REPUBLIC ACT NO.

386
AN ACT TO ORDAIN AND INSTITUTE THE CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
PRELIMINARY TITLE CHAPTER I EFFECT AND APPLICATION OF LAWS Article 1. This Act shall be k !" Philippines." # $ as the "Civil Code of the

Art. %. La"s shall take e&&ect a&ter &i&tee 'a(s &!ll!"i ) the c!*+leti! !& their +,blicati! i the O&&icial -a.ette/ , less it is !ther"ise +r!0i'e'. This C!'e shall take e&&ect ! e (ear a&ter s,ch +,blicati! . #1a$ Art. 1. I) !ra ce !& the la" e2c,ses there"ith. #%$ ! ! e &r!* c!*+lia ce

Art. 3. La"s shall ha0e ! retr!acti0e e&&ect/ , less the c! trar( is +r!0i'e'. #1$ Art. 4. Acts e2ec,te' a)ai st the +r!0isi! s !& *a 'at!r( !r +r!hibit!r( la"s shall be 0!i'/ e2ce+t "he the la" itsel& a,th!ri.es their 0ali'it(. #3a$ Art. 5. Ri)hts *a( be "ai0e'/ , less the "ai0er is c! trar( t! la"/ +,blic !r'er/ +,blic +!lic(/ *!rals/ !r )!!' c,st!*s/ !r +re6,'icial t! a thir' +ers! "ith a ri)ht rec!) i.e' b( la". #3a$ Art. 7. La"s are re+eale' ! l( b( s,bse8,e t ! es/ a ' their 0i!lati! !r ! 9!bser0a ce shall !t be e2c,se' b( 'is,se/ !r c,st!* !r +ractice t! the c! trar(. Whe the c!,rts 'eclare' a la" t! be i c! siste t "ith the C! stit,ti! / the &!r*er shall be 0!i' a ' the latter shall )!0er . A'*i istrati0e !r e2ec,ti0e acts/ !r'ers a ' re),lati! s shall be 0ali' ! l( "he the( are !t c! trar( t! the la"s !r the C! stit,ti! . #4a$

Art. :. ;,'icial 'ecisi! s a++l(i ) !r i ter+reti ) the la"s !r the C! stit,ti! shall &!r* a +art !& the le)al s(ste* !& the Phili++i es. # $ Art. <. N! 6,')e !r c!,rt shall 'ecli e t! re 'er 6,')*e t b( reas! !& the sile ce/ !bsc,rit( !r i s,&&icie c( !& the la"s. #5$ Art. 1=. I case !& '!,bt i the i ter+retati! !r a++licati! !& la"s/ it is +res,*e' that the la"*aki ) b!'( i te 'e' ri)ht a ' 6,stice t! +re0ail. # $ Art. 11. C,st!*s "hich are c! trar( t! la"/ +,blic !r'er !r +,blic +!lic( shall !t be c!, te a ce'. # $ Art. 1%. A c,st!* *,st be +r!0e' as a &act/ acc!r'i ) t! the r,les !& e0i'e ce. # $ Art. 11. Whe the la"s s+eak !& (ears/ *! ths/ 'a(s !r i)hts/ it shall be , 'erst!!' that (ears are !& three h, 're' si2t(9 &i0e 'a(s each> *! ths/ !& thirt( 'a(s> 'a(s/ !& t"e t(9&!,r h!,rs> a ' i)hts &r!* s, set t! s, rise. I& *! ths are 'esi) ate' b( their a*e/ the( shall be c!*+,te' b( the ,*ber !& 'a(s "hich the( res+ecti0el( ha0e. I c!*+,ti ) a +eri!'/ the &irst 'a( shall be e2cl,'e'/ a ' the last 'a( i cl,'e'. #7a$ Art. 13. Pe al la"s a ' th!se !& +,blic sec,rit( a ' sa&et( shall be !bli)at!r( ,+! all "h! li0e !r s!6!,r i the Phili++i e territ!r(/ s,b6ect t! the +ri ci+les !& +,blic i ter ati! al la" a ' t! treat( sti+,lati! s. #:a$ Art. 14. La"s relati ) t! &a*il( ri)hts a ' ',ties/ !r t! the stat,s/ c! 'iti! a ' le)al ca+acit( !& +ers! s are bi 'i ) ,+! citi.e s !& the Phili++i es/ e0e th!,)h li0i ) abr!a'.

