CHAPTER 4

EXTINHGUISHMENT OF OBLIGATIONS

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1231. Obligations are extinguished:

1. by payment or performance
2. by loss of the thing due
3. by condonation or remission
4. by confusion or merger of the rights of creditor and debtor
5. by compensation
6. by novation
Other causes of extinguishment of obligations, such as annulment, rescission, fulfillment of a resolutory condition, and
prescription, are governed elsewhere in this Code.

1232. Payment means not only the delivery of money but also the performance, in any other manner of an obligation.

Payment means not only delivery of money but also the performance.

 It is the fulfillment of the prestation due that extinguishes the obligation by the realization of the purposes for which it was
constituted
 It is a juridical act which is voluntary, licit and made with the intent to extinguish an obligation
 Requisites:
1. person who pays
2. the person to whom payment is made
3. the thing to be paid
4. the manner, time and place of payment etc
 The paying as well as the one receiving should have the requisite capacity
 Kinds: 
1. normal –when the debtor voluntarily performs the prestation stipulated
2. abnormal – when he is forced by means of a judicial proceeding either to comply with prestation or to pay indemnity

1233. A debt shall not be understood to have been paid unless the thing or service in which the oligatoin consists has
been completely delivered or rendered, as the case may be.
 States 2 requisites of payment:
a.) identity of prestation - the very thing or service due must be delivered or released
b.) integrity – prestation must be fulfilled completely
 Time of payment – the payment or performance must be on the date stipulated (may be made even on Sundays or on any
holiday, although some, like the Negotiable Instruments Law, states that payment in such case may be made on the next
succeeding business day)
 The burden of proving that the obligation has been extinguished by payment devolves upon the debtor who offers such a
defense to the claim of the plaintiff creditor
 The issuance of a receipt is a consequence of usage and good faith which must be observed (although our Code has no
provision on this) and the refusal of the creditor to issue a receipt without just cause is a ground for consignation under Art
1256 ( if a receipt has been issued by payee, the testimony alone of payer would be insufficient to prove alleged payments)

1234. If the obligation has been substantially performed in good faith, the obligor may recover as though there had
been a strict and complete fulfillment, less damages suffered by the obligee.
 In order that there may be substantial performance of an obligation, there must have been an attempt in good faith to
perform, without any willful or intentional departure therefrom
 The non-performance of a material part of a contract will prevent the performance from amounting to a substantial
compliance
 A party who knowingly and willfully fails to perform his contract in any respect, or omits to perform a material part of it
cannot be permitted under the protection of this rule to compel the other party to perform; and the trend of the more
recent decisions is to hold that the percentage of omitted or irregular performance may in and of itself be sufficient to show
that there has not been a substantial performance
 The party who has substantially performed may enforce specific performance of the obligation of the other party or may
recover damages for their breach upon an allegation of performance, without proof of complete fulfillment.
 The other party, on the other hand, may by an independent action before he is sued, or by a counterclaim after
commencement of a suit against him, recover from the first party the damages which he has sustained by the latter’s failure
to completely fulfill his obligation

1235 – When the oblige accepts the performance, knowing its incompleteness or irregularity, and without expressing
any protest or objection, the obligation is deemed fully complied with
 A person entering into a contract has a right to insist on its performance in all particulars, according to its meaning and
spirit. But if he chooses to waive any of the terms introduced for his own benefit, he may do so.
 But he is not obliged to accept anything else in place of that which he has contracted for and if he does not waive this right,
the other party cannot recover against him without performing all the stipulations on is part
 To constitute a waiver, there must be an intentional relinquishment of a known right. A waiver will not result from a mere
failure to assert a claim for defective performance/payment. There must have been acceptance of the defective performance
with actual knowledge if the incompleteness or defect, under circumstances that would indicate an intention to consider the
performance as complete and renounce any claim arising from the defect
  A creditor cannot object because of defects in performance resulting from his own acts or directions

1236. The creditor is not bound to accept payment or performance by a third person who has no interest in the
fulfillment of the obligation, unless there is a stipulation to the contrary. Whoever pays for another may demand from
the debtor what he has paid, except that if he paid without the knowledge or against the will of the debtor, he can
recover only insofar as the payment has been beneficial to the debtor
 Reason for this article: whenever a third person pays there is a modification of the prestation that is due.
 Generally, the 3rd person who paid another’s debt is entitled to recover the full amount he paid. The law, however limits his
recovery to the amount by which the debtor has been benefited, if the debtor has no knowledge of, or has expressed his
opposition to such payment
 If the debt has been remitted, paid compensated or prescribed, a payment by a third person would constitute a payment of
what is not due; his remedy would be against the person who received the payment under such conditions and not against
the debtor who did not benefit from the payment
 payment against debtor’s will – even if payment of the third party is against the will of the debtor,  upon payment by the
third party, the obligation between the debtor and creditor is already extinguished

1237. Whoever pays on behalf of the debtor without the knowledge or against the will of the latter, cannot compel the
creditor to subrogate him in his rights, such as those arising from a mortgage, guaranty or penalty
 This article gives to the third person who paid only a simple personal action for reimbursement, without the securities,
guaranties and other rights recognized in the creditor, which are extinguished by the payment

1238. Payment made by a third person who does not intend to be reimbursed by the debtor is deemed to be a donation,
which requires the debtor’s consent/ but the payment is in any case valid as to the creditor who has accepted it
ART 1239. In obligations to give, payment made by one who does not have the free disposal of the thing due and
capacity to alienate it shall not be valied, without prejudice to the provisions of article 1427 under the Title on “Natural
Obligations”
 consignation will not be proper here. In case the creditor accepts the payment, the payment will not be valid except in the
case provided in article 1427

