2017 Last Minute Tips in Civil Law by Atty. Enrique V. dela Cruz, Jr

2017 LAST MINUTE TIPS IN CIVIL LAW  By: Enrique V. dela Cruz, Jr.

I.

EFFECT & APPLICATION OF OF LAWS

Q: After After con!ct" con!ct"n# n# $re%"" $re%""n'r( n'r( "n)e*t" "n)e*t"#'t" #'t"on+ on+ ' $'ne% $'ne% co$o*e co$o*e of *t'te *t'te $ro*ec!tor* fro t,e -O c,'r#e Sen. /on'*'n+ to#et,er "t, ot,er*+ "t, '  )"o%'t"on of Art. 13A 13A of t,e 4PC for t,e o5en*e of co!$ 6et't. /on'*'n /on'*'n !e*t"on* t,e '!t,or"t( 'n 8!r"*"ct"on of t,e -O $ro*ec!tor* to con!ct t,e $re%""n'r( "n)e*t"#'t"on on t,e #ro!n t,'t t,e O9ce of t,e O!*'n ,'* no '!t,or"t( 'n 8!r"*"ct"on to con!ct t,e *'e+ ,e e"n# ' Sen'tor of  t,e 4e$!%"c "t, ' *'%'r( #r'e of 1+ 'n t,'t !%t"'te%(+ t,e S'n"#'n'('n ,'* 8!r"*"ct"on o)er ,"* c'*e+ not t,e -O. -O '**ert* t,'t $!r*!'nt to OM;3 -O o"nt C"rc!%'r No.+ "t ,'* 8!r"*"ct"on to "n)e*t"#'te t,e c'*e '#'"n*t ,"+ conc!rrent "t, t,e O9ce of t,e O!*'n. /on'*'n co!nter* t,'t *'" c"rc!%'r "* "ne5ect")e '* "t '* ne)er $!%"*,e. I* OM;3-O C"rc!%'r No.  : ince "%e #a#y $a ali*e $%en co!'le"ely deli*ered )ro! "%e !o"%er  $o!#, "%en i" $a #orn a a 'eron and "%e que"ion o) $%o ur*i*ed a #e"$een "%e #a#y and "%e !o"%er %all #e reol*ed #y "%e 'ro*iion o) "%e 2ule o) Cour" on ur*i*or%i'. %i i #ecaue "%e que"ion %a no"%in( "o do $i"% ucceion. O#*iouly, "%e reolu"ion o) "%e que"ion i needed u" )or "%e i!'le!en"a"ion o) an inurance con"rac". Ander 2ule 13, ec. 3, 7, 57 a #e"$een "%e #a#y $%o $a under 15 year old and Marian $%o $a 1 year old, Marian i 'reu!ed "o %a*e ur*i*ed. +n #o"% cae, "%ere)ore, "%e #a#y ne*er acquired any ri(%" under "%e inurance 'olicy. %e 'roceed o) "%e inurance $ill "%en (o "o "%e e"a"e o) Marian.

: >an"in( "o (e" ou" )ro! %i !arria(e, Ocar Mallion ?led a 'e"i"ion )or "%e declara"ion o) nulli"y o) %i !arria(e under r"icle 3 o) "%e a!ily Code"%e ini!i"a#le 'yc%olo(ical inca'aci"y "o co!'ly $i"% "%e een"ial !ari"al o#li(a"ion. 8i 'e"i"ion $a denied. #ou" a year la"er, Mallion ?led ano"%er 'e"i"ion eein( "%e nulli"y o) %i !arria(e on "%e (round "%a" i" $a 'er)or!ed $i"%ou" a *alid !arria(e licene. 8i $i)e, Edi"%a lcan"ara, coun"ered $i"% a !o"ion "o di!i on "%e (round o) re udica"a and )oru! %o''in(. >ill "%i < nd 'e"i"ion o) Mallion 'ro'er Or i i" #arred #y re udica"a Decide.  :