#<a$

Art. 15. Real +r!+ert( as "ell as +ers! al +r!+ert( is s,b6ect t! the la" !& the c!, tr( "here it is sti+,late'. H!"e0er/ i testate a ' testa*e tar( s,ccessi! s/ b!th "ith res+ect t! the !r'er !& s,ccessi! a ' t! the a*!, t !& s,ccessi! al ri)hts a ' t! the i tri sic 0ali'it( !& testa*e tar( +r!0isi! s/ shall be re),late' b( the ati! al la" !& the +ers! "h!se s,ccessi! is , 'er c! si'erati! / "hate0er *a( be the

at,re !& the +r!+ert( a ' re)ar'less !& the c!, tr( "herei sai' +r!+ert( *a( be &!, '. #1=a$ Art. 17. The &!r*s a ' s!le* ities !& c! tracts/ "ills/ a ' !ther +,blic i str,*e ts shall be )!0er e' b( the la"s !& the c!, tr( i "hich the( are e2ec,te'. Whe the acts re&erre' t! are e2ec,te' be&!re the 'i+l!*atic !r c! s,lar !&&icials !& the Re+,blic !& the Phili++i es i a &!rei) c!, tr(/ the s!le* ities establishe' b( Phili++i e la"s shall be !bser0e' i their e2ec,ti! . Pr!hibiti0e la"s c! cer i ) +ers! s/ their acts !r +r!+ert(/ a ' th!se "hich ha0e/ &!r their !b6ect/ +,blic !r'er/ +,blic +!lic( a ' )!!' c,st!*s shall !t be re 'ere' i e&&ecti0e b( la"s !r 6,')*e ts +r!*,l)ate'/ !r b( 'eter*i ati! s !r c! 0e ti! s a)ree' ,+! i a &!rei) c!, tr(. #11a$ Art. 1:. I *atters "hich are )!0er e' b( the C!'e !& C!**erce a ' s+ecial la"s/ their 'e&icie c( shall be s,++lie' b( the +r!0isi! s !& this C!'e. #15a$ CHAPTER % H?MAN RELATIONS

# $

Art. 1<. E0er( +ers! *,st/ i the e2ercise !& his ri)hts a ' i the +er&!r*a ce !& his ',ties/ act "ith 6,stice/ )i0e e0er(! e his ',e/ a ' !bser0e h! est( a ' )!!' &aith. Art. %=. E0er( +ers! "h!/ c! trar( t! la"/ "il&,ll( !r e)li)e tl( ca,ses 'a*a)e t! a !ther/ shall i 'e* i&( the latter &!r the sa*e. Art. %1. A ( +ers! "h! "il&,ll( ca,ses l!ss !r i 6,r( t! a !ther i a *a er that is c! trar( t! *!rals/ )!!' c,st!*s !r +,blic +!lic( shall c!*+e sate the latter &!r the 'a*a)e. Art. %%. E0er( +ers! "h! thr!,)h a act !& +er&!r*a ce b( a !ther/ !r a ( !ther *ea s/ ac8,ires !r c!*es i t! +!ssessi! !& s!*ethi ) at the e2+e se !& the latter "ith!,t 6,st !r le)al )r!, '/ shall ret,r the sa*e t! hi*. Art. %1. E0e "he a act !r e0e t ca,si ) 'a*a)e t! a !ther@s +r!+ert( "as !t ',e t! the &a,lt !r e)li)e ce !&