1240. Payment shall be made to the person in whose favor the obligation has been constituted, or his successor in
interest, or any person authorized to receive it
 the authority of a person to receive payment for the creditor may be
   a.) legal – conferred by law (e.g.,guardian of the incapacitated, administrator of the estate of the deceased)
   b.) conventional – when the authority has been given by the creditor himself (e.g., agent who is appointed to collect from the
debtor
 payment made by the debtor to a wrong party does not extinguish the obligation as to the creditor (void), if there is no fault
or negligence which can be imputed to the latter (even when the debtor acted in utmost good faith, or through error
induced by the fraud of the 3rd person). It does not prejudice the creditor and the accrual of interest is not suspended by it

1241. Payment to a person who is incapacitated to administer his property shall be valid if he has kept the thing
delivered, or insofar as the payment has been beneficial to him. Payment made to a third person shall also be valid
insofar as it has redounded to the benefit of the creditor. Such benefit to the creditor need not be proved in the
following cases:
(1) If after the payment, the third person acquires the creditor's rights;
(2) If the creditor ratifies the payment to the third person;
(3) If by the creditor's conduct, the debtor has been led to believe that the third person had authority to receive the
payment. (1163a)
 payment shall be considered as having benefited the incapacitated person if he made an intelligent and reasonable use
thereof, for purposes necessary or useful to him, such as that which his legal representative would have or could have done
under similar circumstances, even if at the time of the complaint the effect of such use no longer exists (e.g., taxes on
creditor’s property, money to extinguish a mortgage on creditor’s property)
 the debtor is not released from liability by a payment to one who is not the creditor nor one authorized to receive the
payment, even if the debtor believed in good faith that he is the creditor, except to the extent that the payment inured to
the benefit of the creditor
 in addition to those mentioned above, payment to a third person releases the debtor:
   a.) when, without notice of the assignment of credit, he pays to the original creditor
   b.) when in good faith he pays to one in possession of the credit
 even when the creditor receives no benefit from the payment to a third person, he cannot demand payment anew, if the
mistake of the debtor was due to the fault of the creditor

1242. Payment made in good faith to any person in possession of the credit shall release the debtor. (1164)
 the person in possession of the credit is neither the creditor nor one authorized by him to receive payment, but appears
under the circumstances of the case, to be the creditor. He appears to be the owner of the credit, although in reality, he
may not be the owner (e.g., an heir who enters upon the hereditary estate and collects the credits thereof, but who is later
deprived of the inheritance because of incapacity to succeed)
 it is necessary not only that the possession of the credit be legal, but also that the payment be in good faith

1243. Payment made to the creditor by the debtor after the latter has been judicially ordered to retain the debt shall
not be valid. (1165)
 the payment to the creditor after the credit has been attached or garnished is void as to the party who obtained the
attachment or garnishment, to the extent of the amount of the judgment in his favor.
 The debtor upon whom garnishment order is served can always deposit the money in court by way of consignation and thus
 relieve himself from further liability

1244. The debtor of a thing cannot compel the creditor to receive a different one, although the latter may be of the
same value as, or more valuable than that which is due. In obligations to do or not to do, an act or forbearance cannot
be substituted by another act or forbearance against the obligee's will. (1166a)
 Upon agreement of consent of the creditor, the debtor may deliver a different thing or perform a different prestation in lieu
of that stipulated. In this case there may be dation in payment or novation
 The defects of the thing delivered may be waived by the creditor, if he expressly so declares or if, with knowledge thereof,
he accepts the thing without protest or disposes of it or consumes it

1245. Dation in payment, whereby property is alienated to the creditor in satisfaction of a debt in money, shall be
governed by the law of sales. (n)
 This is the delivery and transmission of ownership of a thing by the debtor to the creditor as an accepted equivalent of the
performance of the obligation.
 The property given may consist not only of a thing but also of a real right (such as a usufruct)
 Considered as a novation by change of the object
 Where the debt is money, the law on sale shall govern; in this case, the act is deemed to be a sale with the amount of the
obligation to the extent that it is extinguished being considered as price
 Difference between Dation and Cession (see Art. 1255)

1246. When the obligation consists in the delivery of an indeterminate or generic thing, whose quality and
circumstances have not been stated, the creditor cannot demand a thing of superior quality. Neither can the debtor
deliver a thing of inferior quality. The purpose of the obligation and other circumstances shall be taken into
consideration. (1167a)
 If there is disagreement between the debtor and the creditor as to the quality of the thing delivered, the court should decide
whether it complies with the obligation, taking into consideration the purpose and other circumstances of the obligation
 Both the creditor and the debtor may waive the benefit of this article
 see Art. 1244

1247. Unless it is otherwise stipulated, the extrajudicial expenses required by the payment shall be for the account of
the debtor. With regard to judicial costs, the Rules of Court shall govern. (1168a)
 This is because the payment is the debtor’s duty and it inures to his benefit in that he is discharged from the burden of the
obligation

1248. Unless there is an express stipulation to that effect, the creditor cannot be compelled partially to receive the
prestations in which the obligation consists. Neither may the debtor be required to make partial payments.
However, when the debt is in part liquidated and in part unliquidated, the creditor may demand and the debtor may
effect the payment of the former without waiting for the liquidation of the latter. (1169a)
 The creditor who refuses to accept partial prestations does not incur delay except when there is abuse of right or if good
faith requires acceptance
 This article does not apply to obligations where there are several subjects or where the various parties are bound under
different terms and conditions

