RA 386: Civil Code of the Philippines (Articles 19, 20, 21)

Summary

Republic Act No. 386, approved 18 June 1949, is the Civil Code of the Philippines. Articles 19, 20 and 21 — known as the abuse-of-rights doctrine — provide that 'every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his duties, act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith,' and that any willful or negligent act causing damage to another contrary to law or morals creates an obligation to indemnify the injured party. These articles are the standard civil-law basis for damages claims arising from abusive debt-collection or harassment.