LECTURE NOTES ON CIVIL LAW
G. Different Kinds of Obligations
1. According to Demandability (Articles 1179-1192)
Art. 1179. Every obligation whose performance does not depend upon a future or uncertain event, or upon a past event unknown to the parties, is demandable at once.
Every obligation which contains a resolutory condition shall also be demandable, without prejudice to the effects of the happening of the event.
Art. 1180. When the debtor binds himself to pay when his means permit him to do so, the obligation shall be deemed to be one with a period, subject to the provisions of article 1197.
Art. 1181. In conditional obligations, the acquisition of rights, as well as the extinguishment or loss of those already acquired, shall depend upon the happening of the event which constitutes the condition.
Art. 1182. When the fulfillment of the condition depends upon the sole will of the debtor, the conditional obligation shall be void. If it depends upon chance or upon the will of a third person, the obligation shall take effect in conformity with the provisions of this Code.
Art. 1183. Impossible conditions, those contrary to good customs or public policy and those prohibited by law shall annul the obligation which depends upon them. If the obligation is divisible, that part thereof which is not affected by the impossible or unlawful condition shall be valid.
The condition not to do an impossible thing shall be considered as not having been agreed upon.
Art. 1184. The condition that some event happen at a determinate time shall extinguish the obligation as soon as the time expires or if it has become indubitable that the event will not take place.
Art. 1185. The condition that some event will not happen at a determinate time shall render the obligation effective from the moment the time indicated has elapsed, or if it has become evident that the event cannot occur.
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Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 253 of 354If no time has been fixed, the condition shall be deemed fulfilled at such time as may have probably been contemplated, bearing in mind the nature of the obligation.
Art. 1186. The condition shall be deemed fulfilled when the obligor voluntarily prevents its fulfillment.
Art. 1187. The effects of a conditional obligation to give, once the condition has been fulfilled, shall retroact to the day of the constitution of the obligation. Nevertheless, when the obligation imposes reciprocal prestations upon the parties, the fruits and interests during the pendency of the condition shall be deemed to have been mutually compensated. If the obligation is unilateral, the debtor shall appropriate the fruits and interests received, unless from the nature and circumstances of the obligation it should be inferred that the intention of the person constituting the same was different.
In obligations to do and not to do, the courts shall determine, in each case, the retroactive effect of the condition that has been complied with.
Art. 1188. The creditor may, before the fulfillment of the condition, bring the appropriate actions for the preservation of his right.
The debtor may recover what during the same time he has paid by mistake in case of a suspensive condition.
Art. 1189. When the conditions have been imposed with the intention of suspending the efficacy of an obligation to give, the following rules shall be observed in case of the improvement, loss or deterioration of the thing during the pendency of the condition:
(1) If the thing is lost without the fault of the debtor, the obligation shall be extinguished;
(2) If the thing is lost through the fault of the debtor, he shall be obliged to pay damages; it is understood that the thing is lost when it perishes, or goes out of commerce, or disappears in such a way that its existence is unknown or it cannot be recovered;
(3) When the thing deteriorates without the fault of the debtor, the impairment is to be borne by the creditor;
(4) If it deteriorates through the fault of the debtor, the creditor may choose between the rescission of the obligation and its fulfillment, with indemnity for damages in either case;
(5) If the thing is improved by its nature, or by time, the improvement shall inure to the benefit of the creditor;
(6) If it is improved at the expense of the debtor, he shall have no other right than that granted to the usufructuary.
Art. 1190. When the conditions have for their purpose the extinguishment of an obligation to give, the parties, upon the
LECTURE NOTES ON CIVIL LAW
Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 254 of 354fulfillment of said conditions, shall return to each other what they have received.
In case of the loss, deterioration or improvement of the thing, the provisions which, with respect to the debtor, are laid down in the preceding article shall be applied to the party who is bound to return.
As for the obligations to do and not to do, the provisions of the second paragraph of article 1187 shall be observed as regards the effect of the extinguishment of the obligation.
Art. 1191. The power to rescind obligations is implied in reciprocal ones, in case one of the obligors should not comply with what is incumbent upon him.
The injured party may choose between the fulfillment and the rescission of the obligation, with the payment of damages in either case. He may also seek rescission, even after he has chosen fulfillment, if the latter should become impossible.
The court shall decree the rescission claimed, unless there be just cause authorizing the fixing of a period.
This is understood to be without prejudice to the rights of third persons who have acquired the thing, in accordance with articles 1385 and 1388 and the Mortgage Law.
Art. 1192. In case both parties have committed a breach of the obligation, the liability of the first infractor shall be equitably tempered by the courts. If it cannot be determined which of the parties first violated the contract, the same shall be deemed extinguished, and each shall bear his own damages.
a. Pure
A pure obligation is one which has neither a condition nor a term attached to it. It is one which is subject to no contingency.
A pure obligation is demandable at once (Article 1179).
b. Conditional
A condition is a future and uncertain event.
All conditions are future.
Article 1179 mentions the term “past event unknown to the parties”.
This has been criticized by many commentators. This is a contradiction in terms. The condition in a past even unknown to the parties is knowledge by the parties of the past event.