1249. The payment of debts in money shall be made in the currency stipulated, and if it is not possible to deliver such
currency, then in the currency which is legal tender in the Philippines.
The delivery of promissory notes payable to order, or bills of exchange or other mercantile documents shall produce
the effect of payment only when they have been cashed, or when through the fault of the creditor they have been
impaired.
In the meantime, the action derived from the original obligation shall be held in the abeyance. (1170)
 LEGAL TENDER - means such currency which in a given jurisdiction can be used for the payment of debts, public and
private, and which cannot be refused by the creditor
- That which a debtor may compel a creditor to accept in payment of debt.
 so long as the notes were legal tender at the time they were paid or delivered, the person accepting them must suffer the
loss if thereafter they became valueless
 the provisions of the present article have been modified by RA No. 529 which states that payments of all monetary
obligations should now be made in currency which is legal tender in the Phils. A stipulation providing payment in a foreign
currency is null and void but it does not invalidate the entire contract, and R.A. 4100.
 A check, whether a manager’s check or an ordinary check is not legal tender and an offer of the check in payment of debt is
not a valid tender of payment

1250. In case an extraordinary inflation or deflation of the currency stipulated should supervene, the value of the
currency at the time of the establishment of the obligation shall be the basis of payment, unless there is an agreement
to the contrary. (n)
 Applies only where a contract or agreement is involved. It does not apply where the obligation to pay arises from law,
independent of contracts
 Extraordinary inflation of deflation may be said to be that which is unusual or beyond the common fluctuations in the value
of the currency, which parties could not have reasonably foreseen or which was manifestly beyond their contemplation at
the time when the obligation was constituted

1251. Payment shall be made in the place designated in the obligation. There being no express stipulation and if the
undertaking is to deliver a determinate thing, the payment shall be made wherever the thing might be at the moment
the obligation was constituted. In any other case the place of payment shall be the domicile of the debtor.
  If the debtor changes his domicile in bad faith or after he has incurred in delay, the additional expenses shall be borne by
him. These provisions are without prejudice to venue under the Rules of Court.(1171a)
 Since the law fixes the place of payment at the domicile of the debtor, it is the duty of the creditor to go there and receive
payment; he should bear the expenses in this case because the debtor cannot be made to shoulder the expenses which the
creditor incurs in performing a duty imposed by law and which is for his benefit.
 But if the debtor changes his domicile in bad faith or after he has incurred in delay, then the additional expenses shall be
borne by him
 When the debtor has been required to remit money to the creditor, the latter bears the risks and the expenses of the
transmission. In cases however where the debtor chooses this means of payment, he bears the risk of loss.

SUBSECTION 1
APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS

1252. He who has various debts of the same kind in favor of one and the same creditor, may declare at the time of
making the payment, to which of them the same must be applied. Unless the parties so stipulate, or when the
application of payment is made by the party for whose benefit the term has been constituted, application shall not be
made as to debts which are not yet due.
If the debtor accepts from the creditor a receipt in which an application of the payment is made, the former cannot
complain of the same, unless there is a cause for invalidating the contract. (1172a)
 Requisites:
1. 1 debtor and 1 creditor only
2. 2 or more debts of the same kind
3. all debts must be due
4. amount paid by the debtor must not be sufficient to cover the total amount of all the debts
 It is necessary that the obligations must all be due. Exceptions: (1) whe there is a stipulation to the contrary; and (2) the
application of payment is made by the party for whose benefit the term or period has been constituted (relate to Art. 1196).
 It is also necessary that all the debts be for the same kind, generally of a monetary character. This includes obligations
which were not originally of a monetary character, but at the time of application of payment, had been converted into an
obligation to pay damages by reason of breach or nonperformance.
 If the debtor makes a proper application of payment but the creditor refuses to accept it because he wants to apply it to
another debt, such creditor will incur in delay
 RIGHT OF DEBTOR TO MAKE APPLICATION. If at the time of payment, the debtor does not exercise his right to apply it to
any of his debts, the application shall be understood as provided by law, unless the creditor makes the application and his
decision is accepted by the debtor. This application of payment can be made by the creditor only in the receipt issued at the
time of payment (although the application made by creditor may be contested by the debtor if the latter’s assent to such
application was vitiated by such causes as mistake, violence, intimidation, fraud, etc)
 The debtor and the creditor by agreement, can validly change the application of payment already made without prejudice to
the rights of third persons acquired before such agreement

1253. If the debt produces interest, payment of the principal shall not be deemed to have been made until the interests
have been covered. (1173)
 Interest paid first before principal
 Applies both to compensatory interest (that stipulated as earnings of the amount due under the obligation) and to interest
due because of delay or mora on the part of the debtor
 SC held that this provision applies only in the absence of a verbal or written agreement to the contrary ( merely directory,
not mandatory)

1254. When the payment cannot be applied in accordance with the preceding rules, or if application can not be inferred
from other circumstances, the debt which is most onerous to the debtor, among those due, shall be deemed to have
been satisfied. If the debts due are of the same nature and burden, the payment shall be applied to all of them
proportionately. (1174a)
 As to which of 2 debts is more onerous is fundamentally a question of fact, which courts must determine on the basis of the
circumstances of each case
 Debts are not of the same burden (1st par.)– Rules:
1. Oldest are more onerous than new ones
2. One bearing interest more onerous than one that does not
3. secured debt more onerous than unsecured one
4. principal debt more onerous than guaranty
5. solidary debtor more onerous than sole debtor
6. share in a solidary obligation more onerous to a solidary debtor
7. liquidated debt more onerous than unliquidated
 Debts are of the same burden (2nd par.)– the payment shall be applied to all of them pro rata or proportionately.
 Example: debtor owes his creditor several debts, all of them due, to wit: (1) unsecured debt, (2) a debt secured with
mortgage of the debtor's property, (3) a debt with interest, (4) a debt in which the debtor is solidarily liable with another.
Partial payment was made by the debtor, without specification as to which the payment should be applied.
The most onerous is (4), followed by (2), then (3), then (1). Consequently, payment shall be made in that order.

