San Beda University College of Law M.A.D.D.

Persons & Family Relations

CASES IN CIVIL CODE

Art 1-21, Civil Code (See Outline Below)

I. Effect and Application of Laws (Arts. 1-18)

Effectivity of Laws (Art. 2)
1. Publication Requirement; What to Publish
Importance of Publication
Tanada v. Tuvera, G.R. No. L-63915, 29 December 1986, 146 SCRA 446
De Roy v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 80718, 29 January 1988

Ignorance of Law excuses no one (Art. 3)

1. Mistake of law v. Mistake of Fact:
a. Art. 526 –mistake on doubtful or difficult provision of law is basis for good
faith - mitigates but does not extinguish liability;
b. Art. 1334 – mutual error on legal effect of agreement- may vitiate consent;
c. Art. 2155 – mistake in payment gives rise to right to return of erroneous
payment

Prospective Application of Laws (Art. 4)

1. Exception
a. If provided in the law itself
b. Procedural law
c. Penal law if favorable to the accused
d. Curative and Repealing statutes;
e. Creating new rights
f. Tax statutes
g. Interpretative Statutes
2. Exception to the Exception
a. Ex post facto laws;
b. Penal laws not favorable to the accused;
c. Substantive laws impairing vested rights.
Valeroso v. People, G.R. No. 164815, 22 February 2008
PNB v. Office of the President, G.R. No. 104528, 18 January 1996
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Philippine Health Care Providers,
Inc., G.R. No. 168129, 24 April 2007

Acts Contrary to Mandatory or Prohibitory Provisions are Void (Art. 5)

1. Exceptions
a. The law makes the act valid BUT punishes THE VIOLATOR
b. The law itself authorizes its validity
c. The law makes the act only voidable
d. The law declares the nullity of an act but recognizes its effects as legally
existing

Waiver of Rights (Art. 6)

1. Requisites
2. Exceptions
a. Waiver is contrary to law, public order, public policy, morals or good customs;
b. If the waiver is prejudicial to a third party with a right recognized by law.
c. Alleged rights which really do not yet exist, as in the case of future inheritance
d. If the right is a natural right, such as right to be supported.
San Beda University College of Law M.A.D.D.
Persons & Family Relations

D.M. Consunji vs. CA, G.R. No. 137873, April 20, 2001
Cui vs. Arellano University 2 SCRA 205

Repeal of Laws (Art. 7)

1. Kinds of Repeal
a. Express
b. Implied (not favored)
2. Effects
3. Sec. 444, Local Government Code
Mecano v. COA, G.R. No. 103982, 11 December 1992

Judicial Decisions form part of the law of the land (Art. 8)

Doctrine of stare decisis
People v. Licera G.R. No. L-39990, July 2, 1975

Duty of Judges (Art. 9)

Chu Jan vs. Bernas, 34 Phil 631 (1916)

Doubtful Statues (Art. 10)

People vs. Purisima, G.R. Nos. L-42050-66, L-46229-32, L-46313-16, L-46997, 20
November 1978

Customs (Art. 11-12)

1. Requisites to make a custom an obligatory rule
a. Plurality or repetition of acts;
b. Practiced by the great mass of the social group;
c. Continued practice for a long period of time;
d. The community accepts it as a proper way of acting, such that it is
considered as obligatory upon all
Martinez vs. Van Buskirk, 18 Phil 79 (1910)
Yao Kee vs. Sy-Gonzales, G.R. No. 55960, November 24, 1988

Computation of Period and Time (Art. 13)

1. Rule on Computation of Period: First day excluded, last day included
a. Years- 365 days, unless year identified
b. Months-30 days, unless month identified
c. Days – 24 hours
d. Nights - sunset to sundown
2. Exception: Computation of age - each year based on birth anniversary
3. Policy if last day is a Sunday or Legal Holiday
CIR vs. Primetown, G.R. 162155, August 28, 2007

Penal Laws (Art. 14)

a) Applicability in the Philippines if committed here
b) Territoriality
c) Exceptions
1. Public International Law (Diplomatic Immunity, etc)
2. Treaty Stipulations

