RA 386 CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES ANNOTATED.docx

7/27/2019 RA 386 CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES ANNOTATED.docx

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CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES (R.A. 386)

EFFECT AND APPLICATION OF LAWS

Art 1. This Act shall be known as the Civil Code of the Philippine

- E.O. 48 of March 20, 1947

- Roxas Code Commission

- Dr. George Bacobo (chairman)

- January 26, 1949 (passed by Congress)

Art. 2. Laws shall take effect after 15 days following the completion of theirpublication in the Official Gazette, unless it is otherwise provided. This Code shall take

effect 1 year after publication.

- Aug. 30, 1950 (took effect)

- EO 200 (Aquino) laws to be effective must be published either in the Official Gazette or in a

newspaper of general circulation in the country. (Taada v Tuveras publication not to be in Official

Gazette because of its erratic release and limited readership)

- Intended to enable people to become familiar with the statute

- Must be in full

- Publication is an indispensable requirement, absence of which will

render the law ineffective.

- unless otherwise provided (refers to 15day period, not publication)

Art. 3. Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith.

- applies only to mandatory and prohibitory laws

Art. 4. Laws shall have no retroactive effect, unless the contrary is provided

- Law looks to the future.

- Instances when a law may be given a retroactive effect:

o When the law expressly provides for retroactivity (insofar as it does not prejudice or impair vested or

acquired rights in accordance with the Civil Code or other laws)

o Curative or remedial (curing defects or adding to the means of enforcing existing obligations).

RULE: If the irregularity consists in doing some act, or doing it in the mode which the legislature might have made material by an

express law, it may do so by a subsequent one.

o Procedural (to avoid possible injustice)

o Penal in character and favorable to the accused. (not a habitual delinquentif w/in 10 years from date


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of release or

last conviction of a crime, he is found guilty of any said crimes a third time or oftener.)

Art. 5. Acts executed against the provisions of mandatory and prohibitory laws shall

be void, except when the law itself authorizes their validity.

- Mandatory Laws -> omission of which renders the proceeding or acts to which it relates generally

illegal or void. Example: prescriptive periods

- Prohibitory Laws -> contain positive prohibitions and are couched in the negative terms importing that

the act required shall not be done

otherwise than designated. Example: NO

- However, if the law expressly provides for the validity of acts committed in violation of a mandatory or

prohibitory provision of a

statute, such act shall be considered valid or enforceable.

Art. 6. Rights may be waived, unless the waiver is contrary to law, public policy,

morals or good customs, or prejudicial to a third person with a right recognized by

law.

- Waiver -> intentional relinquishment of a known right; not presumed but must be clearly and

convincingly shown, either by express stipulation or acts admitting no other reasonable explanation

- A right to be validly waived, must be in existence at the time of the waiver, and must be exercised by a

duly capacitated person actually possessing the right to make the waiver. (Presupposes that the party

has knowledge of its rights, but chooses not to assert them)

Art. 7. Laws are repealed only by subsequent ones, and their violation or non-

observance shall not be excused by disuse, or custom, or practice to the contrary.

When the courts declare a law to be inconsistent with the Constitution, the former

shall be void and the latter shall govern. Administrative or executive acts, orders and

regulations shall be valid only when they are not contrary to the laws or the

Constitution.

- Repeal -> legislative act of abrogating through a subsequent law the effects of a previous statute or

portions thereof. May be either express or implied.

Art. 8. Judicial decisions applying or interpreting the laws or theConstitution shall form

part of the legal system of the Philippines.

- Judicial decisions

o although in themselves not laws, assume the same authority as the statute itself.

o Constitute evidence of what the law means.

o legis interpretatio legis vim obtinet - interpretation placed upon the written law by a competent court has

the force of law

o SC decisions authoritative and precedent-setting

o Inferior courts decisions and Court of Appeals merely persuasive


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o Apiag v Cantero (judge entered into2nd marriage without having his first void marriage judicially

declared a nullity, not a basis for immorality) at that time, there was no need for

judicial declaration of nullity

o Wiegel v Sempio Dy case where the Supreme Court declared that there was a need for a declaration

of nullity of a void marriage.