SUBSECTION 2
PAYMENT BY CESSION

1255. The debtor may cede or assign his property to his creditors in payment of his debts. This cession, unless there is
stipulation to the contrary, shall only release the debtor from responsibility for the net proceeds of the thing assigned.
The agreements which, on the effect of the cession, are made between the debtor and his creditors shall be governed
by special laws. (1175a)
 Cession is a special form of payment whereby the debtor abandons or assigns all of his property for the benefit of his
creditors so that the latter may obtain payment of their credits from the proceeds of the property. 
 Requisites:
1. plurality of debts
2. partial or relative insolvency of the debtor
3. acceptance of cession by the creditors
 Kinds of Cession:
1. Contractual (Art. 1255)
2. Judicial (Insolvency Law)
 Must be initiated by debtors
 Requires two or more creditors, debtors insolvent, cession accepted by creditors 
 Such assignment does not have the effect of making the creditors the owners of the property of the debtor unless there is
an agreement to that effect

 Difference between Dation and Cession

DATION CESSION
may be 1 creditor many creditors
does not require insolvency requires partial or relative insolvency
delivery of a thing delivery of all the property
transfer of ownership of the property no transfer of ownership (only of possession and
administration)
a novation
payment extinguishes obligation (to the extent of the effect is merely to release debtor from the net proceeds
the value of the thing delivered) of the property; hence, partial extinguishment of
obligation.

SUBSECTION 3
TENDER OF PAYMENT AND CONSIGNATION

1256. If the creditor to whom tender of payment has been made refuses without just cause to accept it, the debtor
shall be released from responsibility by the consignation of the thing or sum due.
Consignation alone shall produce the same effect in the following cases:
(1) When the creditor is absent or unknown, or does not appear at the place of payment;
(2) When he is incapacitated to receive the payment at the time it is due;
(3) When, without just cause, he refuses to give a receipt;
(4) When two or more persons claim the same right to collect;
(5) When the title of the obligation has been lost. (1176a)
 Tender of payment : manifestation made by the debtor to the creditor of his desire to comply with his obligation; The act
of the debtor of offering to the creditor the thing or amount due
 Consignation : Deposit of the object or the amount due with the proper court after refusal or inability of the creditor to
accept the tender of payment 
 Tender of payment by certified check is valid; a mere check would also be valid for tender of payment if the creditor makes
no prompt objection, but this does not estop the latter from later demanding payment in cash 
 When a tender of payment is made in such a form that the creditor could have immediately realized payment if he had
accepted the tender, followed by a prompt attempt of the debtor to deposit the means of payment in court by way of
consignation, the accrual of interest on the obligation will be suspended from the date of such tender. But when the tender
of payment is not accompanied by the means of payment, and the debtor did not take any immediate step to make a
consignation, then the interest is not suspended from the time of such tender.
 
 GENERAL REQUISITES OF VALID CONSIGNATION vs SPECIAL REQUISITES
General Req : relative to payment (Arts. 1232 - 1251)
Special Req : very nature of consignation (Arts. 1256 – 1258)

 Special Requisites of consignation: [DLN-DN]

1. [D] There was a debt due
2. [L] The consignation of the obligation was made because of some legal cause provided in the present article
3. [N] That previous notice of the consignation has been given to persons interested in the performance of the obligation
4. [D] The amount or thing due was placed at the disposal of the court
5. [N] After the consignation had been made the persons interested had been notified thereof

 If the reason for consignation is the unjust refusal of the creditor to accept payment, it must be shown:
1. That there was previous tender of payment, without which the consignation is ineffective
2. That the tender of payment was of the very thing due, or in case of money obligations that legal tender currency was
offered
3. That the tender of payment was unconditional and
 4. That the creditor refused to accept payment without just cause

 Exception to requirement for tender of payment: [AIR-TT]

1. [A] When creditor is absent or unknown or does not appear at place of payment
2. [I] When he is incapacitated to receive payment
3. [R] When he refuses to give receipt, without just cause
4. [T] When two or more persons claim same right to collect
5. [T] When title of the obligation has been lost

 The 1st and 2nd Special Requisites of Consignation are embodied in Article 1256.
 As to the 2nd requisite ([L] – legal cause) the following musst be present:
(a) the tender of payment must have been made prior to the consignation
(b) that it must have been unconditional [e.g. where the debtor tendered a check for P3,250 to the creditor as payment of a
debt conditioned upon the signing by the latter of a motion to dismiss a complaint for legal separation, such tender of
payment is invalid.]
(c) that the creditor must have refused to accept the payment without just cause [it is not necessary for the court where the
thing or the amount is deposited to determine whether the refusal of the creditor to accept the same was with or without
just cause. The question will be resolved anyway in a subsequent proceeding. Hence, the mere refusal of the creditor to
accept the tender of payment will be sufficient (Manresa)]

1257. In order that the consignation of the thing due may release the obligor, it must first be announced to the persons
interested in the fulfillment of the obligation.
The consignation shall be ineffectual if it is not made strictly in consonance with the provisions which regulate
payment. (1177)
 The lack of notice does not invalidate the consignation but simply makes the debtor liable for the expenses
 The tender of payment and the notice of consignation sent to the creditor may be made in the same act. In case of absent
or unknown creditors, the notice may be made by publication