In conditional obligation, the happening of the condition determines its birth or death. In term, the happening of the term determines its demandability.
Types of Conditions i. 1. Suspensive
The fulfillment of a suspensive condition results in the acquisition of rights arising out of the obligation.
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Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 255 of 354 The condition that some event happen at a determinate time shall extinguish the obligation as soon as the time expires or if it has become indubitable that the event will not take place (Article 1184)
The condition that some event will not happen at a determinate time shall render the obligation effective from the moment the time indicated has elapsed, or if it has become evident that the event cannot occur (Article 1185).
The moment the suspensive condition happens, the obligation becomes effective and enforceable. However, the effects of the obligation retroact to the moment when such obligation was constituted or created. By the principle of retroactivity, therefore, a fiction is created whereby the binding tie of the conditional obligation is produced from the time of its perfection, and not from the happening of the condition (Article 1187)
The law does not require the delivery or payment of the fruits or interests accruing before the happening of the suspensive condition. The right to the fruits of the thing is not within the principle of retroactivity of conditional obligations (Article 1187)
If the obligation imposes reciprocal prestations, fruits and interest are deemed mutually compensated.
Example: I promise to sell my mango plantation at P5000/hectare if you pass the bar examination.
I do not have to give you the fruits from the time of the agreement to the release of the bar exams.
If the obligation is unilateral, debtor appropriates the fruits.
In obligations to do and not to do, the courts shall use sound discretion to determine the retroactive effect of the fulfillment of the condition (Article 1187)
The creditor may, before the fulfillment of the condition, bring the appropriate actions for the preservation of his right (Article 1188, 1st ¶). JBL Reyes criticizes the use of the word
“bring”. The 1st ¶ of Article 1188 does not limit itself to judicial actions. Thus, the word “take” is better.
The debtor who paid before the happening of the condition may recover only when he paid by mistake and provided the action to recover is brought before the condition (Article 1188).
2. Resolutory
The fulfillment of the resolutory condition results in the extinguishments of rights arising out of the obligation.
If the resolutory condition is fulfilled, the obligation is treated as if it did not exist. Thus, each party is bound to return to the other whatever he has received, so that they
LECTURE NOTES ON CIVIL LAW
Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 256 of 354may be returned to their original condition before the creation of the obligation (Article 1190).
Resolution (Article 1191) is found on the conditional obligations because if there is a breach, the breach is a resolutory condition which extinguishes the obligation.
Article 1191 uses the term “rescission”. The better term is
“resolution”. The term rescission is also found in Article 1381, rescissible contracts. Resolution is different from rescission. Resolution is based on the non-fulfillment of the obligation. Rescission is based on economic prejudice.
Furthermore, the character of resolution is principal and retaliatory while the character of rescission is subsidiary.
This means that in resolution there is no need to show that there is no other remedy. In rescission, the plaintiff must show that there is no other recourse.
The right of resolution applies to reciprocal obligations.
A reciprocal obligation has 2 elements 1. 2 prestations arising from the same source
2. Each prestation is designed to be the counterpart of the other
An example of a reciprocal obligation is a contract of sale.
Summary of Rulings on Resolution
1. The right to resolve is in inherent in reciprocal obligations.
2. The breach of the obligation must be substantial. Proof of substantial breach is a prerequisite for resolution.
3. The right of resolution can be exercised extrajudicially and will take effect upon communication to the defaulting party. This notice of resolution is necessary.
4. The exercise of this right can be the subject of judicial review.
5. Upon resolution, there must be mutual restitution of the object and its fruits
The parties are returned to their original situation – status quo ante.
Art. 1381. The following contracts are rescissible:
(1) Those which are entered into by guardians whenever the wards whom they represent suffer lesion by more than one-fourth of the value of the things which are the object thereof;
(2) Those agreed upon in representation of absentees, if the latter suffer the lesion stated in the preceding number;
(3) Those undertaken in fraud of creditors when the latter cannot in any other manner collect the claims due them;
(4) Those which refer to things under litigation if they have been entered into by the defendant without the knowledge and approval of the litigants or of competent judicial authority;
(5) All other contracts specially declared by law to be subject to rescission.
LECTURE NOTES ON CIVIL LAW
Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 257 of 3546. If the aggrieved party has not performed the prestation and resolves extrajudicially, then all the aggrieved party has to do is to refuse to perform his prestation.
7. If the aggrieved party has performed the prestation, the aggrieved party can demand recovery. If the defaulting party refuses to return it, the aggrieved party must go to court in order to recover.
In Ilingan vs.CA (September 26, 2001) case, there was an obiter dictum that the operative act that resolves a contract is the decree of court and the right should be exercised judicially. Professor Balane says this is wrong. However, the ratio of the case said that the communication must be a notarial notice.
ii. 1. Potestative
In a potestative condition, the fulfillment of the condition depends upon the will of a party to the obligation.
If the condition depends upon the will of the creditor, then the obligation is valid. In this case, there is a vinculum juris.
The creditor can compel the debtor to perform the obligation.
Example: I will give you my pomelo plantation if you establish permanent residence in Davao.
