Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 429
Topic
Ownership in General
Status
In force
Book
BOOK II PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP, AND ITS MODIFICATIONS
Title
TITLE II OWNERSHIP
Chapter
CHAPTER 1 Ownership in General
Year
1949
Cited by
Multiple Supreme Court decisions

The provision

The owner or lawful possessor of a thing has the right to exclude any person from the enjoyment and disposal thereof. For this purpose, he may use such force as may be reasonably necessary to repel or prevent an actual or threatened unlawful physical invasion or usurpation of his property. (n)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

An owner or lawful possessor may exclude others and use reasonably necessary force to repel or prevent an actual or threatened unlawful invasion of the property. This is the Civil Code's limited doctrine of self-help. The force must be reasonable and aimed at an actual or imminent intrusion — not to recover property already lost.

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

Intellegal Wiki · How the courts apply it

In United Coconut Planters Bank v. Ruben E. Basco, the Supreme Court held: A bank may exclude persons from its premises and impose reasonable security limitations under Article 429, but a memorandum barring a stockholder-depositor from all premises under all circumstances is overly broad and violates his rights.

One leading Supreme Court case applying this provision.

Cases applying this article

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 429 is found in CHAPTER 1 Ownership in General of TITLE II OWNERSHIP of BOOK II PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP, AND ITS MODIFICATIONS 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 Provisions may have been amended or repealed.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.