Petitioner Vs Vs Respondent: Third Division
Petitioner Vs Vs Respondent: Third Division
Petitioner Vs Vs Respondent: Third Division
DECISION
MENDOZA , J : p
Challenged in this petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court
is the October 27, 2011 Decision 1 of the Court of Appeals (CA), which a rmed with
modi cation the September 17, 2009 Decision 2 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 15,
M anil a ( RTC ) , and its February 24, 2012 Resolution 3 denying the motion for
reconsideration filed by petitioner Malayan Insurance Company, Inc. (Malayan).
The Facts
The undisputed factual antecedents were succinctly summarized by the CA as
follows:
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 (P15,000,000.00) 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. CcAESI
On October 12, 1997 and during the subsistence of the renewal policy, the
insured machineries and equipment were totally lost by re. Hence, PAP Co. led
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.
Speci cally, that the insured machineries were transferred in September 1996
from the Sanyo Building to the Pace Paci c Bldg., Lot 14, Block 14, Phase III,
PEZA, Rosario, Cavite (Pace Paci c). 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. led the complaint below against
Malayan. 4
SO ORDERED. 5
The RTC explained that Malayan is liable to indemnify PAP for the loss under the
subject re 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 re insurance is not affected per Article 169 of the
Insurance Code.
The RTC further stated that PAP's notice to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
(RCBC) su ciently complied with the notice requirement under the policy considering that
it was RCBC which procured the insurance. PAP acted in good faith in notifying RCBC
about the transfer and the latter even conducted an inspection of the machinery in its new
location.
Not contented, Malayan appealed the RTC decision to the CA basically arguing that
the trial court erred in ordering it to indemnify PAP for the loss of the subject machineries
since the latter, without notice and/or consent, transferred the same to a location different
from that indicated in the fire insurance policy.
Ruling of the CA
On October 27, 2011, the CA rendered the assailed decision which a rmed the RTC
decision but deleted the attorney's fees. The decretal portion of the CA decision reads:
WHEREFORE, the assailed dispositions are MODIFIED. As modi ed,
Malayan Insurance Company must indemnify PAP Co. Ltd. the amount of Fifteen
Million Pesos (PhP15,000,000.00) for the loss under the re 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.
SO ORDERED. 6
The CA wrote that Malayan failed to show proof that there was a prohibition on the
transfer of the insured properties during the e cacy of the insurance policy. Malayan also
failed to show that its contractual consent was needed before carrying out a transfer of
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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. TEcAHI
The CA further stated that even if there was such a provision on transfer restrictions
of the insured properties, still Malayan could not escape liability because the transfer was
made during the subsistence of the original policy, not the renewal policy. PAP transferred
the insured properties from the Sanyo Factory to the Pace Paci c Building (Pace Factory)
sometime in September 1996. Therefore, Malayan was aware or should have been aware
of such transfer when it issued the renewal policy on May 14, 1997. The CA opined that
since an insurance policy was a contract of adhesion, any ambiguity must be resolved
against the party that prepared the contract, which, in this case, was Malayan.
Finally, the CA added that Malayan failed to show that the transfer of the insured
properties increased the risk of the loss. It, thus, could not use such transfer as an excuse
for not paying the indemnity to PAP. Although the insurance proceeds were payable to
RCBC, PAP could still sue Malayan to enforce its rights on the policy because it remained a
party to the insurance contract.
Not in conformity with the CA decision, Malayan led this petition for review
anchored on the following:
GROUNDS
Malayan basically argues that it cannot be held liable under the insurance contract
because PAP committed concealment, misrepresentation and breach of an a rmative
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.