 1st paragraph of this article – pertains to the 3rd Special Requisite of Consignation ([N] Previous Notice)
- Tender of Payment vs Previous Notice : the former is a friendly and private act manifested only to the creditor; the latter
is manifested also to other persons interested in the fulfillment of the obligation.
 2nd paragraph of this article – pertains to the General Requisites of Consignation (Arts. 1232-1251), which must be complied
with

1258. Consignation shall be made by depositing the things due at the disposal of judicial authority, before whom the
tender of payment shall be proved, in a proper case, and the announcement of the consignation in other cases.
The consignation having been made, the interested parties shall also be notified thereof. (1178)
 1st paragraph hereof - 4th Special Requisite of Consignation ([D] Disposal of the Court)
- this is complied with if the debtor depostis the thing or amount with the Clerk of Court
 2nd paragraph hereof - 5th Special Requisite of Consignation ([N] Subsequent Notice)
- this is to enable the creditor to withdraw the goods or money deposited.

1259. The expenses of consignation, when properly made, shall be charged against the creditor. (1179)
 The consignation is properly made when:
   1.) after the thing has been deposited in court, the creditor accepts the consignation without objection and without any reservation
of his right to contest it because of failure to comply with any of the requisites for consignation; and
   2.) when the creditor objects to the consignation but the court, after proper hearing, declares that the consignation has been
validly made

*in these cases, the creditor bears the expenses of the consignation

1260. Once the consignation has been duly made, the debtor may ask the judge to order the cancellation of the
obligation. Before the creditor has accepted the consignation, or before a judicial declaration that the consignation has
been properly made, the debtor may withdraw the thing or the sum deposited, allowing the obligation to remain in
force. (1180)
 Consignation has a retroactive effect and the payment is deemed to have been made at the time of the deposit of the thing
in court or when it was placed at the disposal of the judicial authority
 The effects of consignation are: 1.) the debtor is released in the same manner as if he had performed the obligation at the
time of the consignation because this produces the same effect as a valid payment, 2.) the accrual of interest on the
obligation is suspended from the moment of consignation, 3.) the deteriorations or loss of the thing or amount consigned
occurring without fault of the debtor must be borne by the creditor, because the risks of the thing are transferred to the
creditor from the moment of deposit 4.) any increment or increase in value of the thing after the consignation inures to the
benefit of the creditor.
 When the amount consigned does not cover the entire obligation, the creditor may accept it, reserving his right to the
balance. If no reservations are made, the acceptance by the creditor of the amount consigned may be regarded as a waiver
of further claims under the contract

1261. If, the consignation having been made, the creditor should authorize the debtor to withdraw the same, he shall
lose every preference which he may have over the thing. The co-debtors, guarantors and sureties shall be released.
(1181a)
 When the consignation has already been made and the creditor has accepted it or it has been judicially declared as proper,
the debtor cannot withdraw the thing or amount deposited unless the creditor consents thereto. If the creditor authorizes
 the debtor to withdraw the same, there is a revival of the obligation, which has already been extinguished by the
consignation, and the relationship of debtor and creditor is restored to the condition in which it was before the consignation.
But third persons, solidary co-debtors, guarantors and sureties who are benefited by the consignation are not prejudiced by
the revival of the obligation between the debtor and the creditor

SECTION 2
LOSS OF THE THING DUE

1262. An obligation which consists in the delivery of a determinate thing shall be extinguished if it should be lost or
destroyed without the fault of the debtor, and before he has incurred in delay.
When by law or stipulation, the obligor is liable even for fortuitous events, the loss of the thing does not extinguish the
obligation and he shall be responsible for damages. The same rule applies when the nature of the obligation requires
the assumption of risk.

1263: In an obligation to deliver a generic thing, the loss or destruction of anything of the same kind does not
extinguish the obligation. (n)

1264. The courts shall determine whether, under the circumstances, the partial loss of the object of the obligation is so
important as to extinguish the obligation. (n)

1265. Whenever the thing is lost in the possession of the debtor, it shall be presumed that the loss was due to his fault,
unless there is proof to the contrary, and without prejudice to the provisions of article 1165. This presumption does not
apply in case of earthquake, flood, storm, or other natural calamity. (1183a)

 3rd paragraph of Art. 1165: whe the obligor delays, or has promised to deliver the same thing to two or more persons who
do not have the same interest, he shall be liable for any fortuitious event until he has effected the delivery
 Hence, in cases where Art. 1165, par. 3 is applicable, even if the debtor can prove that the loss of the thing in his
possession was not through his fault or that it was through a fortuitous event, he shall still be liable to the creditor for
damages.

1266. The debtor in obligations to do shall also be released when the prestation becomes legally or physically
impossible without the fault of the obligor. (1184a)

LEGAL IMPOSSIBILITY : may either be -

1. direct (when the law prohibits the performance or execution of the work agreed upon, i.e. when it is immoral or dangerous)
2. indirect (the law imposes duties of a superior character upon the obligor which are incompatible with the work agreed upon,
although the latter may be perfectly licit, as where the obligor is drafted for military service or for a civil function)

PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILTY : examples – death of the debtor; when there is an accident...

1267. When the service has become so difficult as to be manifestly beyond the contemplation of the parties, the obligor
may also be released therefrom, in whole or in part. (n)

DOCTRINE OF UNFORESEEN EVENT / DOCTRINE OF RELATIVE IMPOSSIBILITY

(rebus sic stantibus)
   It refers to obligation "to do" (personal obligation)
   Parties are presumed to have the risk
   It does not apply to aleatory contracts (insurance contract)
   Excludes highly speculative business (stock exchange)
   Monatory obligations are also excluded (governed by 1357)
 
Requisites:
1.   event or change in the circumstances could have been foreseen of the time of the execution contract
2.   it makes the performance of the contract extremely difficult but not impossible
3.   the event must not be due to the act of any of the parties
4.   the contract is for a future prestation. If the contract is of immediate fulfillment, the gross inequality of the reciprocal
prestations may be involve desion or want of cause.

