Statute
Philippine Civil Code
Article
Art. 1204
Topic
Different Kinds of Obligations
Status
In force
Book
BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts
Title
TITLE I Obligations
Chapter
CHAPTER 3 Different Kinds of Obligations
Formerly
Art. 1135a of the old Civil Code
Year
1949
Cited by
Multiple Supreme Court decisions

The provision

The creditor shall have a right to indemnity for damages when, through the fault of the debtor, all the things which are alternatively the object of the obligation have been lost, or the compliance of the obligation has become impossible. The indemnity shall be fixed taking as a basis the value of the last thing which disappeared, or that of the service which last became impossible. Damages other than the value of the last thing or service may also be awarded. (1135a)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

In an alternative obligation (where the debtor could satisfy it by delivering one of several things or services), if the debtor's own fault causes all the options to be lost or become impossible, the creditor may claim damages. The damage amount is measured by the value of whichever thing disappeared last or service that last became impossible, and additional damages beyond that value may also be awarded.

An editorially maintained plain-language explanation of this provision — not legal advice.

Cases applying this article

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 1204 is found in CHAPTER 3 Different Kinds of Obligations of TITLE I Obligations of BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts of the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386).

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Reviewed by the Intellegal Legal Team for currency against amending laws and Supreme Court jurisprudence.

Research aid — not legal advice. Verify the current text against the Official Gazette. Provisions may have been amended or repealed. Using this page creates no attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, consult a Philippine lawyer.