the 'e&e 'a t/ the latter shall be liable &!r i 'e* it( i& thr!,)h the act !r e0e t he "as be e&ite'. Art. %3. I all c! tract,al/ +r!+ert( !r !ther relati! s/ "he ! e !& the +arties is at a 'isa'0a ta)e ! acc!, t !& his *!ral 'e+e 'e ce/ i) !ra ce/ i 'i)e ce/ *e tal "eak ess/ te 'er a)e !r !ther ha 'ica+/ the c!,rts *,st be 0i)ila t &!r his +r!tecti! . Art. %4. Th!,)htless e2tra0a)a ce i e2+e ses &!r +leas,re !r 'is+la( ',ri ) a +eri!' !& ac,te +,blic "a t !r e*er)e c( *a( be st!++e' b( !r'er !& the c!,rts at the i sta ce !& a ( )!0er *e t !r +ri0ate charitable i stit,ti! . Art. %5. E0er( +ers! shall res+ect the 'i) it(/ +ers! alit(/ +ri0ac( a ' +eace !& *i ' !& his ei)hb!rs a ' !ther +ers! s. The &!ll!"i ) a ' si*ilar acts/ th!,)h the( *a( !t c! stit,te a cri*i al !&&e se/ shall +r!',ce a ca,se !& acti! &!r 'a*a)es/ +re0e ti! a ' !ther relie&A #1$ Pr(i ) i t! the +ri0ac( !& a !ther@s resi'e ceA #%$ Me''li ) "ith !r 'ist,rbi ) the +ri0ate li&e !r &a*il( relati! s !& a !ther> #1$ I tri),i ) t! ca,se a !ther t! be alie ate' &r!* his &rie 's> #3$ Be2i ) !r h,*iliati ) a !ther ! acc!, t !& his reli)i!,s belie&s/ l!"l( stati! i li&e/ +lace !& birth/ +h(sical 'e&ect/ !r !ther +ers! al c! 'iti! . Art. %7. A ( +ers! s,&&eri ) *aterial !r *!ral l!ss beca,se a +,blic ser0a t !r e*+l!(ee re&,ses !r e)lects/ "ith!,t 6,st ca,se/ t! +er&!r* his !&&icial ',t( *a( &ile a acti! &!r 'a*a)es a ' !ther relie& a)ai st he latter/ "ith!,t +re6,'ice t! a ( 'isci+li ar( a'*i istrati0e acti! that *a( be take . Art. %:. ? &air c!*+etiti! i a)ric,lt,ral/ c!**ercial !r i ',strial e ter+rises !r i lab!r thr!,)h the ,se !& &!rce/ i ti*i'ati! / 'eceit/ *achi ati! !r a ( !ther , 6,st/ !++ressi0e !r hi)hha 'e' *eth!' shall )i0e rise t! a ri)ht !& acti! b( the +ers! "h! thereb( s,&&ers 'a*a)e. Art. %<. Whe the acc,se' i a cri*i al +r!sec,ti! is ac8,itte' ! the )r!, ' that his ),ilt has !t bee +r!0e'