1268. When the debt of a thing certain and determinate proceeds from a criminal offense, the debtor shall not be
exempted from the payment of its price, whatever may be the cause for the loss, unless the thing having been offered
by him to the person who should receive it, the latter refused without justification to accept it. (1185)

1269. The obligation having been extinguished by the loss of the thing, the creditor shall have all the rights of action
which the debtor may have against third persons by reason of the loss. (1186)

1270. Condonation or remission is essentially gratuitous, and requires the acceptance by the obligor. It may be made
expressly or impliedly.
One and the other kind shall be subject to the rules which govern inofficious donations. Express condonation shall,
furthermore, comply with the forms of donation. (1187)

1271. The delivery of a private document evidencing a credit, made voluntarily by the creditor to the debtor, implies
the renunciation of the action which the former had against the latter.
If in order to nullify this waiver it should be claimed to be inofficious, the debtor and his heirs may uphold it by proving
that the delivery of the document was made in virtue of payment of the debt. (1188)

1272. Whenever the private document in which the debt appears is found in the possession of the debtor, it shall be
presumed that the creditor delivered it voluntarily, unless the contrary is proved. (1189)

1273. The renunciation of the principal debt shall extinguish the accessory obligations; but the waiver of the latter
shall leave the former in force. (1190)

1274. It is presumed that the accessory obligation of pledge has been remitted when the thing pledged, after its
delivery to the creditor, is found in the possession of the debtor, or of a third person who owns the thing. (1191a)

* Aticles 1271 – 1274: examples of implied remission

SECTION 4
CONFUSION OR MERGER OF RIGHTS

1275. The obligation is extinguished from the time the characters of creditor and debtor are merged in the same
person. (1192a)
 Merger or confusion is the meeting in one person of the qualities of creator and debtor with respect to the same obligation.
It erases the plurality of subjects of the obligation. Further, the purposes for which the obligation may have been created
are considered as fully realized by the merger of the qualities of debtor and creditor in the same person.
 Requisites of merger or confusion are:
(1) It must take place between the creditor and the principal debtor,
(2) the very same obligation must be involved, for if the debtor acquires rights from the creditor, but not the particular
obligation in question in question there will be no merger,
(3) the confusion must be total or as regards the entire obligation.
 The effect of merger is to extinguish the obligation.

1276. Merger which takes place in the person of the principal debtor or creditor benefits the guarantors. Confusion
which takes place in the person of any of the latter does not extinguish the obligation. (1193)
 The extinguishment of the principal obligation through confusion releases the guarantor’s because the obligation of the
latter is merely accessory. When the merger takes place in the person of a guarantor, the obligation is not extinguished.

1277. Confusion does not extinguish a joint obligation except as regards the share corresponding to the creditor or
debtor in whom the two characters concur. (1194)

SECTION 5
COMPENSATION

1278. Compensation shall take place when two persons, in their own right, are creditors and debtors of each other.
(1195)
 Compensation is a mode of extinguishing to the concurrent amount, the obligations of those persons who in their own right
are reciprocally debtors and creditors of each other. It is the offsetting of two obligations which are reciprocally extinguished
if they are of equal value. Or extinguished to the concurrent amount if of different values.
 Kinds of Compensation:
 As to their effects
 compensation may be total (when the two obligations are of the same amount); or
 partial (when the amounts are not equal).
 As to origin
1. it may be legal;
2. facultative;
3. conventional;
4. or judicial.
■ It is legal when it takes place by operation of law because all requisites are present.
■ It is facultative when it can be claimed by one of the parties, who, however, has the right to object to it, such as
when one of the obligations has a period for the benefit of one party alone and who renounces that period so as to
make the obligation due.
■ It is conventional when the parties agree to compensate their mutual obligations even if some requisite is lacking.
■ It is judicial when decreed by the court in a case where there is a counterclaim.

Compensation vs. Payment: In compensation, there can be partial extinguishment of the obligation; in payment, the performance
must be completer, unless waived by the creditor. Payment involves delivery of action, while compensation (legal compensation)
takes place by operation of law without simultaneous delivery.
Compensation vs. Merger: In compensation, there are at least two persons who stand as principal creditors and debtor of each
other, in merger, there is only one person involved in whom the characters of creditor and debtor are merged. In merger, there is
only one obligation, while in compensation, there are two obligations involved.

1279. In order that compensation may be proper, it is necessary:

(1) That each one of the obligors be bound principally, and that he be at the same time a principal creditor of the other;
(2) That both debts consist in a sum of money, or if the things due are consumable, they be of the same kind, and also
of the same quality if the latter has been stated;
(3) That the two debts be due;
(4) That they be liquidated and demandable;
(5) That over neither of them there be any retention or controversy, commenced by third persons and communicated in
due time to the debtor. (1196)
 For compensation to take place, the parties must be mutually debtors and creditors (1) in their own right, and (2) as
principals. Where there is no relationship of mutual creditors and debtors, there can be no compensation. Because the 1st
requirement that the parties be mutually debtors and creditors in their own right, there can be no compensation when one
party is occupying a representative capacity, such as a guardian or an administrator. The 2nd requirement is that the
parties should be mutually debtors and creditors as principals. This means that there can be no compensation when one
party is a principal creditor in one obligation but is only a surety or guarantor in the other.
 The things due in both obligations must be fungible, or things which can be substituted for each other. 
 Both debts must be due to permit compensation.
 Demandable means that the debts are enforceable in court, there being no apparent defenses inherent in them. The
obligations must be civil obligations, including those that are purely natural. An obligation is not demandable, therefore, and
not subject to compensation, in the following cases: (1) when there is a period which has not yet arrived, including the
cases when one party is in a state of suspension of payments; (2) when there is a suspensive condition that has not yet
happened; (3) when the obligation cannot be sued upon, as in natural obligation.
 A debt is liquidated when its existence and amount is determined. Compensation can only take place between certain and
liquidated debts.