Art. 9. No judge or court shall decline to render judgment by reason of thesilence,

obscurity or insufficiency of the laws.

-Ninguno non deue enriquecerse tortizeramente con dano de otro When the statutes are silent or ambiguous, this is

one of those fundamental principles which the courts invoke in order to arrive at a

solution that would respond to the vehement urge of conscience.

- Justice HolmesDo and must legislate to fill in the gaps in the law,because the mind of the legislator, like

all human beings, is finite and therefore cannot envisage all possible cases to which the law may

apply. Nor has the human mind the infinite capacity to anticipate all situations.

Art. 10. In case of doubt in the interpretation and application of laws, it is presumed

that the lawmaking body intended right and justice to prevail.

- Construction and interpretation come only after it has been demonstrated that application is

impossible or inadequate without them.

Art. 11. Customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not be

countenanced.

Art. 12. A custom must be proved as a fact, according to the rules of evidence.

- Custom -> rule of conduct formed by repetition of acts, uniformly observed (practiced) as a social rule,

legally binding and obligatory.

- Juridical custom can supplement statutory law or applied in the absence of such statute.

- Social customcant supplement stat law or applied in the absence of statute.

- Custom, even if proven, cannot prevail over a statutory rule or even a legal rule enunciated by the SC

Art. 13. When the law speaks of years, months, days or nights, it shall be understood

that years are of 365 days each; months, of 30 days; days, of 24 hours; and nights from

sunset to sunrise. If months are designated by their name, they shall be computed by

the number of days which they respectively have. In computing a period, the first day

shall be excluded, and the last day included.

- If the extra day in a leap year is not a day of the year, because it is the 366th day, then to what year

does it belong? Certainly, it must belong to the year where it falls and, therefore, the 366 days

constitute one

year.

Art. 14. Penal laws and those of public security and safety shall be obligatory upon all

who live or sojourn in the Philippine territory, subject to the principles of public


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international law and to treaty stipulations.

- Citizens and foreigners are subject to all penal laws. Will even attach regardless whether or not a

foreigner is merely sojourning in Phil territory BUT they may however be immune from suit, and

therefore, cannot be criminally prosecuted in the Philippines in certain cases where the Philippine

government has waived its criminal jurisdiction over them on the basis of the principles of public

international law and treaty stipulations

- 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provided that the person of the diplomatic agent

shall be inviolable and he shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. He shall enjoy immunity

from criminal jurisdiction of the receiving state.

Art. 15. Laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal

capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living

abroad.

- Nationality Rule

- Tenchavez v Escano the only absolute divorce recognized is one of the alien spouse. Filipino spousecan be said to have committed

concubinage (husband) or adultery (wife).

Art. 16. Real property as well as personal property is subject to the law of the country

where it is situated. However, intestate and testamentary successions, both with

respect to the order of succession and to the amount of successional rights and to the

intrinsic validity of testamentary provisions, shall be regulated by the national law of

the person whose succession is under consideration, whatever may be the nature of

the property and regardless of the country wherein said property may be found.

- Applicability of National Law of decedent, in intestate or testamentary succession, with regard to:

o Order of succession

o Amount of successional rights

o Intrinsic validity of the provisions of the will

o Capacity to succeed

Article 17. The forms and solemnities of contracts, wills, and other public instruments

shall be governed by the laws of the country in which they are executed. When the

acts referred to are executed before the diplomatic or consular officials of the

Republic of the Philippines in a foreign country, the solemnities established byPhilippine laws shall be observed in their execution. Prohibitive laws concerning

persons, their acts or property, and those which have for their object public order,

public policy and good customs shall not be rendered ineffective by laws or judgments

promulgated, or by determinations or conventions agreed upon in a foreign country.