be(! ' reas! able '!,bt/ a ci0il acti! &!r 'a*a)es &!r the sa*e act !r !*issi! *a( be i stit,te'. S,ch acti! re8,ires ! l( a +re+! 'era ce !& e0i'e ce. ?+! *!ti! !& the 'e&e 'a t/ the c!,rt *a( re8,ire the +lai ti&& t! &ile a b! ' t! a s"er &!r 'a*a)es i case the c!*+lai t sh!,l' be &!, ' t! be *alici!,s. I& i a cri*i al case the 6,')*e t !& ac8,ittal is base' ,+! reas! able '!,bt/ the c!,rt shall s! 'eclare. I the abse ce !& a ( 'eclarati! t! that e&&ect/ it *a( be i &erre' &r!* the te2t !& the 'ecisi! "hether !r !t the ac8,ittal is ',e t! that )r!, '. Art. 1=. Whe a se+arate ci0il acti! is br!,)ht t! 'e*a ' ci0il liabilit( arisi ) &r!* a cri*i al !&&e se/ a ' ! cri*i al +r!cee'i )s are i stit,te' ',ri ) the +e 'e c( !& the ci0il case/ a +re+! 'era ce !& e0i'e ce shall like"ise be s,&&icie t t! +r!0e the act c!*+lai e' !&. Art. 11. Whe the ci0il acti! is base' ! arisi ) &r!* the act !r !*issi! c!*+lai s,ch ci0il acti! *a( +r!cee' i 'e+e 'e +r!cee'i )s a ' re)ar'less !& the res,lt a !bli)ati! !t e' !& as a &el! (/ tl( !& the cri*i al !& the latter.

Art. 1%. A ( +,blic !&&icer !r e*+l!(ee/ !r a ( +ri0ate i 'i0i',al/ "h! 'irectl( !r i 'irectl( !bstr,cts/ 'e&eats/ 0i!lates !r i a ( *a er i*+e'es !r i*+airs a ( !& the &!ll!"i ) ri)hts a ' liberties !& a !ther +ers! shall be liable t! the latter &!r 'a*a)esA #1$ Free'!* !& reli)i! > #%$ Free'!* !& s+eech> #1$ Free'!* t! "rite &!r the +ress !r t! *ai tai +eri!'ical +,blicati! > #3$ Free'!* &r!* arbitrar( !r ille)al 'ete ti! > #4$ Free'!* !& s,&&ra)e> #5$ The ri)ht a)ai st 'e+ri0ati! +r!cess !& la"> !& +r!+ert( "ith!,t ',e "he +ri0ate a

#7$ The ri)ht t! a 6,st c!*+e sati! +r!+ert( is take &!r +,blic ,se>

#:$ The ri)ht t! the e8,al +r!tecti!

!& the la"s>

#<$ The ri)ht t! be sec,re i ! e@s +ers! / h!,se/ +a+ers/ a ' e&&ects a)ai st , reas! able searches a ' sei.,res> #1=$ The libert( !& ab!'e a ' !& cha )i ) the sa*e> #11$ The +ri0ac( !& c!**, icati! a ' c!rres+! 'e ce>

#1%$ The ri)ht t! bec!*e a *e*ber !& ass!ciati! s !r s!cieties &!r +,r+!ses !t c! trar( t! la"> #11$ The ri)ht t! take +art i a +eaceable asse*bl( t! +etiti! the )!0er *e t &!r re'ress !& )rie0a ces> #13$ The ri)ht t! be &ree &r!* i 0!l, tar( ser0it,'e i a ( &!r*> #14$ The ri)ht !& the acc,se' a)ai st e2cessi0e bail> #15$ The ri)ht !& the acc,se' t! be hear' b( hi*sel& a ' c!, sel/ t! be i &!r*e' !& the at,re a ' ca,se !& the acc,sati! a)ai st hi*/ t! ha0e a s+ee'( a ' +,blic trial/ t! *eet the "it esses &ace t! &ace/ a ' t! ha0e c!*+,ls!r( +r!cess t! sec,re the atte 'a ce !& "it ess i his behal&> #17$ Free'!* &r!* bei ) c!*+elle' t! be a "it ess a)ai st ! e@s sel&/ !r &r!* bei ) &!rce' t! c! &ess ),ilt/ !r &r!* bei ) i ',ce' b( a +r!*ise !& i**, it( !r re"ar' t! *ake s,ch c! &essi! / e2ce+t "he the +ers! c! &essi ) bec!*es a State "it ess> #1:$ Free'!* &r!* e2cessi0e &i es/ !r cr,el a ' , ,s,al +, ish*e t/ , less the sa*e is i*+!se' !r i &licte' i acc!r'a ce "ith a stat,te "hich has !t bee 6,'iciall( 'eclare' , c! stit,ti! al> a ' #1<$ Free'!* !& access t! the c!,rts. I a ( !& the cases re&erre' t! i this article/ "hether !r !t the 'e&e 'a t@s act !r !*issi! c! stit,tes a cri*i al !&&e se/ the a))rie0e' +art( has a ri)ht t! c!**e ce a e tirel( se+arate a ' 'isti ct ci0il acti! &!r 'a*a)es/ a ' &!r !ther relie&. S,ch ci0il acti! shall +r!cee' i 'e+e 'e tl( !& a (