Malayan claims that PAP concealed a material fact in violation of Section 27 of the
Insurance Code 8 when it did not inform Malayan of the actual and new location of the
insured properties. In fact, before the issuance of the renewal policy on May 14, 1997, PAP
even informed it that there would be no changes in the renewal policy. Malayan also argues
that PAP is guilty of breach of warranty under the renewal policy in violation of Section 74
of the Insurance Code 9 when, contrary to its a rmation in the renewal policy that the
insured properties were located at the Sanyo Factory, these were already transferred to
the Pace Factory. Malayan adds that PAP is guilty of misrepresentation upon a material
fact in violation of Section 45 of the Insurance Code 1 0 when it informed Malayan that
there would be no changes in the original policy, and that the original policy would be
renewed on an "as is" basis. CIaHDc
Malayan further argues that PAP failed to discharge the burden of proving that the
transfer of the insured properties under the insurance policy was with its knowledge and
consent. Granting that PAP informed RCBC of the transfer or change of location of the
insured properties, the same is irrelevant and does not bind Malayan considering that
RCBC is a corporation vested with separate and distinct juridical personality. Malayan did
not consent to be the principal of RCBC. RCBC did not also act as Malayan's
representative.
With regard to the alleged increase of risk, Malayan insists that there is evidence of
an increase in risk as a result of the unilateral transfer of the insured properties. According
to Malayan, the Sanyo Factory was occupied as a factory of automotive/computer parts by
the assured and factory of zinc & aluminum die cast and plastic gear for copy machine by
Sanyo Precision Phils., Inc. with a rate of 0.449% under 6.1.2 A, while Pace Factory was
occupied as factory that repacked silicone sealant to plastic cylinders with a rate of
0.657% under 6.1.2 A.
PAP's position
On the other hand, PAP counters that there is no evidence of any misrepresentation,
concealment or deception on its part and that its claim is not fraudulent. It insists that it
can still sue to protect its rights and interest on the policy notwithstanding the fact that
the proceeds of the same was payable to RCBC, and that it can collect interest at the rate
of 12% per annum on the proceeds of the policy because its claim for indemnity was
unduly delayed without legal justification.
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The Court's Ruling
The Court agrees with the position of Malayan that it cannot be held liable for the
loss of the insured properties under the fire insurance policy.
As can be gleaned from the pleadings, it is not disputed that on May 13, 1996, PAP
obtained a P15,000,000.00 re insurance policy from Malayan covering its machineries
and equipment effective for one (1) year or until May 13, 1997; that the policy expressly
stated that the insured properties were located at "Sanyo Precision Phils. Building, Phase
III, Lots 4 & 6, Block 15, EPZA, Rosario, Cavite"; that before its expiration, the policy was
renewed 1 1 on an "as is" basis for another year or until May 13, 1998; that the subject
properties were later transferred to the Pace Factory also in PEZA; and that on October 12,
1997, during the effectivity of the renewal policy, a re broke out at the Pace Factory which
totally burned the insured properties.
The policy forbade the removal
of the insured properties unless
sanctioned by Malayan
Condition No. 9 (c) of the renewal policy provides:
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 sa n cti on of the company signi ed by
endorsement upon the policy, by or on behalf of the Company:
Evidently, 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.
The respondent failed to notify, and
to obtain the consent of, Malayan
regarding the removal
The records are bereft of any convincing and concrete evidence that Malayan was
noti ed of the transfer of the insured properties from the Sanyo factory to the Pace
factory. The Court has combed the records and found nothing that would show that
Malayan was duly notified of the transfer of the insured properties.
What PAP did to prove that Malayan was noti ed was to show that it relayed the
fact of transfer to RCBC, the entity which made the referral and the named bene ciary in
the policy. Malayan and RCBC might have been sister companies, but such fact did not
make one an agent of the other. The fact that RCBC referred PAP to Malayan did not clothe
it with authority to represent and bind the said insurance company. After the referral, PAP
dealt directly with Malayan.
The respondent overlooked the fact that during the November 9, 2006 hearing, 1 3 its
counsel stipulated in open court that it was Malayan's authorized insurance agent, Rodolfo
Talusan, who procured the original policy from Malayan, not RCBC. This was the reason
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why Talusan's testimony was dispensed with.