- Extrinsic validity if act is valid where it is executed, even ifsaid act wont be valid here, will be


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deemed as valid, nonetheless.

- Diplomatic and consular officials are representatives of the state, therefore Philippine law should

prevail if act is executed before a diplomat, in a foreign country. (basis: by rules of international law,

host country where diplomat is assigned, waives its jurisdiction over the premises of the diplomatic

office of another country located in the said host country)

Art. 18. In matters which are governed by the Code of Commerce and special laws,

their deficiency shall be supplied by the provisions of this Code.

HUMAN RELATIONS

Art. 19. Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his

duties, act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith.

- principle of abuse of rights.

- Codifies the concept of what is justice and fair play so that the abuse of right by a person will be

prevented.

- Elements of abuse of right:

o There is a legal right or duty

o Which is exercised in bad faith

o For the sole intent of prejudicing or injuring another

Art. 20. Every person who, contrary to law, willfully or negligently causes damage to

another, shall indemnify the latter for the same.

- speaks of the general sanction for all the other provisions of law which do not especially provide their

own sanction.

Art. 21. Any person who willfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is

contrary to morals, good customs or public policy shall compensate the latter for the

damage.

- fill in the countless gaps of the statutes, which leave so many victims of moral wrongs helpless, even

though they have actually suffered material and moral injury.- Deals with acts contra bonus mores and has the following elements:

o There is an act which is legal

o But which is contrary to morals, good customs, public order,

or public policy

o And it is done with intent to injure.

*** Articles 19,20, and 21 are related to each other, and under these articles, an act which causes injury


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to another may be made the basis for an award of damages.

Common Element: act must be intentional. However, art 20 does not distinguish:

willfully or negligently

*pari delicto in equal fault, in similar offense or crime, equal in guilt or in legal

fault.

Art. 22. Every person who through an act or performance by another, or any other

means, acquires or comes into possession of something at the expense of the latter

without just or legal ground, shall return the same to him.

- Prevention of unjust enrichment. No person can claim what is not validly

and legally his or hers.

Art. 23. Even when an act or event causing damage to anothers property was not due

to the fault or negligence of the defendant, the latter shall be liable for indemnity if

through the act or event he was benefitedArt. 24. In all contractual, property or other relations, when one of the parties is at a

disadvantage on account of his moraldependence, ignorance, indigence, mental

weakness, tender age or other handicap, the courts must be vigilant for his protection.

- in consonance with what is right and legal.

Art. 25. Thoughtless extravagance in expenses for pleasure or display during a period

of acute public want or emergency may be stopped by order of the courts at the

instance of any government or private charitable institution.

- to prevent inconsiderate and ostentatious activities during times of

emergency

- specifically provides for the entities which are given legal standing to seek an injunction:

o any government or

o private charitable institution.

Art. 26. Every person shall respect the dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind

of his neighbors and other persons. The ff. and similar acts, though they may not

constitute a criminal offense, shall produce a cause of action for damages, prevention

and other relief:

1. Prying into the privacy of anothers residence2. Meddling with or disturbing the private life or family relations of another

3. Intriguing to cause another to be alienated from his friends

4. Vexing or humiliating another on account of his religious beliefs, lowly station in life, place of birth,

physical defect, or other personal condition.


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- EXPLANATION OF COMMISSION TO INCLUSION OF ART 26 (Protection of Human Dignity)

o Sacredness of human personality is a concomitant of every plan for human amelioration.

o The touchstone of every system of laws, of the culture and civilization of every country, is how far it

dignifies man.

Art. 27. Any person suffering material or moral loss because a public servant oremployee refuses or neglects, without just cause, to perform his official duty may file

an action for damages and other relief against the latter, without prejudice to any

disciplinary administrative action that may be taken.