This is a suspensive condition dependent on the sole will of the creditor. It becomes pure and demandable at once.
Article 1182 prohibits a suspensive potestative condition dependent on the will of the debtor. The entire obligation is void.
Example: I will sell you my car if I want to.
Why does it annul the entire obligation?
Because there is no juridical tie. Remember, an obligation is one which has to be performed regardless of the will of the debtor. There is no element of compulsion. In the example above, the creditor can never compel, can never have a cause of action.
In reciprocal obligations, the law only talks about the first prestation, the reciprocal prestation is not taken into consideration.
2. Casual
In a casual condition, the fulfillment of the condition depends upon chance and/or upon the will of a 3rd person and not on the will of a party.
Example: I will give you my house if the Philippines renounces its foreign debt in 5 years. (Dependent solely on the will of a third person or on chance).
LECTURE NOTES ON CIVIL LAW
Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 258 of 3543. Mixed
In a mixed condition, the fulfillment of the condition depends partly upon the will of a party to the obligation and partly upon chance and/or the will of a 3rd person.
When the condition depends not only upon the will of the debtor, but also upon chance or will of the others, the obligation is valid.
Example: I will give you my house if you marry him within 3 years. (The condition here is a mixed condition. In this case, the condition of marriage depends partly on the creditor, a party to the obligation, and partly on a 3rd person.)
Doctrine of Constructive Compliance
The condition shall be deemed fulfilled when the obligor voluntarily prevents its fulfillment (Article 1186).
The principle underlying constructive fulfillment of conditions is that a party to a contract may not be excused from performing his promise by the non-occurrence of an event which he himself prevented.
Requisites
1. Intent of the debtor to prevent fulfillment of the obligation
Where the act of the debtor, however, although voluntary, did not have for its purpose the prevention of the fulfillment of the condition, it will not fall under the doctrine of constructive compliance.
2. Actual prevention of compliance
The doctrine of constructive compliance applies to potestative and mixed conditions.
iii. 1. Possible
A condition is possible when it is capable of realization according to nature, law, public policy or good customs.
2. Impossible
A condition is impossible when it is not capable of realization according to nature, law, public policy or good customs.
The effect of an impossible condition is to annul the obligation (Article 1183). The effect of an impossible condition regarding donations and succession is different. In donations and succession, an impossible condition is simply disregarded. The distinction can be explained by the fact that Article 1183 refers to onerous obligation whereas donations and succession are gratuitous.
However, if the obligation is divisible and that part of the obligation is not unaffected by the impossible condition, then the obligation is valid (Article 1183).
LECTURE NOTES ON CIVIL LAW
Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 259 of 354 Justice Paras distinguishes as follows:
1. Positive condition to do something impossible
Void condition and obligation
2. Negative condition not to do something impossible
Disregard the condition, the obligation is valid 3. Negative condition not to do something illegal
Valid condition and obligation iv. 1. Positive
A condition is positive when the condition involves the performance of an act.
2. Negative
A condition is negative when the condition involves the non-performance of an act.
v. 1. Divisible
A condition is divisible when the condition is susceptible of partial realization.
2. Indivisible
A condition is indivisible when the condition is not susceptible of partial realization.
vi. 1. Conjunctive
A condition is conjunctive when there are several conditions, all of which must be realized.
2. Alternative
A condition is alternative when there are several conditions, only one of which must be realized.
vii. 1. Express
A condition is express when the condition is stated expressly.
2. Implied
A condition is implied when the condition is tacit.
c. Term (Articles 1193-1198)
Art. 1193. Obligations for whose fulfillment a day certain has been fixed, shall be demandable only when that day comes.
Obligations with a resolutory period take effect at once, but terminate upon arrival of the day certain.
A day certain is understood to be that which must necessarily come, although it may not be known when.
If the uncertainty consists in whether the day will come or not, the obligation is conditional, and it shall be regulated by the rules of the preceding Section.
LECTURE NOTES ON CIVIL LAW
Professor Ruben F. Balane
Page 260 of 354Art. 1194. In case of loss, deterioration or improvement of the thing before the arrival of the day certain, the rules in article 1189 shall be observed.
Art. 1195. Anything paid or delivered before the arrival of the period, the obligor being unaware of the period or believing that the obligation has become due and demandable, may be recovered, with the fruits and interests.
Art. 1196. Whenever in an obligation a period is designated, it is presumed to have been established for the benefit of both the creditor and the debtor, unless from the tenor of the same or other circumstances it should appear that the period has been established in favor of one or of the other.
Art. 1197. If the obligation does not fix a period, but from its nature and the circumstances it can be inferred that a period was intended, the courts may fix the duration thereof.
The courts shall also fix the duration of the period when it depends upon the will of the debtor.
In every case, the courts shall determine such period as may under the circumstances have been probably contemplated by the parties. Once fixed by the courts, the period cannot be changed by them.
Art. 1198. The debtor shall lose every right to make use of the period:
(1) When after the obligation has been contracted, he becomes insolvent, unless he gives a guaranty or security for the debt;
(1) When after the obligation has been contracted, he becomes insolvent, unless he gives a guaranty or security for the debt;