Car dealer sued for damages

CEBU, Philippines - A Chinese national has filed a civil case for damages against a car dealer after the latter allegedly failed to replace a damaged luxury vehicle he bought in 2013.

Qingxin Yang, resident of City Lights Condominium Tower, Lahug, Cebu City, is demanding close to P5 million in damages against the dealer whom he accused of making empty promises.

Yang, assisted by lawyers Pablo John Garcia, Ramsey Quijano, and Marvin Miralles, wants a refund of the P4.7-million he paid for a BMW 116i and P150,000 moral and exemplary damages including attorney’s fee.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the dealer pending its answer to the complaint.

Yang said that the vehicle delivered by the defendant on July 15, 2013 broke down 12 days after the delivery.

“…defendant officers continue to offer plaintiff empty promises every time he would make a follow up on the promised replacement. Worse, plaintiff later learned that the subject vehicle was neither registered with the Land Transportation Office by the defendants nor was a comprehensive insurance was taken for the said car, contrary to the defendants representations and warranties at the time of the sale,” the complaint read.

According to the complainant, he was driving somewhere in Mabolo, Cebu City on July 24, 2013 at around 7 p.m. when the car’s engine suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.

“When plaintiff attempted to drive the car again, he was surprised that the engine would not start. After several attempts to start the car has failed, plaintiff immediately called defendant for assistance,” he said, adding it was after five hours of waiting or around 12 midnight that his car was towed by the defendant’s company and brought to their shop.

Two to three days after, Yang said he was informed by a service manager that his vehicle had been damaged and had come unserviceable. The defendant officers then promised to replace the damaged vehicle with a new unit.

Yang, however, said that the dealer failed to fulfill its promise until now prompting him to seek redress before the court. (FREEMAN)