Art. 28. Unfair competition in agricultural, commercial or industrial enterprises, or in

labor, through the use of force, intimidation, deceit, machination or any other unjust,

oppressive or highhanded method shall give rise to a right of action by the person who

thereby suffers damage.- JUSTIFICATION by the 1947 Civil Code commission:

o It is necessary in a system of free enterprise. Democracy becomes a veritable mockery if any person or

group of persons by any unjust or highhanded method may deprive others of a fair chance to engage in

business or earn a living.

Art. 29. When the accused in criminal prosecution is acquitted on the ground that his

guilt has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt, a civil action for damages for the

same act or omission may be instituted. Such action requires only a preponderance of

evidence. Upon motion of the defendant, the court may require the plaintiff to file a

bond to answer for damages in case the complaint should be found to be malicious.

(2) If in a criminal case the judgment of acquittal is based upon reasonable doubt, the

court shall so declare. In the absence of any declaration to that effect, it may be

inferred from the text of the decision whether or not the acquittal is due to that

ground.

- Proof beyond Reasonable Doubt amount of proof which forms an abiding moral certainty that the

accused committed the crime charged. NOT absolute certainty, BUT such degree of proof is more

exacting

than what is needed in a civil case, which is:

- Preponderance of Evidence -> as a whole, evidence adduced by one side outweighs that of the adverse

party.

Art. 30. When a separate civil action is brought to demand civil liability arising from a

criminal offense, and no criminal proceedings are instituted during the pendency of

the civil case, a preponderance of evidence shall likewise be sufficient to prove the act


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complained of.

- quantum of evidence still merely preponderance of evidence, even if the civil action arose from a

criminal offense

Art. 31. When the civil action is based on an obligation not arising from the act or

omission complained of as a felony, such civil action may proceed independently of

the criminal proceedings and regardless of the result of the latter.

- if civil action arose not from a felony quasi-delict act or omission which causes damage to another,

there being fault or negligence, if there is no pre-existing contractual relation between the parties.

- Does not provide for an independent civil action.

-Culpa aquiliana(quasi delict) ->having had its own foundation and

indivuality, separate from criminal negligence, against quasi-delito (cupla extra-contractual) or criminal

negligence

- Also applies to culpa contractual- distinct from criminal action instituted based on criminal negligence.

This is governed by Civil Code, and not those of Revised Penal Code, and it being entirely separate anddistinct from criminal action, the same may be instituted and prosecuted independently of, and

regardless of the result of the latter.

Art. 32. Any public officer or employee, or any private individual, who directly or

indirectly obstructs, defeats, violates or in any manner impedes or impairs any of the

following rights and liberties of another person shall be liable to the latter for

damages:

1. Freedom of Religion

2. Freedom of Speech

3. Freedom to write for he press or to maintain a periodical publication

4. Freedom from arbitrary or illegal detention

5. Freedom from suffrage

6. The right against deprivation of property without due process of law

7. The right to a just compensation when private property is taken for public use

8. The right to equal protection of the laws

9. The right to be secure in ones person, house, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and

seizures

10. The liberty of abode and of changing the same

11. The privacy of communication and correspondence

12. The right to become a member of associations or societies for purposes not contrary to law

13. The right to take part in a peaceable assembly to petition the government for redress of grievances

14. The right to be free from involuntary servitude of any form

15. The right of the accused against excessive bail

16. The right of the accused to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature and cause

of the accusation against him, to have a speedy and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and

to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of witness in his behalf.


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17. Freedom from being compelled to be a witness against ones self, or from being forced to confess

guilt, or from being induced by a promise of immunity or reward to make such confession, except when

the person confessing becomes a state witness

18. Freedom from excessive fines, or cruel or unusual punishment, unless the same is imposed or

inflicted in accordance with a statute which has not been judicially declared unconstitutional and

19. Freedom of access to the courts

In any of the cases referred to in this article, whether or not the defendants act or omission constitute a

criminal offense, the aggrieved party has a right to commence an entirely separate and distinct civil

action for damages, and for other relief. Such civil action shall proceed independently or any criminal

prosecution (if the latter be instituted), and may be proved by a preponderance of evidence. The

indemnity shall include moral damages. Exemplary damages may also be adjudicated. The responsibility

herein set forth is not demandable from a judge unless his act or omission constitutes a violation of the

Penal Code or other penal statute.