* The five requisites of a legal compensation are enumerated in the Article. All requisites must be present before compensation
can be effectual.
1. That each of the obligators be bound principally and that he be at the same time a principal creditor of the other. The
parties must be mutual creditor and debtor of each other and their relationship is a principal one, that is, they are
principal debtor and creditor of each other.
2. That both debts consist in such a sum of money, or if the things due are consumable, they be of the same kind, and
also of the same quality if the latter has been stated. >>When the debts consist of money, there is not much of a
problem when it comes to compensation to the concurrent amount. It is a matter of mathematical computation. When
the debt consist of things, it is necessary that the things are consumable which must be understood as ‘fungible’ and
therefore susceptible of substitution. More than that they must be of the same kind. If the quality has been states, the
things must be of the same quality.
3. That the two debts are due. >> A debt is ‘due’ when its period of performance has arrived. If it is a subject to a
condition, the condition must have already been fulfilled. However, in voluntary compensation, the parties may agree
upon the compensation of debts which are not yet due.
4. That they be liquidated and demandable. >> A debt is considered ‘liquidated’ when its amount is clearly fixed. Of if it is
not yet specially fixed, a simple mathematical computation will determine its amount or value. It is ‘unliquidated’ when
the amount is not fixed because it is still subject to a dispute or to certain condition. It is not enough that the debts be
liquidated. It is also essential that the same be demandable. A debt is demandable if it is not yet barred by prescription
and it is not illegal or invalid.
5. That over neither of them there be any retention or controversy, commenced by third persons and communicated in
due time to the debtor. >> A debt of a thing cannot be a subject of compensation if the same had been subject of a
garnishment of which the debtor was timely notified. When a credit or property had been properly garnished of
attached, it cannot be disposed of without the approval of the court.

1280. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding article, the guarantor may set up compensation as regards what
the creditor may owe the principal debtor. (1197)
 The liability of the guarantor is only subsidiary; it is accessory to the principal obligation of the debtor. If the principal
debtor has a credit against the creditor, which can be compensated, it would mean the extinguishment of the guaranteed
debt, either totally or partially. This extinguishment benefits the guarantor, for he can be held liable only to the same extent
as the debtor.

Exception to the Rule On Compensation: Right of Guarantor to Invoke Compensation Against Creditor. The general rule is that
for compensation to operate, the parties must be related reciprocally as principal creditors and debtors of each other. Under the
present Article, the guarantor is allowed to set up compensation against the creditor.

1281. Compensation may be total or partial. When the two debts are of the same amount, there is a total
compensation. (n)
 Total Compensation—debts are of the same amount.
 Partial Compensation—Debts are not of the same amount; operative only up to the concurrent amount.

1282. The parties may agree upon the compensation of debts which are not yet due. (n)
 Voluntary compensation is not limited to obligations which are not yet due. The parties may compensate by agreement any
obligations, in which the objective requisites provided for legal compensation are not present. It is necessary, however, that
the parties should have the capacity to dispose of the credits which they compensate, because the extinguishment of the
obligations in this case arises from their wills and not from law.

1283. If one of the parties to a suit over an obligation has a claim for damages against the other, the former may set it
off by proving his right to said damages and the amount thereof. (n)
Art. 1284. When one or both debts are rescissible or voidable, they may be compensated against each other before
they are judicially rescinded or avoided. (n)
 Although a rescissible or voidable debt can be compensated before it is rescinded or annulled, the moment it is rescinded or
annulled, the decree of rescission or annulment is retroactive, and the compensation must be considered as cancelled.
 Recission of annulment requires mutual restitution; the party whose obligation is annulled or rescinded can thus recover to
the extent that his credit was extinguished by the compensation, because to that extent he is deemed to have made a
payment.

1285. The debtor who has consented to the assignment of rights made by a creditor in favor of a third person, cannot
set up against the assignee the compensation which would pertain to him against the assignor, unless the assignor
was notified by the debtor at the time he gave his consent, that he reserved his right to the compensation.
If the creditor communicated the cession to him but the debtor did not consent thereto, the latter may set up the
compensation of debts previous to the cession, but not of subsequent ones.
If the assignment is made without the knowledge of the debtor, he may set up the compensation of all credits prior to
the same and also later ones until he had knowledge of the assignment. (1198a)
 Assignment after Compensation:
When compensation has already taken place before the assignment, inasmuch as it takes place ipso jure, there has already
been an extinguishment of one of the other of the obligations. A subsequent assignment of an extinguished obligation
cannot produce any effect against the debtor. The only exception to this rule is when the debtor consents to the assignment
of the credit; his consent constitutes a waiver of the compensation, unless at the time he gives consent, he informs the
assignor that he reserved his right to the compensation.
 Assignment before compensation.
The assignment may be made before compensation has taken place, either because at the time of assignment one of the
debts is not yet due or liquidated, or because of some other cause which impedes the compensation. As far as the debtor is
concerned, the assignment does not take effect except from the time he is notified thereof. If the notice of assignment is
simultaneous to the transfer, he can set up compensation of debts prior to the assignment. If notice was given to him
before the assignment, this takes effect at the time of the assignment; therefore the same rule applies. If he consents to
the assignment, he waives compensation even of debts already due, unless he makes a reservation.
 But if the debtor was notified of the assignment, but he did not consent, and the credit assigned to a third person matures
after that which pertains to the debtor, the latter may set up compensation when the assignee attempts to enforce the
assigned credit, provided that the credit of the debtor became due before the assignment. But it f the assigned credit
matures earlier than that of the debtor, the assignee may immediately enforce it, and the debtor cannot set up
compensation, because the credit is not yet due.
 If the debtor did not have knowledge of the assignment, he may set up by way of compensation all credits maturing before
he is notified thereof. Hence, if the assignment is concealed, and the assignor still contracts new obligation in favor of the
debtor, such obligation maturing before the latter learns of the assignment will still be allowable by way of compensation.
The assignee in such case would have a personal action against the assignor.

