAS NEVER ABLE TO SHOW THAT IT DID NOT COMMIT CONCEALMENT, MISREPRESENTATION OR BREACH OF AN AFFIRMATIVE WARRANTY WHEN IT FAILED TO PROVE THAT IT INFORMED PETITIONER MALAYAN THAT THE INSURED PROPERTIES HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO A LOCATION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS INDICATED IN THE INSURANCE POLICY.
IN ANY EVENT, RESPONDENT PAP CO. NEVER DISPUTED THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS TO THE RENEWAL POLICY WHICH ARE THE REASONS WHY ITS CLAIM WAS DENIED IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN FACT, THE BEST PROOF THAT RESPONDENT PAP CO. RECOGNIZES THESE CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS IS THE FACT THAT ITS ENTIRE EVIDENCE FOCUSED ON ITS FACTUAL ASSERTION THAT IT SUPPOSEDLY NOTIFIED PETITIONER MALAYAN OF THE TRANSFER AS REQUIRED BY THE INSURANCE POLICY.
MOREOVER, PETITIONER MALAYAN PRESENTED EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN RISK BECAUSE OF THE UNILATERAL TRANSFER OF THE INSURED PROPERTIES. IN FACT, THIS PIECE OF EVIDENCE WAS UNREBUTTED BY RESPONDENT PAP CO.II
THE COURT OF APPEALS DEPARTED FROM, AND DID NOT APPLY, THE LAW AND ESTABLISHED DECISIONS OF THE HONORABLE COURT WHEN IT IMPOSED INTEREST AT THE RATE OF TWELVE PERCENT (12%) INTEREST FROM THE TIME OF THE LOSS UNTIL FULLY PAID.
JURISPRUDENCE DICTATES THAT LIABILITY UNDER AN INSURANCE POLICY IS NOT A LOAN OR FORBEARANCE OF MONEY FROM WHICH A BREACH ENTITLES A PLAINTIFF TO AN AWARD OF INTEREST AT THE RATE OF TWELVE PERCENT (12%) PER ANNUM.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, SECTIONS 234 AND 244 OF THE INSURANCE CODE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPLIED BY THE COURT OF APPEALS BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER ANY FINDING THAT PETITIONER MALAYAN UNJUSTIFIABLY REFUSED OR WITHHELD THE PROCEEDS OF THE INSURANCE POLICY BECAUSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE DISPUTE OR DIFFERENCE IN OPINION ON WHETHER RESPONDENT PAP CO. COMMITTED CONCEALMENT, MISREPRESENTATION AND BREACH OF AN AFFIRMATIVE WARRANTY WHICH ENTITLES PETITIONER MALAYAN TO RESCIND THE INSURANCE POLICY AND/OR TO CONSIDER THE CLAIM AS VOIDED.III
THE COURT OF APPEALS HAS DECIDED THE CASE IN A MANNER NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND APPLICABLE DECISIONS OF THE HONORABLE COURT WHEN IT AGREED WITH THE TRIAL COURT AND HELD IN THE QUESTIONED DECISION THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THE INSURANCE CONTRACT IS PAYABLE TO RESPONDENT PAP CO. DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF A MORTGAGEE CLAUSE IN THE INSURANCE POLICY.IV
THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED AND DEPARTED FROM ESTABLISHED LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE WHEN IT HELD IN THE QUESTIONED DECISION AND RESOLUTION THAT THE INTERPRETATION MOST FAVORABLE TO THE INSURED SHALL BE ADOPTED.7cralaw virtualaw library
9. Under any of the following circumstances the insurance ceases to attach as regards the property affected unless the insured, before the occurrence of any loss or damage, obtains the sanction of the company signified by endorsement upon the policy, by or on behalf of the Company:cralawlibraryEvidently, by the clear and express condition in the renewal policy, the removal of the insured property to any building or place required the consent of Malayan. Any transfer effected by the insured, without the insurer’s consent, would free the latter from any liability.
x x x x x x x x x x x x
(c) If property insured be removed to any building or place other than in that which is herein stated to be insured.12
The testimony of Mr. Yoneda consisted of hearsay matters. He obviously had no personal knowledge of the notice to either Malayan or RCBC. PAP should have presented his secretaries, Dory Ramos and Maricar Jardiniano, at the witness stand. His testimony alone was unreliable.