- for effective maintenance of democracy for these reasons:

o in most cases, threat to freedom originates from abuses or power of government officials and peaceoffices, most are left without redress because fiscal is overburdened, or cant prosecute a fellow public

official (high ranking)

o quantum of evidence required for a criminal action is proof beyond reasonable doubt which often

prevents appropriate punishment.

o Direct and open violations of the Penal Code trampling upon the freedoms named are not so frequent

as those subtle, clever and indirect ways which do not come within the pale of the penal law. These,

which are not criminally punishable, are greatest dangers to which democracy clies.

- respondeat superior principal and agent, or master and servant. No respondeat superior between

superior officers of the military and their subordinates.

- May be directly or indirectly- Public accountability

- Good faith is not a defense. It is enough that there was a violation of constitutional rights of the

plaintiffs and it is not required that defendants should have acted with malice or bad faith. The wrong

may be civil or criminal. To make good faith material is to defeat the main purpose of article 32 which is

that effective protection of individual rights.

Art. 33. In cases of defamation, fraud, and physical injuries, a civil action for damages,

entirely separate and distinct from the criminal action, may be brought by the injured

party. Such civil action shall proceed independently of the criminal prosecution, and

shall require only a preponderance of evidence.

- RATIONALE: to allow the citizen to enforce his rights in a private action brought by him, regardless of

the action of the State attorney. In a criminal prosecution, the complainant is the State. The injured

individual is the one most concerned because it is he who has suffered directly. He should be permitted

to demand reparation for the wrong which peculiarly affects him.

- Criminal Negligence, not included in the provision. The law penalizes

the negligent act or careless act, but not the result thereof.


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Art. 34. When a member of a city or municipal police force refuses or fails to render

aid or protection to any person in case of danger to life or property, such peace officer

shall be primarily liable for damages, and the city or municipality shall be subsidiarily

responsible therefore. The civil action herein recognized shall be independent of any

criminal proceedings and a preponderance of evidence shall suffice to support suchaction.

Art. 35. When a person, claiming to be injured by a criminal offense, charges another

with the same, for which no independent civil action is granted in this Code or any

special law, but the justice of peace finds no reasonable grounds to believe that a

crime has been committed, or the prosecuting attorney refuses or fails to institute

criminal proceedings, the complainant may bring a civil action for damages against the

alleged offender. Such civil action shall be supported by preponderance of evidence.

On the defendants motion, the court may require the plaintiff to file a bond to

indemnify the defendant in case the complaint should be found to be malicious. (2)If

during the pendency of the civil action, an information should be presented by the

prosecuting attorney, the civil action shall be suspended until the termination of the

criminal proceedings.

- Reservation of Civil Action shall be made before the prosecution starts presenting its evidence and

other circumstances affording the offended party a reasonable opportunity to make such reservation.

EXCEPT BP 22 (criminal action for violation of BP 22 shall be deemed to include the corresponding civil

action. No reservation to file such civil action separately shall be allowed.

- When separate civil action is suspended. -> IF criminal action is filed after the said civil action has

already been instituted, the latter shall be suspended in whatever stage it may be found before

judgment on the merits. The suspension shall last until final judgment is rendered in the criminal action.

BUT, nevertheless, before judgment on the merits is rendered in the civil action, the same may, upon

motion of the offended party, be consolidated with the criminal action in the court trying the criminal

action. (shall be tried and decided jointly.)

o Extinction of penal action does not carry with it extinction of the civil action. However, the civil action

based on delict may be deemed extinguished if there is a finding in a final judgment in the criminal

action that the act or omission from which the civil liability may arise did not exist.