Moreover, in the previous hearing held on November 17, 2005, 1 4 PAP's hostile
witness, Alexander Barrera, Administrative Assistant of Malayan, testi ed that he was the
one who procured Malayan's renewal policy, not RCBC, and that RCBC merely referred re
insurance clients to Malayan. He stressed, however, that no written referral agreement
exists between RCBC and Malayan. He also denied that PAP noti ed Malayan about the
transfer before the renewal policy was issued. He added that PAP, through Maricar
Jardiniano (Jardiniano), informed him that the re insurance would be renewed on an "as is
basis." 1 5
Granting that any notice to RCBC was binding on Malayan, PAP's claim that it
noti ed RCBC and Malayan was not indubitably established. At best, PAP could only come
up with the hearsay testimony of its principal witness, Branch Manager Katsumi Yoneda
(Mr. Yoneda), who testified as follows:
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?
AI told my Secretary to inform the bank.
Q You are referring to RCBC?
A Yes, sir.
xxx xxx xxx
Q After the RCBC was informed in the manner you stated, what did you do
regarding the new location of these properties at Pace Paci c 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 How did you know that this person from Malayan Insurance came to your
place?
This enfeebles PAP's position that the subject properties were already transferred
to the Pace factory before the policy was renewed.
The transfer from the Sanyo Factory
to the PACE Factory increased the risk.
The courts below held that even if Malayan was not noti ed thereof, the transfer of
the insured properties to the Pace Factory was insignificant as it did not increase the risk.
Malayan argues that the change of location of the subject properties from the Sanyo
Factory to the Pace Factory increased the hazard to which the insured properties were
exposed. Malayan wrote:
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 Paci c 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. 1 8
The Court agrees with Malayan that the transfer to the Pace Factory exposed the
properties to a hazardous environment and negatively affected the re 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.
Unfortunately, PAP chose to remain completely silent on this very crucial point.
Despite the importance of the issue, PAP failed to refute Malayan's argument on the
increased risk.
Malayan is entitled to rescind
the insurance contract
Considering that the original policy was renewed on an "as is basis," it follows that
the renewal policy carried with it the same stipulations and limitations. The terms and
conditions in the renewal policy provided, among others, that the location of the risk
insured against is at the Sanyo factory in PEZA. The subject insured properties, however,
were totally burned at the Pace Factory. Although it was also located in PEZA, Pace
Factory was not the location stipulated in the renewal policy. There being an unconsented
removal, the transfer was at PAP's own risk. Consequently, it must suffer the
consequences of the re. Thus, the Court agrees with the report of Cunningham Toplis
Philippines, Inc., an international loss adjuster which investigated the re incident at the
Pace Factory, which opined that "[g]iven that the location of risk covered under the policy is
not the location affected, the policy will, therefore, not respond to this loss/claim." 1 9
It can also be said that with the transfer of the location of the subject properties,
without notice and without Malayan's consent, after the renewal of the policy, PAP
clearly committed concealment, misrepresentation and a breach of a material warranty.
Section 26 of the Insurance Code provides:
Section 26. A neglect to communicate that which a party knows and
ought to communicate, is called a concealment.
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Under Section 27 of the Insurance Code, "a concealment entitles the injured party to
rescind a contract of insurance."
Moreover, under Section 168 of the Insurance Code, the insurer is entitled to rescind
the insurance contract in case of an alteration in the use or condition of the thing insured.
Section 168 of the Insurance Code provides, as follows: TAECaD
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;
2) there is an alteration in said use or condition;
3) the alteration is without the consent of the insurer;
4) the alteration is made by means within the insured's control; and
5) the alteration increases the risk of loss. 2 0
In 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.
WHE RE FO RE , the October 27, 2011 Decision of the Court of Appeals is hereby
RE V E RS E D a n d SET ASIDE. Petitioner Malayan Insurance Company, Inc. is hereby
declared NOT liable for the loss of the insured machineries and equipment suffered by
PAP Co., Ltd.
SO ORDERED.
Sereno, * C.J., Velasco, Jr., Peralta and Leonen, JJ., concur.
Footnotes
*Designated additional member in lieu of Associate Justice Roberto A. Abad, per Ra e 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.
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.
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.