Q What did you do as Branch Manager of Pap Co. Ltd.?A What I did I instructed my Secretary, because these equipment was bank loan and because of the insurance I told my secretary to notify.Q To notify whom?A I told my Secretary to inform the bank.Q You are referring to RCBC?A Yes, sir. x x x xQ After the RCBC was informed in the manner you stated, what did you do regarding the new location of these properties at Pace Pacific Bldg. insofar as Malayan Insurance Company is concerned?A After that transfer, we informed the RCBC about the transfer of the equipment and also Malayan Insurance but we were not able to contact Malayan Insurance so I instructed again my secretary to inform Malayan about the transfer.Q Who was the secretary you instructed to contact Malayan Insurance, the defendant in this case?A Dory Ramos.Q How many secretaries do you have at that time in your office?A Only one, sir.Q Do you know a certain Maricar Jardiniano?A Yes, sir.Q Why do you know her?A Because she is my secretary.Q So how many secretaries did you have at that time?A Two, sir.Q What happened with the instruction that you gave to your secretary Dory Ramos about the matter of informing the defendant Malayan Insurance Co of the new location of the insured properties?A She informed me that the notification was already given to Malayan Insurance.Q Aside from what she told you how did you know that the information was properly relayed by the said secretary, Dory Ramos, to Malayan Insurance?A I asked her, Dory Ramos, did you inform Malayan Insurance and she said yes, sir.Q Now after you were told by your secretary, Dory Ramos, that she was able to inform Malayan Insurance Company about the transfer of the properties insured to the new location, do you know what happened insofar this information was given to the defendant Malayan Insurance?A I heard that someone from Malayan Insurance came over to our company.Q Did you come to know who was that person who came to your place at Pace Pacific?A I do not know, sir.Q How did you know that this person from Malayan Insurance came to your place?A It is according to the report given to me.Q Who gave that report to you?A Dory Ramos.Q Was that report in writing or verbally done?A Verbal.16 [Emphases supplied]
This enfeebles PAP’s position that the subject properties were already transferred to the Pace factory before the policy was renewed.
COURT Q When did you transfer the machineries and equipments before the renewal or after the renewal of the insurance?A After the renewal.COURT Q You understand my question?A Yes, Your Honor.17 [Emphasis supplied]
With regards to the exposure of the risk under the old location, this was occupied as factory of automotive/computer parts by the assured, and factory of zinc & aluminum die cast, plastic gear for copy machine by Sanyo Precision Phils., Inc. with a rate of 0.449% under 6.1.2 A. But under Pace Pacific Mfg. Corporation this was occupied as factory that repacks silicone sealant to plastic cylinders with a rate of 0.657% under 6.1.2 A. Hence, there was an increase in the hazard as indicated by the increase in rate.18cralaw virtualaw libraryThe Court agrees with Malayan that the transfer to the Pace Factory exposed the properties to a hazardous environment and negatively affected the fire rating stated in the renewal policy. The increase in tariff rate from 0.449% to 0.657% put the subject properties at a greater risk of loss. Such increase in risk would necessarily entail an increase in the premium payment on the fire policy.
Section 26. A neglect to communicate that which a party knows and ought to communicate, is called a concealment.Under Section 27 of the Insurance Code, “a concealment entitles the injured party to rescind a contract of insurance.”
Section 68. An alteration in the use or condition of a thing insured from that to which it is limited by the policy made without the consent of the insurer, by means within the control of the insured, and increasing the risks, entitles an insurer to rescind a contract of fire insurance.Accordingly, an insurer can exercise its right to rescind an insurance contract when the following conditions are present, to wit:
1) the policy limits the use or condition of the thing insured;chanr0blesvirtualawlibraryIn the case at bench, all these circumstances are present. It was clearly established that the renewal policy stipulated that the insured properties were located at the Sanyo factory; that PAP removed the properties without the consent of Malayan; and that the alteration of the location increased the risk of loss.
2) there is an alteration in said use or condition;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
3) the alteration is without the consent of the insurer;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
4) the alteration is made by means within the insured’s control; and
5) the alteration increases the risk of loss.20cralaw virtualaw library
Endnotes:
* Designated additional member in lieu of Associate Justice Roberto A. Abad, per Raffle dated July 2, 2012.
1 Rollo, pp. 114-128. Penned by Associate Justice Normandie B. Pizarro and concurred in by Amelita B. Tolentino and Associate Justice Rodel V. Zalameda.
2 Id. at 725-730.
3 Id. at 130-131.
4 Id. at 115-116.
5 Id. at 730.
6 Id. at 127.
7 Id. at 50-54.
8 Section 27. A concealment whether intentional or unintentional entitles the injured party to rescind a contract of insurance.nadcralawlibrary
9 Section 74. The violation of a material warranty, or other material provision of a policy, on the part of either party thereto, entitles the other to rescind.redcralaw
10 Section 45. If a representation is false in a material point, whether affirmative or promissory, the injured party is entitled to rescind the contract from the time when the representation becomes false. x x x
11Rollo, p. 373.
12 Records, pp, 683-684.
13Rollo, TSN, November 9, 2006, pp. 614-625.
14 Id., TSN, November 17, 2005, pp. 492-562.
15 Id. at 540-541, 559.
16 Id., TSN, July 14, 2005, pp. 460-464.
17 Id. at 484.
18 Records, Vol. II, p. 692.
19 Id. at 231.
20 Rodriguez, The Insurance Code of the Philippines Annotated, Fifth Edition, p. 289.