- When civil action may proceed independently shall only require preponderance of evidence. (art

32,33,34 and 2176 of civil code). In no case however, may the offended party recover damages twice for

the same act or omission charged in the criminal action.

- Effect of Death on Civil Actions Death of accused after arraignment will extinguish civil liability arising

from the delict. However, when civil action may proceed independently (preceding paragraph), it may

continue against the estate or legal representative of the accused after proper substitution or against

said estate, or heirs to substitute the deceased, and guardian for minor heirs.


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- Judgment in civil action not a bar. Absolved defendant in a civil action, is not a bar to a criminal action

against the defendant.

Art. 36. Prejudicial questions, which must be decided before any criminal prosecution

may be instituted or may proceed, shall be governed by the rules of court which the

Supreme Court shall promulgate and which shall not be in conflict with the provisions

of this Code.

- Stare Decisis/Precedence.-> The general rule is that where both a civil and criminal case arising from

the same facts are filed in court, the criminal case takes precedence.

EXCEPTION: if there isa prejudicial question-> is one which must be decided first before a criminal

action may be instituted or may proceed because a decision therein is vital to the judgment in the

criminal case.

The criminal case is always suspended because the issues in the civil are determinative of the outcome

of the criminal case.- Two essential elements of a prejudicial question:

o The civil action involved an issue similar or intimately related

to the issue raised in the criminal action

o The resolution of such issue determined whether or not the

criminal action may proceed.

CIVIL PERSONALITY

Art. 37. Juridical capacity, which is the fitness to be the subject of legal relations, is

inherent in every natural person, and is lost only through death. Capacity to act, which

is the power to do acts with legal effect, is acquired and may be lost.

- Juridical capacity acquired upon birth of a person. *some cases, even unborn. (art 40,41, 742, 854),

and terminated only upon death.

- Capacity to act is not inherent in a person.

Art. 38. Minority, insanity or imbecility, the state of being deaf-mute, prodigality and

civil interdiction are mere restrictions on the capacity to act, and do not exempt the

incapacitated person from certain obligations, as when the latter arise from his acts orfrom property relations, such as easements.

-restricts the capacity to act.

Art. 39. The following circumstances, among others, modify or limit capacity to act:

age, insanity, imbecility, the state of being deaf-mute, penalty, prodigality, family

relations, alienage, absence, insolvency and trusteeship. The consequences of these


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circumstances re governed in this Code, other codes, the Rules of Court, and in special

laws. Capacity to act is not limited on account of religious belief or political opinion. A

married woman, 21 years of age or over, is qualified for all acts of civil life, except in

cases specified by law.

- broader in scope than art 38, but enumerates situations which merelu modify the capacity to act.

*** SIGNIFICANCE OF ART 38 and 39 -> Make an overview of the situation that qualifies a persons

power to undertake acts which can produce legal effects.

NATURAL PERSONS

Art. 40. Birth determines personality; but the conceived child shall be considered born

for all purposes that are favorable to it, provided it be born later with the conditions

specified in the following article

Art. 41. For civil purposes, the foetus is considered born if it is alive at the time it is

completely delivered from the mothers womb. However, if the foetus had an intra-

uterine life of less than 7 months, it is not deemed born if it dies within 24 hours after

its complete delivery from the maternal

womb.

- Geluz v CA cant invoke provisional personality of a conceived child to obtain damages for and on

behalf of an aborted child considering that art 40 and 41 were not met. BUT the parents can obtaindamages in their our right against the doctor who caused the abortion on account of distress and

anguish attendant to its loss and disappointment of their parental expectation.