%e  A: NO.  r". 1; o) "%e a!ily Code (i*e ille(i"i!a"e c%ildren "%e ri(%" "o decide i) "%ey $an" "o ue "%e urna!e o) "%eir )a"%er or no". +" i no" "%e )a"%er or "%e !o"%er  $%o i (ran"ed #y la$ "%e ri(%" "o dic"a"e "%e urna!e o) "%eir ille(i"i!a"e c%ildren. On i" )ace, r". 1;, a a!ended, i )ree )ro! a!#i(ui"y. nd $%ere "%ere i no a!#i(ui"y, one !u" a#ide #y i" $ord. %e ue o) "%e $ord F!ayF in "%e 'ro*iion readily %o$ "%a" an acno$led(ed ille(i"i!a"e c%ild i under no co!'ulion "o ue "%e urna!e o) %i ille(i"i!a"e )a"%er. %e $ord F!ayF i 'er!ii*e and o'era"e "o

2017 Last Minute Tips in Civil Law by Atty. Enrique V. dela Cruz, r.

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con)er dicre"ion u'on "%e ille(i"i!a"e c%ildren. Hr'ne ). Anton"o+ .4. No. 20J2B+ Fer!'r( 1B+ 201+ Ve%'*co+ r.K

: %e 'e"i"ion )or declara"ion o) nulli"y o) !arria(e ?led #y Crian"o a(ain" %i  $i)e included a 'rayer )or cu"ody 'enden"e li"e o) "%eir /-year old on. %e u''lica"ion )or cu"ody $a #aed on "%e alle(ed i!!orali"y o) "%e !o"%er $%o, "%e %u#and aer"ed, $a a le#ian. 8o$e*er, "%e "rial cour" ci"in( r". C'n ' %'n oner e8ect ' *!'tter on ,"* $ro$ert( "t,o!t 'n( co!rt orer $!r*!'nt to t,e $r"nc"$%e of D*e%f3,e%$>  A: T,"* "* t,e $r"nc"$%e ,"c, '!t,or"Ge* 'n oner or %'f!% $o**e**or of ' $ro$ert( to !*e re'*on'%e co!nter3force to $re)ent or *to$ 'not,er $er*on fro t'"n# t,e forer* $ro$ert( . %e )orce !u" #e reaona#ly neceary "o re'el "%e unla$)ul '%yical in*aion or uur'a"ion o) 'ro'er"y. Bu" a land o$ner canno" ue "%e 'rinci'le o) el)-%el' "o eec" a qua""er $i"%ou" any  cour" order. r". /33 o) "%e Ci*il Code 'ro*ide:.  Act!'% $o**e**"on !ner c%'" of oner*,"$ r'"*e* ' "*$!t'%e $re*!$t"on of oner*,"$. T,e tr!e oner !*t re*ort to 8!"c"'% $roce** for t,e reco)er( of t,e $ro$ert( .  'eron $%o i in ac"ual 'oeion o) a 'ro'er"y and $%o a" "%e a!e "i!e clai! o$ner%i' o*er i" i 'reu!ed "o #e "%e o$ner "%ereo) ee 4erez *. Mendoza, 5 C2 /17. E*en au!in( "%a" "%e qua""er %a no clai! o) o$ner%i', "ill "%e land lord canno" eec" "%e qua""er $i"%ou" any cour" order. r"icle 53 'ro*ide: DIn no c'*e '(  $o**e**"on e 'c!"re t,ro!#, force or "nt""'t"on '* %on# '* t,ere "* ' $o**e**or ,o o8ect* t,ereto. /e ,o e%"e)e* t,'t ,e ,'* 'n 'ct"on or ' r"#,t to e$r")e 'not,er of t,e ,o%"n# of ' t,"n#+ !*t "n)oe t,e '" of t,e co$etent co!rt+ "f t,e ,o%er *,o!% ref!*e to e%")er t,e t,"n#.

Q: W,"%e *tro%%"n# "n ' cert'"n *treet+ 4"c( n* ' $!r*e cont'"n"n# P1+000. -oe* ,e ecoe t,e oner t,ereof ( ,"* ere $o**e**"on> /o c'n ,e ecoe t,e oner of t,e P1+000> C'n t,'t e con*"ere ' ,"en tre'*!re. E?$%'"n.  n$er: No. Mere 'oeion doe no" !ae 2icy "%e o$ner "%ereo). +) 2icy  no$ "%e o$ner o) "%e 'ure, "%ere i no $ay #y $%ic% %e can #eco!e "%e o$ner o) 