1286. Compensation takes place by operation of law, even though the debts may be payable at different places, but
there shall be an indemnity for expenses of exchange or transportation to the place of payment. (1199a)
 This article applies to legal compensation and not to voluntary compensation.

1287. Compensation shall not be proper when one of the debts arises from a depositum or from the obligations of a
depositary or of a bailee in commodatum.
Neither can compensation be set up against a creditor who has a claim for support due by gratuitous title, without
prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 301. (1200a)
A. The prohibition of compensation when one of the debts arises from a depositum (a contract by virtue of which a person
[depositary] receives personal property belonging to another [depositor], with the obligation of safely keeping it and
returning the same) or commodatum (a gratuitous contract by virtue of which one of the parties delivers to the other a non-
consumable personal property so that the latter may use it for a certain time and return it) is based on justice. A deposit of
commodatum is given on the basis of confidence in the depositary of the borrower. It is therefore, a matter of morality, the
depositary or borrower performs his obligation.
 With respect to future support, to allow its extinguishment by compensation would defeat its exemption from attachment
and execution. , and may expose the recipient to misery and starvation. Common humanity and public policy forbid this
consequence. Support under this provision should be understood, not only referring to legal support, to include all rights
which have for their purpose the subsistence of the debtor, such as pensions and gratuities.

1288. Neither shall there be compensation if one of the debts consists in civil liability arising from a penal offense. (n)
 If one of the debts consists in civil liability arising from a penal offense, compensation would be improper and inadvisable
because the satisfaction of such obligation is imperative.
 The person who has the civil liability arising from crime is the only party who cannot set up the compensation; but the
offended party entitled to the indemnity can set up his claim in compensation of his debt.
Art. 1289. If a person should have against him several debts which are susceptible of compensation, the rules on the
application of payments shall apply to the order of the compensation. (1201)
 It can happen that a debtor may have several debts to a creditor. And vice versa. Under these circumstances, Articles 1252
to 1254 shall apply.

1290. When all the requisites mentioned in Article 1279 are present, compensation takes effect by operation of law,
and extinguishes both debts to the concurrent amount, even though the creditors and debtors are not aware of the
compensation.
 Legal compensation takes place from the moment that the requisites of the articles 1278 and 1270 co-exist; its effects arise
on the very day which all its requisites concur.
 Voluntary of conventional compensation takes effect upon the agreement of the parties.
 Facultative compensation takes place when the creditor declares his option to set it up.
 Judicial compensation takes place upon final judgment.
  Effects of Compensation:
(1)Both debts are extinguished to the concurrent amount;
(2)interests stop accruing on the extinguished obligation of the part extinguished;
(3)the period of prescription stops with respect to the obligation or part extinguished;
(4)all accessory obligations of the principal obligation which has been extinguished are also extinguished.
 Renunciation of Compensation. Compensation can be renounces, either at the time an obligation is contracted or
afterwards. Compensation rests upon a potestative right, and a unilateral decision of the debtor would be sufficient
renunciation. Compensation can be renounced expressly of impliedly.
 No Compensation. Even when all the requisites for compensation occur, the compensation may not take place in the
following cases: (1) When there is renunciation of the effects of compensation by a party; and (2) when the law prohibits
compensation.
(Unless otherwise indicated, commentaries are sourced from the Civil Code book IV by Tolentino).

SECTION 6
NOVATION
HOW OBLIGATIONS ARE MODIFIED

1291. Obligations may be modified by:

      (1) Changing their object or principal condition
      (2) Substituting the person of the debtor
      (3) Subrogating a third person in the rights of a creditor
 Novation is the extinguishment of an obligation by a substitution or change of the obligation by a subsequent one which
extinguishes or modifies the first either by:
1. changing the object or principal conditions
2. by substituting the person of the debtor
3. subrogating a third person in the rights of the creditor
 Novation is a juridical act of dual function. At the time it extinguishes an obligation it creates a new one in lieu of the old
 Classification of Novation
 as to nature
1. Subjective or personal – either passive or active. Passive if there is substitution of the debtor. Active if a
third person is subrogated in the rights of the creditor.
2. Objective or real – substitution of the object with another or changing the principal conditions
3. Mixed – Combination of subjective and objective
 as to form
 Express – parties declare that the old obligation is substituted by the new
 Implied – an incompatibility exists between the old and the new obligation that cannot stand together
 as to effect
1. Partial – when there is only a modification or change in some principal conditions of the obligation
2. Total – when the old obligation is completely extinguished
 Requisites of Novation:
1. A previous valid obligation
2. Agreement of all parties
3. Extinguishment of the old contract – may be express of implied
4. Validity of the new one