- BIRTH CERTIFICATE -> best evidence of the fact of birth. Once registered with the office of the local civil

registrar, it becomes a public document. Entries are only prima facie evidence of the facts contained

therein. This is strictly confidential, and the contents cant be revealed except in the cases provided by

law.*** They still maintain their nature as public documents, because, following the proper legal

procedure, they can be obtained by those interested therein.

o Non-disclosure of Birth Records: Except upon request of any

of the ff:

Person himself, or any person authorized by him His spouse, parent/s, his direct descendants, or guardian or institution legally in charge of him if he

is a minor

The court or proper public official whenever needed in administrative, judicial or other official

proceedings to determine the identity of the childs

parents or other circumstances surrounding his birth

In case of persons death, the nearest of kin.


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Art. 42. Civil Personality is extinguished by death. The effect upon the rights and

obligations of the deceased is determined by law, by contract and by will.

- Death Certificate: The office of the local civil registrar of a municipality or a city must also have in its

custody the death certificated of the persons who died in its locality.

- The rights and obligations of a dead person can still be regulated by contract, will or the law.

Art. 43. If there is doubt, as between 2 or more persons who are called to succeed

each other, as to which of them died first, whoever alleges the death of one prior to

the other, shall prove the same; in the absence of proof, it is presumed that they died

at the same time and there shall be no transmission of rights from one to the other.

- Proof of death must be established by positive evidence. It can never be established from mere

inference arising from another inference or from presumptions and assumptions. (Juaquin v Navarro

son died before mom during Japanese shootings)

JUDICIAL PERSONSArt. 44. The ff. are juridical persons:

1. The state and its political subdivisions

2. Other corporations, institutions and entities for public interest or purpose, created by law, their

personality begins as soon as they have been constituted according to law

3. Corporations, partnerships and associations for private interest or purpose to which the law grants a

juridical personality, separate and distinct from that of each shareholder, partner or member.

Art. 45. Juridical persons mentioned in Nos. 1 and 2 of the preceding article are

governed by the laws creating or organizing them. Private corporations are regulated

by laws of general application on the subject. Partnerships provisions of this Code

concerning partnerships (36 and 37a)

Art. 46. Juridical persons may acquire and possess property of all kinds, as well s incur

obligations and bring civil or criminal actions, in conformity with the laws and

regulations of the organization.

- Juridical Person is a being of legal existence susceptible of rights and obligations, or of being thesubject of juridical relations.

- As a fundamental rule, the State cannot be sued without its consent.

- Political subdivisions municipal corporations, provinces, cities and municipalities.

o Municipal corporations exist in dual capacity.

They exercise the right springing from sovereignty

They exercise private, proprietary or corporate right, arising from their existence as legal persons, and


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not as public agencies.

- Corporations (government) are governed by BP 68, aka Corporation

Code of the Philippines. (effective May 1, 1980)

- Partnership -> 2 or more

- Distinct Personality and Exceptions: Corporations, partnerships and associations for private interest

and purpose may be granted by law a juridical personality, separate and distinct from that of each

shareholder, partner or member. Example: Obligation of corp is not obligation of stockholder, and vice

versa.

Art. 47. Upon the dissolution of corporations, institutions and other entities for public

interest or purpose mentioned in No. 2 of Art 44, their property and other assets shall

be disposed of in pursuance of law or the charter creating them. If nothing has been

specified on this point, the property and other assets shall be applied to similar

purposes for the benefit of the region, province, city or municipality which during the

existence of the institution derived the principal benefits from the same.

CITIZENSHIP AND DOMICILE

Art. 48. The following are citizens of the Philippines

1. Those who were citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the Constitution of the

Philippines

2. Those born in the Philippines of foreign parents who, before the adoption of said Constitution, had

been elected to public office in the Philippines

3. Those whose fathers are citizens of the Philippines

4. Those whose mothers are citizens of the Philippines and, upon reaching the age of majority, elect

Philippine citizenship

5. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Art. 49. Naturalization and the loss and reacquisition of citizenship of the Philippines

are governed by special laws.

Art. 50. For the exercise of civil rights and the fulfillment of civil obligations, the

domicile of natural persons is the place of their habitual residence.