2017 Last Minute Tips in Civil Law by Atty. Enrique V. dela Cruz, r.

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"%e 41,000 #ecaue accordin( "o "%e la$, %e !u" re"urn "%e 'ure includin( i" con"en" "o uc% o$ner. +) "%e o$ner i unno$n, 2icy %ould i!!edia"ely de'oi" "%e !o*a#le $i"% "%e !ayor o) "%e 'lace $%ere "%e ?ndin( "oo 'lace. %ere %all "%en #e a 'u#lic announce!en" o) "%e ?ndin( )or < conecu"i*e $ee. i= !on"% )ro! "%e 'u#lica"ion %a*in( ela'ed $i"%ou" "%e o$ner %a*in( a''eared, "%e "%in( )ound %all #e a$arded "o 2icy, a)"er rei!#ure!en" o) "%e e='ene. (Art. 719) +) "%e o$ner %ould a''ear in "i!e, %e %all #e o#li(ed "o 'ay 2icy, a a re$ard, 110 o) "%e a!oun" )ound.  Art. 720) No"e: "%e !oney )ound canno" #e conidered a P"reaureI #ecaue i" $a no" P%idden and unno$nI.  Art. 439 "a"e PBy "reaure i under"ood, )or le(al 'ur'oe, any %idden and unno$n de'oi" o) !oney, e$elry or o"%er 'reciou o#ec", "%e la$)ul o$ner%i' o) $%ic% doe no" a''ear.I 8ence, "%e rule on %idden "reaure do no" a''ly.7

 VI. O;LIATIONS & CONT4ACTS

Q: W,'t 're t,e re!"*"te* efore ' $'rt( c'n e con*"ere "n ef'!%t of ,"* o%"#'t"on> %ere are "%ree requii"e neceary )or a ?ndin( o) de)aul". ir", "%e  A: o#li(a"ion i de!anda#le and liquida"edK econd, "%e de#"or delay 'er)or!anceK and "%ird, "%e credi"or udicially or e="ra-udicially require "%e de#"or 'er)or!ance. GENE4AL MILLIN CO4PO4ATION  *. SPS. LI;4A-O 4AMOS 'n 4EME-IOS 4AMOS .4. No. 1

 : No, an ac"ion "o quie" "i"le i no" e="in(ui%ed #y "%e dea"% o) "%e deceden", i" #ein( a 'a"ri!onial ri(%". 8ence, "%e %eir %a*e "%e ri(%" "o #e u#"i"u"ed "o "%e ac"ion e*en #e)ore "%eir %a*in( declared a %eir.

Q.

St'te t,e r!%e* on *o!nne** of "n.

2017 Last Minute Tips in Civil Law by Atty. Enrique V. dela Cruz, r.

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 N: 17 o #e o) ound !ind, i" i no" neceary "%a" "%e "e"a"or #e in )ull 'oeion o) all %i reaonin( )acul"ie, or "%a" %i !ind #e $%olly un#roen, uni!'aired, or un%a""ered #y dieae, inury or o"%er caue. +" %all #e u&cien" i)  "%e "e"a"or $a a#le a" "%e "i!e o) !ain( "%e $ill, "o no$ "%e na"ure o) "%e e"a"e "o #e di'oed o), "%e 'ro'er o#ec" o) %i #oun"y, and "%e c%arac"er o) "%e "e"a!en"ary ac". r". ;99, NCC7.   : +" de'end.  c%ild already concei*ed a" "%e "i!e o) dea"% o) "%e deceden" i ca'a#le o) ucceedin(, 'ro*ided, i" #e #orn la"er under "%e condi"ion 'recri#ed in  r"icle /1 o) "%e Code. O"%er$ie, "%e in"i"u"ion i *oid #ecaue "%e )e"u did no" #eco!e a 'eron.  r". /1. or ci*il 'ur'oe, "%e )e"u i conidered #orn i) i" i ali*e a" "%e "i!e i" i co!'le"ely deli*ered )ro! "%e !o"%er $o!#. 8o$e*er, i) "%e )e"u %ad an in"rau"erine li)e o) le "%an e*en !on"%, i" i no" dee!ed #orn i) i" die $i"%in "$en"y)our %our a)"er i" co!'le"e deli*ery )ro! "%e !a"ernal $o!#. Ne$ Ci*il Code7

Q:  :

C'n t,e te*t'tor "n*t"t!te '* 'n ,e"r 'n !nnon $er*on> No.  r". /5. E*ery di'oi"ion in )a*or o) an unno$n 'eron %all #e *oid, unle #y o!e e*en" or circu!"ance %i iden"i"y #eco!e cer"ain. 8o$e*er, a di'oi"ion in )a*or o) a de?ni"e cla or (rou' o) 'eron %all #e *alid. E=a!'le:  "e"a"or 'ro*ided in %i $illP+ #equea"% !y 'ro'er"y  iden"i?ed7 "o "%e Bar "o'no"c%er o) "%e year i!!edia"ely )ollo$in( !y dea"%.I 8ere, "%e %eir i unno$n #u" %e $ill #e iden"i?ed la"er $%en "%e reul" o) "%e Bar E=a!ina"ion )or "%e year indica"ed are releaed.