cri*i al +r!sec,ti! #i& the latter be i stit,te'$/ a ' *at be +r!0e' b( a +re+! 'era ce !& e0i'e ce. The i 'e* it( shall i cl,'e *!ral 'a*a)es. E2e*+lar( 'a*a)es *a( als! be a'6,'icate'. The res+! sibilit( herei set &!rth is !t 'e*a 'able &r!* a 6,')e , less his act !r !*issi! c! stit,tes a 0i!lati! !& the Pe al C!'e !r !ther +e al stat,te. Art. 11. I cases !& 'e&a*ati! / &ra,'/ a ' +h(sical i 6,ries a ci0il acti! &!r 'a*a)es/ e tirel( se+arate a ' 'isti ct &r!* the cri*i al acti! / *a( be br!,)ht b( the i 6,re' +art(. S,ch ci0il acti! shall +r!cee' i 'e+e 'e tl( !& the cri*i al +r!sec,ti! / a ' shall re8,ire ! l( a +re+! 'era ce !& e0i'e ce. Art. 13. Whe a *e*ber !& a cit( !r *, ici+al +!lice &!rce re&,ses !r &ails t! re 'er ai' !r +r!tecti! t! a ( +ers! i case !& 'a )er t! li&e !r +r!+ert(/ s,ch +eace !&&icer shall be +ri*aril( liable &!r 'a*a)es/ a ' the cit( !r *, ici+alit( shall be s,bsi'iaril( res+! sible there&!r. The ci0il acti! herei rec!) i.e' shall be i 'e+e 'e t !& a ( cri*i al +r!cee'i )s/ a ' a +re+! 'era ce !& e0i'e ce shall s,&&ice t! s,++!rt s,ch acti! . Art. 14. Whe a +ers! / clai*i ) t! be i 6,re' b( a cri*i al !&&e se/ char)es a !ther "ith the sa*e/ &!r "hich ! i 'e+e 'e t ci0il acti! is )ra te' i this C!'e !r a ( s+ecial la"/ b,t the 6,stice !& the +eace &i 's ! reas! able )r!, 's t! belie0e that a cri*e has bee c!**itte'/ !r the +r!sec,ti ) att!r e( re&,ses !r &ails t! i stit,te cri*i al +r!cee'i )s/ the c!*+lai t *a( bri ) a ci0il acti! &!r 'a*a)es a)ai st the alle)e' !&&e 'er. S,ch ci0il acti! *a( be s,++!rte' b( a +re+! 'era ce !& e0i'e ce. ?+! the 'e&e 'a t@s *!ti! / the c!,rt *a( re8,ire the +lai ti&& t! &ile a b! ' t! i 'e* i&( the 'e&e 'a t i case the c!*+lai t sh!,l' be &!, ' t! be *alici!,s. I& ',ri ) the +e 'e c( !& the ci0il acti! / a i &!r*ati! sh!,l' be +rese te' b( the +r!sec,ti ) att!r e(/ the ci0il acti! shall be s,s+e 'e' , til the ter*i ati! !& the cri*i al +r!cee'i )s. Art. 36. Pre-judicial questions which must be decided before any criminal prosecution may be instituted or may proceed, shall be governed by rules of court which the upreme

!ourt shall promulgate and which shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this !ode.