Civil Laws (Art. 15-17)

General Rule: Nationality Principle
a. Family Rights and Duties
d) Status
San Beda University College of Law M.A.D.D.
Persons & Family Relations

e) Condition
f) Legal Capacity
2. Exceptions
3. Property transactions (real or personal) – lex situs,
4. Exception to Exception: National Law of Decedent
5. Order of successional rights
6. Amt of successional rights
7. Intrinsic validity of testamentary provisions
8. Capacity to succeed
9. Art. 26, par. 2 FC
10. Lex Loci Celebrationis
i. Exception: Intrinsic validity and Art. 26, par. 1 FC
3. Renvoi Doctrine
Van Dorn vs. Ronillo, Jr. et al., 139 SCRA 139
Pilapil vs. Ibay-Somera 174 SCRA 653
San Luis v. San Luis, G.R. Nos. 133743 & 134029, February 6, 2007

Art. 18
Suppletory application of Civil Code in matters governed by special law
II. Human Relations (19-36)
Art. 19-21
Doctrine of Abuse of Right
Requisites
Doctrine of Volenti non fit Injuria
Damnum Absque Injuria
Acts Contra Bonus Mores
Requisites
Breach of Promise to Marry
Uypitching vs. Quiamco, G.R. No. 146322, December 6, 2006
Wassmer vs. Velez, G.R. No. L-20089, December 26, 1964
Nikko Hotel Manila Garden, et all vs. Reyes G.R. No. 154259, February 28, 2005
Gashem Shookat Baksh vs. CA, G.R. No. 97336, February 19, 1993
Pe vs. Pe, G.R. No. L-17396, May 30, 1962
Globe Mackay Cable vs. CA, 176 SCRA 778
University of the East vs. Jader, G.R. No. 132344, February 17, 2000

Unjust Enrichment (Art. 22)

1. Accion in rem verso

Respect for Other’s Privacy, Personality, Etc. (Art. 26)

Tenchavez vs. Escano, 15 SCRA 355
St Louis Realty vs. CA, 133 SCRA 179
Gregorio v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 179799, September 11, 2009

Independent Civil Actions

1. Breach of Constitutional and Other Rights - Art. 32
2. Defamation, Fraud, Physical Injuries – Art. 33
3. Refusal or failure of city ot municipal police to render protection – Art. 34
4. Quasi Delict or Culpa Aquilana – Art. 2176, 2177

Prejudicial Question (Art. 36)

1. General Rule: Criminal Case takes precedence
2. Exception: Sec. 1, Rule 111, Rules of Court
3. Application to civil, criminal, administrative cases
San Beda University College of Law M.A.D.D.
Persons & Family Relations

Capili v. People, G.R. No. 183805, July 3, 2013

Tenebro v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 150758, 18 February 2004
Montañez v. Cipriano, G.R. No. 181089, 22 October 2012
San Miguel Proeprties, Inc., v. Perez, G.R. No. 166836, 4 September 2013

III. Persons (Art. 37-51)

1. Juridical Capacity vs. Capacity to Act
a. Restrictions/Limitations and Modifications on Capacity to Act
2. Natural Persons
a. Beginning and End of Personality
i. When child considered born
b. Theory of General Capacities
Quimiguing vs. Icao, G.R. No. L-26795, July 31, 1970
Geluz vs. CA, G.R. No. L-16439, July 20, 1961
3. R.A. 6809
4. Juridical Persons
a. How Created/ Terminated
b. Theory of Special Capacities
Limjoco vs. Estate of Pedro Fragante, G.R. No. L-770, 27 April 1948
5. Rules on Survivorship
6. Domicile vs. Residence
Moy Ya Lim Yao vs. CID, 41 SCRA 292
Republic v. Batuigas, G.R. No. 183110, October 7, 2013
Frivaldo vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 120295, June 28, 1996
Romualdez-Marcos vs. COMELEC, 248 SCRA 300