Practice question
An operator otherwise satisfies Article 1732 but never secured the necessary carrier permit. After cargo loss, it argues that its own licensing failure converts it into a private carrier and removes common-carrier duties. Which is correct under De Guzman?
- Licensing failure automatically removes the duties
- The shipper must bear every loss
- The operator cannot evade the duties merely by failing to obtain required authority
- Only the vehicle’s color controls
- Common-carrier duties arise only after a loss
Legal references
- https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1949/ra_386_1949.html — Civil Code, Articles 1732 and 1733
- https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1988/dec1988/gr_l-47822_1988.html — De Guzman v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. L-47822, December 22, 1988, main opinion
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