- Domicile -> denotes a fixed permanent residence to which, when absent, one has the intention of

returning.

o Domicile is residence coupled with the intention to remain for an unlimited time.

o Residence used to indicate a place of abode, whether permanent or temporary.

o One may have many residences, but only one domicile.


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- A minor follows the domicile of his parents

- Domicile of origin can only be lost and a change of domicile occurs when the following requisites are

present:

o An actual removal or an actual change of domicile

o A bona fide intention of abandoning the former place of residence establishing a new one

o Acts which correspond with the purpose.

- Under the Family Code, the husband and wife shall fix the family domicile. In case of disagreement, the

Court shall decide.

Art. 51. When the law creating or recognizing them, or any other provision does not

fix the domicile of juridical persons, the same shall be understood to be the place

where their legal representation is established or where they exercise their principal

functions.

- Jus Sanguinis -> citizenship by blood

- Jus Soli -> refers to citizenship on the basis of the place of birth- Acquisition of Citizenship: governed by CA 473, as amended.

oQualifications

Not be less than 21 on day of hearing of petition

Must have resided in Phil for a continuous period of not less than 10 years

Good moral character and believes in the principles of Consti. Proper conduct and irreproachable

manner during residence in Phil in his relation with constituted govt. as well as with community hes

living

Must own real estate in Phil worth not less than P5,000.00, Phil currency, or must have some known

lucrative trade, professions or lawful occupation. (under present consti, no alien may own land except

through hereditary succession)

Able to speak and write in English or Spanish and any one of the principla Philippine languages

Must have enrolled his minor children of school age, in any public or private school recognized by the

Office of Private Education of the Philippines

oSpecial Qualifications(1o years continuous residence may be

reduced to 5 years) if:

Honorably held office

Established a new industry or introduced a useful invention in the Phil

Being married to a Filipino woman

Engaged as a teacher in Phil in a public or recognized private school not established for exclusive

instruction of children of persons of a particular nationality or race, in any of the branches of educ or

industry for a period of not less than 2 years

Born in the Philippines

oWho are disqualified

Opposed to organized govt or affiliated with any association who uphold or teach doctrines opposing


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all organized govts.

Defend or teach the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault, or assassination for the

success and predominance of their ideas

Polygamists or believers in practice of polygamy

Convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude

Suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases

During residence, has not mingled socially with Filipinos, or who have not evinced a sincere desire to

learn and embrace all customs, traditions, and ideals of Filipinos

Citizens of nations with whom (US and) the Phil are at war, during the period of war

Citizens of foreign (other than US), whose laws do not grant Filipinos the right to become naturalized

citizens or subject thereof.

-Loss of Citizenship

o Naturalization in foreign country

o Express renunciation of citizenship

o Oath of allegiance to support consti of foreign upon being 21 y/o. Provided, may not divest himself ofPhil citizenship in any manner while RP is at war with any country

o Render service, or accept commission in the armed forces of foreign. Provided, shall not divest a

Filipino of a Phil Citizenship if:

- RP has a defensive and/or offensive pact of alliance with foreign country

- Said foreign country maintains armed forces on Phil territory with consent of RP. Provided:

o He states that he does so only in connection with his service to said foreign country

o Render service under any circumstances mentioned in par a and b, shall not be permitted to

participate or vote in any election of RP during period of service or commission in the

armed forces of said country

cancellation of certificate of naturalization declared by competent authority a deserter of Phil armed forces in time of war, unless plenary pardon

or amnesty granted

in case of a woman, upon her marriage to a foreigner if by virtue of laws in force in her husbands

country, she acquires his nationality.

-Reacquisition of Citizenship

o By naturalization. Provided, he doesnt have any of the disqualifications prescribed.

o Repatriation of deserters of army, navy or air corps. Provided, woman who lost her citizenship by

reason of marriage with alien, be repatriated after termination of marital status

o By direct act of the Congress of the Philippines

Documents

RA 386 CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES ANNOTATED.docx