Q:  :

C'n t,e te*t'tor "n*t"t!te '* 'n ,e"r ' c%'** or #ro!$ of $er*on*> Le. ee r". /57   di'oi"ion in )a*or o) a de?ni"e cla or (rou' o) 'eron i allo$ed #y la$. E=a!'le: P+ #equea"% One Million 4eo "o all %onor (radua"e o) "%e acul"y o) Ci*il 6a$, Ani*eri"y o) an"o o!a )ro! 1995 "o year 1. r". /Bro"%er and i"er, o!e o) "%e )ull #lood, o"%er %al) #lood.  : LE. Ander "%e old rule, ado'"ion i 'eronal #e"$een "%e ado'"ed and "%e ado'"in( 'aren"K "%eir rela"ion%i' doe no" (o #eyond "%e!. %e c%ildren o) "%e ado'"ed c%ild are no" conidered %eir o) "%e ado'"in( 'aren" or 'aren" nor *ice *era. 8o$e*er, i" a''ear no$ "%a" t,e 'o$te '( re$re*ent t,e 'o$ter "n t,e "n,er"t'nce of t,e %'tter* $'rent*.  ec"ion 1;, 2., No. 55< -%e Do!e"ic  do'"ion 6a$ o) 199H e='rely accorded "%e ado'"er and "%e ado'"ee in cae o)  in"e"a"e ucceion reci'rocal ri(%" o) ucceion $i"%ou" di"inc"ion )ro! le(i"i!a"e ?lia"ion. r"icle 19 o) "%e a!ily Code )ur"%er declared "%a" P#o"% re)errin( "o "%e ado'"er and ado'"ed7 %all acquire reci'rocal ri(%" and o#li(a"ion ariin( )ro! "%e rela"ion%i' o) 'aren" and c%ild.I

2017 Last Minute Tips in Civil Law by Atty. Enrique V. dela Cruz, r.

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Q: If ' "%% "* e?ec!te ( ' te*t'tor ,o "* ' F"%"$"no c"t"Gen+ ,'t %' "%% #o)ern "f t,e "%% "* e?ec!te "n t,e P,"%"$$"ne*> W,'t %' "%% #o)ern "f t,e  "%% "* e?ec!te "n 'not,er co!ntr(> E?$%'"n (o!r 'n*er*.  A: +) a $ill i e=ecu"ed #y a "e"a"or $%o i a ili'ino ci"izen, 4%ili''ine la$ $ill (o*ern "%e )or!ali"ie or e="rinic *alidi"y i) "%e $ill i e=ecu"ed in "%e 4%ili''ine. +) "%e $ill i e=ecu"ed in ano"%er coun"ry, "%en "%e )or!ali"ie %all #e (o*erned #y "%e la$ o)  "%e 'lace $%ere "%e $ill i e=ecu"ed. %i i 'uruan" "o r"icle 1; o) "%e Ci*il Code or "%e 'rinci'le o) Ple= loci cele#ra"ioni.I On "%e o"%er %and, "%e in"rinic *alidi"y o) "%e $ill %all #e (o*erned #y "%e na"ional la$ o) "%e deceden", re(ardle o) $%ere "%e $ill $a e=ecu"ed %ere or a#road7. Ander  r"icle 1 o) "%e Ci*il Code, in"e"a"e or "e"a!en"ary ucceion, #o"% $i"% re'ec" "o "%e order o) ucceion, a!oun" o) ucceional ri(%" and "o "%e in"rinic *alidi"y o)  "%e "e"a!en"ary 'ro*iion %all #e re(ula"ed #y "%e na"ional la$ o) "%e 'eron  $%oe ucceion i under conidera"ion. r". 1G E?$%'"n (o!r 'n*er*.  A: %e a!e rule $ill a''ly "o )orei(ner. +) a $ill i e=ecu"ed #y a )orei(ner, "%e )or!ali"ie %all #e (o*erned #y "%e la$ o) "%e 'lace $%ere "%e $ill i e=ecu"ed. %i i 'uruan" "o r"icle 1; o) "%e Ci*il Code or "%e 'rinci'le o) Ple= loci cele#ra"ioni.I On "%e o"%er %and, "%e in"rinic *alidi"y o) "%e $ill %all #e (o*erned #y "%e na"ional la$ o) "%e deceden", re(ardle o) $%ere "%e $ill $a e=ecu"ed %ere or a#road7.   $ill e=ecu"ed #y a )orei(ner a#road 'roduce eec" in "%e 4%ili''ine i) !ade $i"% "%e )or!ali"ie 'recri#ed #y "%e la$ o) "%e 'lace in $%ic% %e reide, or accordin( "o "%e )or!ali"ie o#er*ed in %i coun"ry, or in con)or!i"y $i"% "%oe $%ic% "%i Code 'recri#e. r". 1, NCC7. 4roo) "%a" "%e $ill con)or! "o "%e la$ !en"ioned i i!'era"i*e. alud eodoro Vda. De 4erez *. 8on. ole"e, 5< CD /, .2. No. ;;1/, June 'n (ii) C* '**"#nent of t,e *!%e'*e to -> (iii) E?$%'"n (o!r 'n*er*.

 ANSWE4:  . B u#leae "o C i *alid. l"%ou(% "%e ori(inal 'eriod o) "$o year )or "%e leae con"rac" %a e='ired, "%e leae con"inued $i"% "%e acquiecence o) "%e leor durin( "%e "%ird year. 8ence, "%ere %a #een an i!'lied rene$al o) "%e con"rac" o) leae. Ander r". 150 o) "%e Ci*il Code, "%e leee !ay u#le" "%e "%in( leaed, in $%ole or in 'ar", $%en "%e con"rac" o) leae doe no" con"ain any e='re 'ro%i#i"ion r". 150, 1;0, CC7.  ac"ion )or reciion %ould no" 'ro'er on "%i (round. B. C ai(n!en" o) "%e u#leae "o D i no" *alid. Ander r". 1/9 o) "%e CC, "%e leee canno" ai(n "%e leae $i"%ou" "%e conen" o) "%e leor, unle "%ere i a "i'ula"ion "o "%e con"rary. %ere i no uc% "i'ula"ion in "%e con"rac". +) "%e la$ 'ro%i#i" ai(n!en" o) "%e leae $i"%ou" "%e conen" o) "%e leor, all "%e !ore  $ould "%e ai(n!en" o) a u#leae #e 'ro%i#i"ed $i"%ou" uc% conen". %i i a  *iola"ion o) "%e con"rac" and i a *alid (round )or reciion #y .

Q. M'r)"n o5ere to con*tr!ct t,e ,o!*e of C'r%o* for ' )er( re'*on'%e $r"ce of P%ere one o) "%e 'ar"ie "o an ille(al con"rac" i inca'a#le o) (i*in( conen", "%e cour" !ay, i) "%e in"ere" o) u"ice o de!and, allo$ reco*ery o) !oney  or 'ro'er"y deli*ered #y "%e inca'aci"a"ed 'eron.  r". 1/1. >%en "%e la$ ?=e, or au"%orize "%e ?=in( o) "%e !a=i!u! nu!#er o)  %our o) la#or, and a con"rac" i en"ered in"o $%ere#y a la#orer under"ae "o $or lon(er "%an "%e !a=i!u! "%u ?=ed, %e !ay de!and addi"ional co!'ena"ion )or er*ice rendered #eyond "%e "i!e li!i".

2017 Last Minute Tips in Civil Law by Atty. Enrique V. dela Cruz, r.

24 | P a g e

 r". 1/19. >%en "%e la$ e", or au"%orize "%e e""in( o) a !ini!u! $a(e )or la#orer, and a con"rac" i a(reed u'on #y $%ic% a la#orer acce'" a lo$er $a(e, %e %all #e en"i"led "o reco*er "%e de?ciency.

Q: W,'t "* t,e r!%e '#'"n*t t,o!#,t%e** e?tr')'#'nce>  :  r".